Food Stamp Program: Electronic Benefit Transfer Benefit Adjustments

This action provides interim rulemaking for a proposed rule published on May 19, 1998. It revises Food Stamp Program regulations pertaining to the State agency's ability to make an adjustment to a household's account in an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system. The changes enable State agencies to make an adjustment to correct system errors without sending an advance notice as currently required. This rule also revises the formula for recovering funds under the re- presentation rule. The Department received a large number of comments to the proposed rule, many of which suggested substantive changes. At least two significant changes to the proposed rule have been incorporated as a result of the comments received. Therefore, the Department has decided to allow further comment by publishing an interim final rule. All comments received will be analyzed, and any appropriate changes in the rule will be incorporated into the subsequent publication of a final rule.