Finding Text
2025-003 – Inaccurate Eligibility Classification and System Entry U.S. Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) – AL #10.558 TN Department of Human Services Condition: We noted multiple instances in which eligibility determinations based on income levels, specifically related to rates at which student meals are reimbursed (paid, reduced, or free), lacked sufficient controls in place to categorize the student accurately. Criteria: Under 2 CFR 200.303, non-federal entities must establish and maintain effective internal control over federal programs to provide reasonable assurance of compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award. The OMB Compliance Supplement for CACFP requires recipients to obtain, review, and retain sufficient documentation to verify participant eligilbility at the time eligibility is determined. Cause: Due to the process being heavily manual in nature, the deficiencies ultimately resulted from human error. Despite multiple levels of documented approvals of the application, the control failed as the different levels of review did not catch the participant being classified incorrectly based on income levels. Additionally, there is a lack of defined procedures to ensure that the approved documentation is reconciled with the eligibility category entered into the system, as there were instances where the student was classified correctly on the application form but not within the system. The errors affected both manual documentation review and data-entry classification, indicating a disconnect between approval and system processing. Effect: Due to the eligibility classifications being incorrect, the Organization was reimbursed at lower rates than supported by the documentation. As a result, the errors did not lead to overcharging the federal program, but instead, caused the Organization to claim less reimbursement than that for which it was eligible. Although this reduces the risk of questioned costs for overbillings, the conditions represent a control failure. Such control failures could lead to future noncompliance or incorrect claims in either direction if not addressed. Context: A sample of forty (40) students were selected for eligibility testing. Three (3) CACFP application forms were classified incorrectly as free, reduced, or paid based on income levels. Two (2) participants were entered into the system under the incorrect eligibility category, resulting in a discrepancy between the supporting documentation and the recorded classification. Recommendation: We recommend that management strengthen internal controls over the eligibility process. Management should retain the multi-level review structure; however, each level of review should include a documented verification of income information and eligibility categorization. In addition, management should implement a formal reconciliation process that confirms the eligibility classification approved on the application form matches the classification entered into the system prior to finalization or claim submission. Management’s Response: See accompanying management’s corrective action plan.