Program Integrity and Analysis

It has been a year since we began our Better Than Average Food Stamp Program accuracy campaign. At that time, we set what seemed a lofty goal for ourselves, improving our payment accuracy rate from the worst in the nation to 93% in one year. I remember a distinct feeling while meeting with you last fall to kick off the campaign of my doubts quickly shifting to a strong belief that "we can do this". Every office acknowledged the importance of work quality and was confident that we could improve it. And indeed you have! Our food stamp accuracy rate now stands at 93.6%.

I want to congratulate you all on the successful effort you continue make toward achieving our Better than Average food stamp accuracy campaign goal. Last October we set a very ambitious goal of 93% payment accuracy for the fiscal year ending this September. At that time Alaska had the highest food stamp error rate in the nation. We are now definitely on track, and seriously contending for a performance bonus award as a state with the most improved accuracy.

The Program Integrity & Analysis unit split the District Office Performance Measures report into a timeliness report and an accuracy report. We split the report because the data for timeliness and accuracy are available at different times in the month.

I wanted to share with you some good news on our Better Than Average food stamp accuracy improvement campaign. You all know our goal is to perform better than the national average, and achieve at least 93% food stamp payment accuracy in Federal Fiscal Year 2004. So far, your hard work and increased focus on work quality appears to be yielding results. Thank you for your contribution to improving our accuracy.

The Program Integrity and Analysis (PI&A) section has been working to make DPA performance measures available to you online. Currently the District Office, the Work Services performance measures and the Food Stamp Accuracy Campaign pages are available. These measures can be accessed from the PI&A web page.

Happy New Year Everyone. You all know that we have set improving work quality as a high priority for the Division of Public Assistance. Our Better than Average! campaign has set a goal of 93 percent Food Stamp Program payment accuracy by October 2004. We aim to finish the year below the National average error rate. We are starting to see improvement from your hard work and the quality initiatives that offices have put in place.

There is some confusion with the online version of the Report of Claim Determination form (gen95). The form is currently under revision and a new version that will allow you to send it by email will be available soon.

Direct Deposit is a great way for the State of Alaska to deliver cash payments, and a smart choice for Alaska payees receiving ATAP or APA benefits. Simply stated, Direct Deposit is less expensive to use than a Quest card, and more secure and efficient than checks. Please try to advise your current and future APA and ATAP clients of the availability of direct deposit to their personal bank account.

We have posted the materials for the upcoming Direct Deposit campaign on DPAweb and on the DPA public website. On the Publications page, we have placed the brochure, enrollment form, and banking information all in one PDF document for easy access.