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CONTACT: Seth Boffeli, (608) 266-5862
USDA: WISCONSIN AMONG THE MOST ACCURATE STATES FOR
FOODSHARE ENROLLMENT
State to Receive Nearly $3 Million in Bonus Payments
for Being National Leader
MADISON—The United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack announced that Wisconsin will receive
nearly $3 million in bonus payments for having one of the highest
FoodShare accuracy rates in the nation and making the most dramatic
improvement of any state. A USDA review found that 98.9% of the benefits
issued in Wisconsin were for correct amount and that 95.4% of the
individuals deemed eligible by the state were indeed eligible.
Department of Health Services Secretary Karen Timberlake today issued
the following statement regarding USDA Secretary Vilsack's announcement:
"We have worked very hard in Wisconsin to make sure the right
people have the right benefits at the right time. And we are proud to be a
national leader on an important issue for the health and well being of
people across Wisconsin. These bonus awards prove that our hard work is
paying off and that hundreds-of-thousands of people in Wisconsin are
getting the food benefits they're entitled to."
USDA announced that Wisconsin has earned two bonus awards. Wisconsin's
FoodShare program will receive $1.9 million for having one of the lowest
payment accuracy error rates (1.1%) which means members are receiving the
appropriate amount for their FoodShare benefits. In addition, Wisconsin
has also earned a $967,000 award for being among states with the most
improved negative error rate, which measures the number of times
ineligible individuals are enrolled in the program and eligible
individuals are cut off in error. Wisconsin's negative error rate was
12.8% in Federal Fiscal Year 2008 and is now 4.56%. This is lower than the
national average negative error rate of 9.41%.
The USDA estimates that each $1 spent in FoodShare benefits results in
$1.84 in economic activity for Wisconsin.
For more information, visit the USDA Newsroom at: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome
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Last Revised: July 12, 2010 |
