§292.5. General purpose and scope. — Inbound Citations

(2) Current income means income received during the month prior to application for Summer EBT benefits. If such income does not accurately reflect the household's annual income, income must 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.

Department means the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Direct verification means the process of verifying household income or categorical eligibility by matching against data sources or other records without the need to contact households for documentation.

Disclosure means reveal or use individual children's program eligibility information obtained through the Summer EBT eligibility process for a purpose other than for the purpose for which the information was obtained. The term refers to access, release, or transfer of personal data about children by means of print, tape, microfilm, microfiche, electronic communication or any other means.

Dual participation means a child simultaneously receiving benefits from more than one State or ITO-administered Summer EBT Program, or simultaneously receiving multiple allotments from the same State or ITO-administered Summer EBT Program.

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) account means a set of records containing demographic, card, benefit, transaction, and balance data for an individual household within the EBT system that is maintained and managed by a Summer EBT agency or its contractor as part of the client case record.

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card means a method to access EBT benefits issued to a household member or authorized representative through the EBT system by a benefit issuer. This method may include an on-line magnetic stripe card, an off-line smart card, a chip card, a contactless digital wallet with a stored card, or any other similar benefit access technology approved by USDA.

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) contractor or vendor means an entity that is selected to perform EBT-related services for the Summer EBT agency.

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system means an electronic payments system under which benefits are issued from and stored in a central databank, maintained and managed by a Summer EBT agency or its contractor, and uses electronic funds transfer technology for the delivery and control of food and other public assistance benefits.

Eligible child means a child who meets the requirements to receive Summer EBT benefits as provided in §§ 292.5 and 292.6.

Eligible household means a household that includes at least one eligible child.

Enhancement means modifications which change the functions of software and hardware beyond their original purposes, not just to correct errors or deficiencies which may have been present in the software or hardware, or to improve the operational performance of the software or hardware. Software enhancements that substantially increase risk or cost or functionality will require submission of an IAPD or an As Needed IAPDU.

Enrolled students means students who are enrolled in and attending schools participating in the NSLP/SBP and who have access to a meal service (breakfast or lunch) on a regular basis.

Expungement means the removal of Summer-EBT benefits from the EBT account to which they were issued, typically by an EBT processor on behalf of a Summer EBT agency.

FDPIR means the food distribution program for households on Indian reservations operated under 7 CFR part 253, and the food distribution program for Indian households in Oklahoma under 7 CFR part 254.

FNS means the Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of Agriculture.

FNSRO means an FNS Regional Office.

Firm, as used in this part:

(1) Summer EBT agencies must enroll eligible children in Summer EBT if it is determined that they meet the requirements to receive free or reduced price meals at § 292.5(a), as determined through a complete Summer EBT application. A Summer EBT application is considered complete if the following information is provided:

(i) Names of children and other household members;

(ii) Amount, source, and frequency of income for each household member; and

(iii) Signature of an adult household member, including electronic signatures, as described in § 292.13(h).

(c) The application must be clear and simple in design and the required information must be limited to what is required to demonstrate that the household does, or does not, meet the eligibility criteria for Summer EBT benefits at § 292.5(a). The application or associated instructions must also include the income eligibility guidelines and an explanation that households with incomes at or below the income limit may be eligible for Summer EBT. Summer EBT agencies are encouraged to include optional questions on the application to improve customer service including, but not limited to:

(1) Preferred method of communication (e.g., mail, email, phone, text message);

(2) Preferred contact information;

(3) Preferred language of communication;

(4) Preferred method of benefit issuance (e.g., EBT card, electronic benefit);

(5) Interest in receiving information about how to access other assistance program benefits (e.g., Summer Food Service Program, NSLP/SBP, Child and Adult Care Food Program, SNAP, WIC, TANF, FDPIR, Medicaid);

(6) Membership in an ITO; and

(7) Other program options where a household may have preferences, receipt of information that households may find useful, or information that would aid Summer EBT agencies in successful program implementation.

(2) Meet the requirements to receive free or reduced price meals at § 292.5(a), as determined through an NSLP/SBP application;