[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25550-25555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12851]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Consumer Service

7 CFR Parts 225 and 226

RIN 0584-AB17


Determination of Eligibility for Free Meals by Summer Food 
Service Program Sponsors and Free and Reduced Price Meals by Child and 
Adult Care Food Program Institutions

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule amends the regulations governing the collection of 
social security numbers and household income information on the 
application for free meals under the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) 
for Children, and for free and reduced price meals under the Child and 
Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The rule removes the requirement that 
households provide the social security numbers of all adult members of 
the household and requires the household to provide only the social 
security number of the adult household member who signs the 
application. Finally, when reporting household income, the household 
will no longer be required to indicate how often individual income 
amounts are received, or to calculate its total current income. All of 
the above provisions are intended to reduce paperwork and facilitate 
eligibility determinations for free and reduced price meals by 
simplifying the application requirements for both households and 
approving officials, while maintaining program integrity.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 21, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert M. Eadie or Edward Morawetz, 
Policy and Program Development Branch, Child Nutrition Division, Food 
and Consumer Service, Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Room 1007, Alexandria, Virginia 22302 or telephone 703-305-2620.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

    This rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866, and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the 
Office of Management and Budget.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This rule has also been reviewed with regard to the requirements of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612). The Administrator of 
the Food and Consumer Service has certified that this rule will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The effect of the provisions of this rule will be to reduce 
paperwork and facilitate eligibility determinations for free and 
reduced price meals by simplifying the application requirements for 
both households and approving officials, while maintaining program 
integrity.

Executive Order 12372

    The CACFP and SFSP are listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under No. 10.558 and 10.559, respectively, and are subject 
to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires 
intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials (7 CFR 
Part 3015, Subpart V, and final rule related notice published at 48 FR 
29114, June 24, 1983).

Information Collection

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501-3520), the reporting and recordkeeping changes included in this 
rule have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under control numbers 0584-0055 and 0584-0280.

Executive Order 12778

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, Civil 
Justice Reform. This rule is intended to have preemptive effect with 
respect to any State or local laws, regulations or policies which 
conflict with its provisions or which would otherwise impede its full 
implementation. This rule is not intended to have retroactive effect 
unless so specified in the ``Effective Date'' section of this preamble. 
Prior to any judicial challenge to the provisions of this rule or the 
application of its provisions, all applicable administrative procedures 
must be exhausted. In the SFSP, the administrative procedures are set 
forth under the following regulations: (1) Program sponsors and food 
service management companies must follow State agency hearing 
procedures issued pursuant to 7 CFR Sec. 225.13; and (2) Disputes 
involving procurement by State agencies and sponsors must follow 
administrative appeal procedures to the extent required by 7 CFR 
Sec. 225.17 and 7 CFR Part 3015. In the CACFP, the administrative 
procedures are set forth under the following regulations: (1) 
Institution appeal procedures in 7 CFR Sec. 226.6(k); and (2) Disputes 
involving procurement by State agencies and institutions must follow 
administrative appeal procedures to the extent required by 7 CFR 
Sec. 226.22 and 7 CFR Part 3015.
    This rule codifies the amendments set forth under sections 
202(b)(2)(A) and (b)(2)(B)(i) of the Child Nutrition and WIC 
Reauthorization Act of 1989 (Pub. L. 101-147) regarding the collection 
of social security numbers and total income calculations for programs 
under the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the 
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.). Section 202(c) of 
Pub. L. 101-147 required that final regulations be issued incorporating 
these amendments by July 1, 1990. However, we were unable to issue 
regulations on the collection of social security numbers and total 
income calculation amendments before the statutory deadline. The 
provisions were implemented by a policy memorandum issued on May 18, 
1990.
    This rule is being issued as a final rule, rather than a proposed 
rule, because of the mandated implementation date. Further, this rule 
is being issued as a final rule because of the need to formally 
implement these changes to the application procedures. Although a 
policy memorandum has already been distributed to give State agencies 
guidance, the SFSP and CACFP regulations must be amended to codify the 
changes mandated by sections 202(b)(2)(A) and 202(b)(2)(B)(i) of Pub. 
L. 101-147. Final regulations have already been promulgated 
incorporating these changes for the National School Lunch, School 
Breakfast and Special Milk Programs (56 FR 33857, July 24, 1991). For 
consistency and simplicity, it is important that the SFSP and CACFP 
regulations be amended to conform with the National School Lunch, 
School Breakfast, and Special Milk Program regulations. Finally, the 
changes to the application being made by this rulemaking will simplify 
the application procedures for households. For these reasons, the 
Administrator of the Food and Consumer Service has determined, in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), that it is impracticable and

[[Page 25551]]

contrary to public interest to take prior public comment and that good 
cause therefore exists for publishing this rule without prior public 
notice and comment.

Background

    For the purpose of determining eligibility for free meals in the 
SFSP and free and reduced price meals in the CACFP, sponsors/
institutions must distribute free meal or free and reduced price meal 
applications to the families of enrolled participants. Prior to the 
amendments made by Pub. L. 101-147, under both programs, households 
applying for benefits were required to submit an application containing 
complete documentation of eligibility, as defined in Sections 225.2, 
``Documentation,'' and 225.15(f) of the SFSP regulations (7 CFR Part 
225) and Sections 226.2, ``Documentation,'' and 226.23(e)(1) of the 
CACFP regulations (7 CFR Part 226). Under current Sections 225.15(f)(3) 
and 226.23(e)(1)(iv) of the SFSP and CACFP regulations, respectively, 
``documentation'' for participating children who were members of Aid to 
Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) assistance units or food stamp 
households means the completion of the following information on the 
application: the child's name; a current food stamp or AFDC case 
number; and the signature of an adult household member. Under current 
Section 226.23(e)(1)(v) of the CACFP regulations, for adult 
participants who were members of food stamp households or who receive 
assistance under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for the Aged, 
Blind and Disabled Program or under the Grant to States for Medical 
Assistance Programs (Medicaid), ``documentation'' of eligibility means 
the completion of the following information on the application: the 
name of the adult participant; his/her food stamp case number or SSI or 
Medicaid identification number; and the signature of an adult household 
member.
    In all other cases, under current regulations, documentation for 
all children in the SFSP and for all children and adults applying for 
participation in the CACFP consists of a completed free meal or free 
and reduced price meal application that, pursuant to Section 
225.15(f)(2) of the SFSP regulations and Sections 226.23(e)(1)(ii) and 
(iii) of the CACFP regulations includes: the names of the child or 
adult for whom application is being made; the names of all other 
household members; social security numbers for all adult household 
members or an indication that an adult household member did not have a 
social security number; the total current income and the income 
received by each household member identified by source; and the 
signature of an adult household member. The official responsible for 
making eligibility determinations (the ``determining official'') for 
free or reduced price benefits is required to review the application to 
ensure that it is complete and, for households that submitted income 
information, to compare the household size and income to the Income 
Eligibility Guidelines issued annually by the Department. Households 
that provide a food stamp, AFDC, Medicaid or SSI number on the 
application are considered categorically eligible for free meals.

Social Security Numbers

    Section 202(b)(2)(A) of Pub. L. 101-147, enacted on November 10, 
1989, amended section 9(d)(1) of the National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1758(d)(1)) to eliminate the requirement for the collection of 
the social security numbers of all adult household members as a 
condition of eligibility for participants who are not categorically 
eligible for benefits. Rather, the law now requires that the member of 
the household who executes the application include the social security 
number of the parent or guardian who is the primary wage earner 
responsible for the care of the child for whom application is made, or 
the number of another appropriate adult member of the child's 
household, as determined by the Secretary. Additionally, section 
9(d)(1), as further amended by section 202(b)(2)(A) of Pub. L. 101-147, 
requires that the household provide the social security numbers of each 
adult household member if the application is selected for verification 
of eligibility.
    On May 9, 1990, the Department issued an interim rule at 55 FR 
19237 which implemented sections 202(b)(2)(A) and (B) of Pub. L. 101-
147 in the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Special Milk 
Programs. That interim rule gave households the option of providing 
either the social security number of the primary wage earner or that of 
the household member signing the application. This option was provided 
in the interim rule because the Department wished to provide households 
with flexibility in complying with the social security number 
requirement. In order to provide guidance to SFSP and CACFP 
administrators and beneficiaries prior to the July 1, 1990, legislative 
deadline, and in the interest of maintaining as much consistency as 
possible in the free and reduced price meal application process among 
the Child Nutrition Programs, an identical policy was established for 
the SFSP and the CACFP in a policy memorandum issued by the Department 
on May 18, 1990.
    Commenters on the interim rule for the school programs, as well as 
other State and local school officials who have informally advised the 
Department of their experiences with the application process, believe 
that providing households with this option would actually result in 
complicating, rather than simplifying, the application process and 
would add to paperwork and administrative burdens. In response to those 
comments, the final rule governing free and reduced price applications 
in the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Special Milk 
Programs requires only that the social security number of the adult 
household member who signs the application be provided (56 FR 33857, 
July 24, 1991). In lieu of providing a social security number, the 
adult household member signing the application may indicate that he or 
she does not possess one. In making this change from the interim rule, 
the Department believed that the final School Programs rule further 
simplified the application process, while maintaining program 
integrity, since the adult who signs the application must also certify 
that the information on the application is true and correct. Based on 
the foregoing, and in an effort to maintain consistency among the Child 
Nutrition Programs, this interim rule adopts the same application 
requirements for the SFSP and the CACFP.
    Accordingly, this rule amends Sections 225.2, ``Documentation,'' 
and 225.15(f)(2)(iii) of the SFSP regulations and Sections 226.2, 
``Documentation,'' and 226.23(e)(1)(ii)(C) and (iii)(C) of the CACFP 
regulations to require a completed application to include the social 
security number of the adult household member who signs the 
application. As permitted in current regulations, if the adult 
household member signing the application does not have a social 
security number, the household may indicate this fact in lieu of 
providing a social security number.
    In a related area, section 7(b) of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 
U.S.C. 552a note) requires agencies to give advance notice and 
disclosure to the public of any requirement to provide social security 
numbers and of the uses to be made of those social security numbers. In 
accordance with this law, the Department requires that any individual

[[Page 25552]]

required to disclose his/her social security number must be informed: 
(1) whether that disclosure is mandatory or voluntary; (2) by what 
statutory authority or other authority each number is solicited; and 
(3) what uses will be made of the number. The current SFSP and CACFP 
regulations at Section 225.15(f)(2)(vi), and Sections 
226.23(e)(1)(ii)(F) and (iii)(E) contain the Department's prototype 
Privacy Act Statements for free and reduced price applications. They 
reflect the statutory requirement in effect prior to the enactment of 
Pub. L. 101-147 that the application contain the social security number 
of each adult household member. These prototype Privacy Act Statements 
must also be modified to include the requirement that only the social 
security number of the adult household member signing the application 
need be provided (or an indication that he or she does not possess 
one). In addition, a new Section 225.15(f)(4) must be added and Section 
226.23(h)(2)(iii) must be revised to require that households selected 
for verification provide the social security number for each adult 
household member (or an indication that the member does not possess a 
number) and that the notice of selection for verification also include 
a statement which meets the requirements of section 7(b) of the Privacy 
Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a note). State agencies and institutions 
should contact their own legal counsel to ensure that their notices 
comply with the Privacy Act requirements.
    Accordingly, this rule amends Section 225.15(f)(2)(vi) of the SFSP 
regulations and Sections 226.23(e)(1)(ii)(F) and (iii)(E) of the CACFP 
regulations to make the aforementioned changes to each Program's 
prototype Privacy Act statement. In addition, Section 225.15(f)(4) has 
been added to the SFSP regulations and Section 226.23(h)(2)(iii) of the 
CACFP regulations has been revised to require that households selected 
for verification must provide the social security number of each adult 
member, or an indication that a household member does not possess one.
    This rule also makes several technical changes to Part 226 to 
conform with the requirement that only the social security number of 
the adult household member signing the application for free and reduced 
price meals must be provided. Specifically, this rule amends the 
provisions found at Sections 226.15(e)(2), 226.15(e)(3), 226.17(b)(7), 
226.18(f), 226.19(b)(8)(i), and 226.19a(b)(8) which govern various 
documentation and record retention requirements for participation in 
the CACFP. This rulemaking amends these sections to require that the 
documentation for eligibility and retention of information conform with 
Section 226.23(e)(1). As mentioned above, as a result of this rule, 
Section 226.23(e)(1) will now require only the social security number 
of the adult household member signing the application. In lieu of 
providing a social security number, the adult household member signing 
the application may indicate that he or she does not possess one.

Income Information

    Section 202(b)(2)(B)(i) of Pub. L. 101-147 amended section 
9(d)(2)(A) of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(d)(2)(A)) 
to require that households provide appropriate documentation relating 
to their income so that individuals responsible for approving free and 
reduced price applications may calculate the total current income for 
use in determining eligibility for benefits. The current regulations at 
Sections 225.2, ``Documentation,'' and 225.15(f)(2) and Sections 226.2, 
``Documentation,'' and 226.23(e)(1)(ii)(D) and (iii)(D), require that 
households provide the total household income on the application, as 
well as the income received by each household member, identified by 
source and amount. Based on the language of Pub. L. 101-147, this rule 
eliminates the requirement that the applicant household calculate total 
income. The elimination of this requirement will further simplify the 
application process and will reduce the burden on determining 
officials, who previously had to contact the household when there were 
inconsistencies between the sum of the income received by each 
household member identified by source and the total income figure for 
the household. As a result of this interim rule, the determining 
official will now use the income information provided by households to 
calculate the household's total current income. Households will still 
be required to indicate the amount of income received by each household 
member, identified by source.
    A technical change is also being made to Sections 225.2, 
``Documentation,'' and 225.15(f)(2) of the SFSP regulations and 
Sections 226.2, ``Documentation,'' and 226.23(e)(1)(ii)(D) and (iii)(D) 
of the CACFP regulations to add, as necessary, the phrase ``other cash 
income'' to the examples of sources of income (i.e., earnings, wages, 
welfare, pensions, support payments, unemployment compensation, and 
social security). This technical change is being made to bring about 
consistency within each Part, as well as with the other child nutrition 
programs covered by 7 CFR Part 245 (Determining Eligibility for Free 
and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk in Schools). No change is being 
made regarding the type of income to be reported on free and reduced 
price meal applications. Further, a technical amendment is being made 
to Section 225.15(f)(2)(iv) to make the language describing the sources 
of income conform with the examples of sources of income found in 
Section 225.2, ``Documentation,'' and with the sources of income 
regulations under the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and 
Special Milk Programs. A technical change is also being made to 
incorporate the undesignated paragraph into the introductory paragraph 
in Section 225.15(f)(3).
    Accordingly, the Department is amending Section 225.2, 
``Documentation,'' and Section 225.15(f)(2) of the SFSP regulations and 
Sections 226.2, ``Documentation,'' and 226.23(e)(1)(ii)(D) and (iii)(D) 
of the CACFP regulations to eliminate the requirement that households 
provide their total income on the application and to make the other 
technical changes discussed above.

Definition of Income

    To simplify the application process, the Department is amending the 
definition of ``Current income'' at Section 226.2 of the CACFP 
regulations and adding a definition of ``Current income'' at Section 
225.2 of the SFSP regulations to reflect the actual treatment of income 
by households submitting income information on the application and by 
determining officials reviewing that information. Currently, in Section 
226.2, ``Current income'' is defined as ``income received during the 
month prior to application for free or reduced-price meals and 
multiplied by 12.'' The definition further requires that, if this 
income does not accurately reflect the household's annual income, the 
income determination must be based on the household's projected annual 
income. In practice, however, most determining officials do not convert 
the income amounts listed for each household member to an annual income 
figure. Rather, if any income is reported as other than a monthly 
amount, most determining officials convert these income amounts to a 
monthly income figure and base eligibility on total monthly household 
income.
    Therefore, the definition of ``Current income'' added to Section 
225.2 and the definition of ``Current income'' at Section 226.2, as 
amended by this rule,

[[Page 25553]]

define ``Current income'' simply as income received during the month 
prior to application, and the reference to annualization is being 
deleted. If the prior month's income is not representative of the 
household's annual rate of income, the household must still report its 
projected annual income.
    Accordingly, Section 226.2 of the CACFP regulations is amended, and 
a definition of ``Current income'' is added to Section 225.2 of the 
SFSP regulations, to define ``Current income'' as income received 
during the month prior to application for free or reduced-price meals.

Technical Changes to OMB Control Numbers

    The OMB Control Number table found at Section 225.20 is revised to 
reflect current OMB control numbers for information collection/
recordkeeping requirements for the following Sections: 225.3-225.4; 
225.6-225.10; 225.12- 224.13; and 225.15-225.18.

Request for Comments

    Since the Department has exercised some discretion in the 
implementation of these provisions, comments and suggestions are 
particularly encouraged on the following amendments: (1) the 
requirement that only the social security number of the adult household 
member who executes the application be provided; and (2) the 
requirement that households report only monthly income for each member. 
The Department reminds commenters that the changes to the application 
requirements are intended to reduce paperwork by simplifying the 
application requirements while maintaining program integrity.

List of Subjects

7 CFR Part 225

    Food assistance programs, Grant programs--health, infants and 
children.

7 CFR Part 226

    Day care, Food assistance programs, Grant programs--health, infants 
and children, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Surplus 
agricultural commodities.

    Accordingly, 7 CFR Parts 225 and 226 are amended as follows:

PART 225--SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM

    1. The authority citation for Part 225 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Secs. 9, 13 and 14, National School Lunch Act, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 1758, 1761 and 1762a).

    2. In Section 225.2:
    a. A new definition of Current income is added in alphabetical 
order.
    b. Paragraph (a) of the definition of Documentation is revised.
    The addition and revision specified above read as follows:


Sec. 225.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Current income means income, as defined in Section 
225.15(f)(2)(iv), received during the month prior to application for 
free meals. If such income does not accurately reflect the household's 
annual income, income shall be based on the projected annual household 
income. If the prior year's income provides an accurate reflection of 
the household's current annual income, the prior year may be used as a 
base for the projected annual income.
* * * * *
    Documentation means (a) the completion of the following information 
on a free meal application:
    (1) names of all household members;
    (2) income received by each household member, identified by source 
of income (such as earnings, wages, welfare, pensions, support 
payments, unemployment compensation, social security and other cash 
income);
    (3) the signature of an adult household member; and
    (4) the social security number of the adult household member who 
signs the application, or an indication that the he/she does not 
possess a social security number; or,
* * * * *
    3. In Section 225.15:
    a. Paragraphs (f)(2)(iii) and (f)(2)(iv) are revised;
    b. Paragraph (f)(2)(vi) is amended by removing the first four 
sentences and by adding four new sentences in their place and by adding 
a new sentence before the word ``and'' at the end of the paragraph;
    c. Paragraph (f)(3) is amended by removing the undesignated text 
following paragraph (f)(3)(ii) and by revising the introductory text of 
paragraph (f)(3); and
    d. A new paragraph (f)(4) is added.
    The additions and revisions specified above read as follows:


Sec. 225.15  Management responsibilities of sponsors.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) the social security number of the adult household member who 
signs the application, or an indication that he/she does not possess a 
social security number;
    (iv) the income received by each household member, identified by 
source of income (such as earnings, wages, welfare, pensions, support 
payments, unemployment compensation, social security, and other cash 
income);
* * * * *
    (vi) a statement which includes substantially the following 
information: ``Section 9 of the National School Lunch Act requires 
that, unless a food stamp or AFDC case number is provided for your 
child, you must include the social security number of the adult 
household member signing the application, or indicate that the 
household member does not have a social security number. Provision of a 
social security number is not mandatory, but if a social security 
number is not provided or an indication is not made that the signer 
does not have a social security number, the application cannot be 
approved. This notice must be brought to the attention of the household 
member whose social security number is disclosed. The social security 
number may be used to identify the household member in carrying out 
efforts to verify the correctness of information stated on the 
application. * * * The sponsor shall take the income information 
provided by the household on the application and calculate the 
household's total current income;
* * * * *
    (3) If they so desire, households applying on behalf of children 
who are members of food stamp households or AFDC assistance units may 
apply for free meal benefits using the procedures described in this 
paragraph rather than the procedures described in paragraph (f)(2) of 
this section. In accordance with paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, 
if a food stamp or AFDC case number is provided, it may be used to 
verify the current food stamp or AFDC certification for the child(ren) 
for whom free meal benefits are being claimed. Whenever households 
applying for benefits for children not receiving food stamp or AFDC 
benefits, they must apply for those children in accordance with the 
requirements set forth in paragraph (f)(2) of this section. Households 
applying on behalf of children who are members of food stamp households 
or AFDC assistance units shall be required to provide:
* * * * *
    (4) Households selected to provide verification shall provide a 
social security number for each adult household member or an indication 
that such member does not have one. The notice to households of 
selection for verification shall include the following:
    (i) Section 9 of the National School Lunch requires that unless the 
child's

[[Page 25554]]

food stamp or AFDC case number is provided, households selected for 
verification must provide the social security number of each adult 
household member;
    (ii) In lieu of providing a social security number, an adult 
household member may indicate that he/she does not possess one;
    (iii) Provision of a social security number is not mandatory but if 
a social security number is not provided for each adult household 
member or an indication is not made that he/she does not possess one, 
benefits will be terminated;
    (iv) The social security number may be used to identify household 
members in carrying out efforts to verify the correctness of 
information stated on the application and continued eligibility for the 
program. These verification efforts may be carried out through program 
reviews, audits, and investigations and may include contacting 
employers to determine income, contacting a food stamp or welfare 
office to determine current certification for receipt of food stamps or 
AFDC benefits, contacting the State employment security office to 
determine the amount of benefits received and checking the 
documentation produced by household members to prove the amount of 
income received. These efforts may result in loss or reduction of 
benefits, administrative claims or legal actions if incorrect 
information was reported; and
    (v) This information must be provided to the attention of each 
adult household member disclosing his/her social security number. State 
agencies shall ensure that the notice complies with section 7 of Pub. 
L. 93-579 (Privacy Act of 1974). These households shall be provided 
with the name and phone number of an official who can assist in the 
verification effort. Selected households shall also be informed that, 
in lieu of any information that would otherwise be required, they can 
submit proof of current food stamp or AFDC Program certification as 
described in paragraph (f)(3) of this section to verify the free meal 
eligibility of a child who is a member of a food stamp household or 
AFDC assistance unit. All households selected for verification shall be 
advised that failure to cooperate with verification efforts will result 
in the termination of benefits.
* * * * *
    4. In Section 225.20, the OMB Control Number table is revised to 
read as follows:


Sec. 225.20  Information collection/recordkeeping--OMB assigned control 
numbers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Current OMB
       7 CFR section where requirements are described        control No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
225.3-225.4................................................    0584-0280
225.6-225.10...............................................    0584-0280
225.12-225.13..............................................    0584-0280
225.15-225.18..............................................    0584-0280
------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART 226--CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM

    5. The authority citation for Part 226 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Secs. 9, 11, 14, 16, and 17, National School Lunch 
Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1758, 1759a, 1762a, 1765 and 1766).

    6. In Section 226.2:
    a. The definition of Current income is amended by removing the 
words ``and multiplied by 12''; and
    b. The definition of Documentation is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 226.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Documentation means (a) the completion of the following information 
on a free and reduced-price application:
    (1) names of all household members;
    (2) income received by each household member, identified by source 
of income (such as earnings, wages, welfare, pensions, support 
payments, unemployment compensation, social security and other cash 
income);
    (3) the signature of an adult household member; and
    (4) the social security number of the adult household member who 
signs the application, or an indication that he/she does not possess a 
social security number; or
    (b) For a child who is a member of a food stamp household or an 
AFDC assistance unit, ``documentation'' means the completion of only 
the following information on a free and reduced-price application:
    (1) the name(s) and appropriate food stamp or AFDC case number(s) 
for the child(ren); and
    (2) the signature of an adult member of the household; or
    (c) For an adult participant who is a member of a food stamp 
household or is an SSI or Medicaid participant, as defined in this 
section, ``documentation'' means the completion of only the following 
information on a free and reduced- price application:
    (1) the name(s) and appropriate food stamp case number(s) for the 
participant(s) or the adult participant's SSI or Medicaid 
identification number, as defined in this section; and
    (2) the signature of an adult member of the household.
* * * * *
    7. In Section 226.15, paragraphs (e)(2) and (e)(3) are revised to 
read as follows:


Sec. 226.15  Institution Provisions.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (2) Documentation of the enrollment of each participant at child 
care centers, adult day care centers and outside-school-hours care 
centers including information used to determine eligibility for free or 
reduced price meals in accordance with Sec. 226.23(e)(1).
    (3) Documentation of the enrollment of each child at day care homes 
and information used to determine the eligibility of enrolled 
providers' children for free or reduced price meals in accordance with 
Sec. 226.23(e)(1).
* * * * *
    8. In Section 226.17, paragraph (b)(7) is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 226.17  Child Care Center Provisions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (7) Child care centers shall collect and maintain documentation of 
the enrollment of each child, including information used to determine 
eligibility for free and reduced price meals in accordance with 
Sec. 226.23(e)(1).
* * * * *


Sec. 226.18  [Amended]

    9. In Section 226.18, paragraph (f) is amended by adding the words 
``, in which case the day care home must maintain documentation of the 
information used to determine the eligibility of enrolled providers' 
children for free or reduced price meals in accordance with 
Sec. 226.23(e)(1)'' at the end of the paragraph.
    10. In Section 226.19, paragraph (b)(8)(i) is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 226.19  Outside-school-hours care center provisions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (8) * * *
    (i) Documentation of enrollment for all children, including 
information used to determine eligibility for free or reduced price 
meals in accordance with Sec. 226.23(e)(1);
* * * * *
    11. In Section 226.19a, paragraph (b)(8) is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 226.19a  Adult day care center provisions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (8) Adult day care centers shall collect and maintain documentation 
of the

[[Page 25555]]

enrollment of each adult participant including information used to 
determine eligibility for free and reduced price meals in accordance 
with Sec. 226.23(e)(1).
* * * * *
    12. In Section 226.23:
    a. Paragraph (e)(1)(ii)(C) is revised;
    b. Paragraph (e)(1)(ii)(D) is amended by removing the words ``total 
current household income, and the'';
    c. Paragraph (e)(1)(ii)(F) is amended by removing the first four 
sentences and by adding six new sentences in their place.
    d. Paragraph (e)(1)(iii)(C) is revised;
    e. Paragraph (e)(1)(iii)(D) is amended by removing the words 
``total current household income, and the'';
    f. Paragraph (e)(1)(iii)(E) is amended by removing the first four 
sentences and by adding six new sentences in their place;
    g. Paragraph (e)(4) is amended by adding a new sentence at the 
beginning of the paragraph;
    h. Paragraphs (h)(2)(iv) through (h)(2)(viii) are redesignated as 
paragraphs (h)(2)(v) through (h)(2)(ix); and
    i. Paragraph (h)(2)(iii) is amended by redesignating all text after 
the second sentence as paragraph (h)(2)(iv), and by revising the 
remaining text in paragraph (h)(2)(iii).
    The additions and revisions specified above read as follows:


Sec. 226.23  Free and reduced-price meals.

* * * * *
    (e)(1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (C) The social security number of the adult household member who 
signs the application, or an indication that he/she does not possess a 
social security number;
* * * * *
    (F) A statement which includes substantially the following 
information: ``Section 9 of the National School Lunch Act requires 
that, unless a food stamp or AFDC case number is provided for your 
child, you must include a social security number on the application. 
This must be the social security number of the adult household member 
signing the application. If the adult household member signing the 
application does not possess a social security number, he/she must 
indicate so on the application. Provision of a social security number 
is not mandatory, but if a social security number is not provided or an 
indication is not made that the adult household member signing the 
application does not have one, the application cannot be approved. This 
notice must be brought to the attention of the household member whose 
social security number is disclosed. The social security number may be 
used to identify the household member in carrying out efforts to verify 
the correctness of information stated on the application. * * *
* * * * *
    (iii) * * *
    (C) The social security number of the adult household member who 
signs the application, or an indication that he/she does not possess a 
social security number;
* * * * *
    (E) A statement which includes substantially the following 
information: ``Section 9 of the National School Lunch Act requires 
that, unless a food stamp case number or SSI or Medicaid assistance 
identification number is provided for the adult for whom benefits are 
sought, you must include a social security number on the application. 
This must be the social security number of the adult household member 
signing the application. If the adult household member signing the 
application does not possess a social security number, he/she must 
indicate so on the application. Provision of a social security number 
is not mandatory, but if a social security number is not provided or an 
indication is not made that the adult household member signing the 
application does not have one, the application cannot be approved. This 
notice must be brought to the attention of the household member whose 
social security number is disclosed. The social security number may be 
used to identify the household member in carrying out efforts to verify 
the correctness of information stated on the application. * * *
* * * * *
    (4) * * * The institution shall take the income information 
provided by the household on the application and calculate the 
household's total current income. * * *
* * * * *
    (h) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) Households shall be informed in writing that they have been 
selected for verification and they are required to submit the requested 
verification information to confirm their eligibility for free or 
reduced-price benefits by such date as determined by the State agency. 
Those households shall be informed of the type or types of information 
and/or documents acceptable to the State agency and the name and phone 
number of an official who can answer questions and assist the household 
in the verification effort. This information must include a social 
security number for each adult household member or an indication that 
he/she does not have one. State agencies shall inform selected 
households that:
    (A) Section 9 of the National School Lunch Act requires that, 
unless households provide the child's food stamp or AFDC case number, 
or the adult participant's food stamp case number or SSI or Medicaid 
assistance identification number, those selected for verification must 
provide the social security number of each adult household member;
    (B) In lieu of providing a social security number, an adult 
household member may indicate that he/she does not possess one;
    (C) Provision of a social security number is not mandatory, but if 
a social security number is not provided for each adult household 
member or an indication is not made that he/she does not possess one, 
benefits will be terminated;
    (D) The social security number may be used to identify household 
members in carrying out efforts to verify the correctness of 
information stated on the application and continued eligibility for the 
program. These verification efforts may be carried out through program 
reviews, audits, and investigations and may include contacting 
employers to determine income, contacting Federal, State or local 
agencies to determine current certification for receipt of food stamps 
or AFDC, SSI or Medicaid benefits, contacting the State employment 
security office to determine the amount of benefits received, and 
checking the documentation produced by household members to prove the 
amount of income received. These efforts may result in loss or 
reduction of benefits, administrative claims or legal actions if 
incorrect information was reported; and
    (E) This information must be provided to the attention of each 
adult household member disclosing his/her social security number. State 
agencies shall ensure that the notice complies with section 7 of Pub. 
L. 93-579 (Privacy Act of 1974). These households shall be provided 
with the name and phone number of an official who can assist in the 
verification effort.
* * * * *
    Dated: April 30, 1996.
William E. Ludwig,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-12851 Filed 5-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-U