C. Negative Case

C. Negative Case Errors:In FFY 2005, Alaska reported only 2 negative errors, for a negative case error rate of0.79 percent. The national average was 5.91 percent. Alaska was ranked seventh inthe nation for negative case accuracy. Negative case reviews (of cases denied,terminated, or suspended) have shown improvement in each of the past three yearsand consistently remain below the national average.D. Quality Control Case Reviews Not Completed:Alaska was required to complete at least 394 active quality control case reviewsin FFY 2005. There were 401 reviews completed. Reviews that cannot becompleted are reported as Code 2 (Not Subject to Review), or Code 3(Incomplete).Code 2 cases are commonly those households that have moved out of state,have died, or cannot be located after several documented attempts. Code 3cases include those in which the client has refused to cooperate in the reviewprocess and the state has been unable to reach a likely conclusion regarding thehousehold’s eligibility and benefit amount from available information. In thesesituations, clients are placed in sanction and do not receive further food stampsuntil they cooperate in the review process, or ninety-five days have passed sincethe end of the federal fiscal year (usually January 3 of the next year).Code 3 cases also include those in which the client cooperated, but collateralsources did not cooperate or return needed information for mandatoryverifications, and the state has been unable to reach a likely conclusionregarding the household’s eligibility and benefit amount.In the following table, Code 2 refers to cases that are not subject to review.Code 3 is used for all cases that could not be completed, whether because ofclient non-cooperation or other reasons.12/18/2006 11

NSTR and Not Completed Cases by Month for FFY 03 through FFY 05FFY 2003 FFY 2004 FFY 2005MonthCode Code Code2 3 Total 2 3 Total 2 3 TotalOctober 2 1 3 2 0 2 3 3 6November 4 0 4 2 0 2 2 1 3December 1 1 2 5 0 5 1 0 1January 3 0 3 4 0 4 1 0 1February 2 1 3 1 0 1 1 0 1March 0 0 0 2 0 2 3 0 3April 0 0 0 3 4 7 3 6 9May 1 2 3 3 2 5 2 2 4June 1 1 2 4 2 6 1 3 4July 2 0 2 2 1 3 2 1 3August 3 4 7 4 1 5 3 5 8September 2 5 7 4 1 5 3 3 6Total 21 15 36 36 11 47 25 24 49The following tables compare all dropped cases for the last three federal fiscalyears. Non-completion rates are determined by calculating the percentage ofincomplete reviews (code 3) to the total number of cases selected for review.Alaska’s percentage of cases not completed has been adversely affected by FNS’recent interpretation limiting drawing likely conclusions and now exceeds 5 percentof the total cases selected for review.Non-Completion RateFFY 2003 FFY 2004 FFY 2005Total Cases Selected for Review 388 379 450Total Not Completed (Code 3) 15 11 24Percent Not Completed 3.9% 2.9% 5.3%The percentage of cases that are “not subject to review” impedes Alaska’s abilityto complete 98 percent of cases, and thus adversely impacts the error rate.Cases Not Subject to ReviewFFY 2003 FFY 2004 FFY 2005Total Cases Selected for Review 388 379 450Total Not Subject to Review (Code 2) 21 36 25Percent NSTR 5.4% 9.5% 5.6%12/18/2006 12