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S N A P M A N U A L

357 Management Evaluation (ME) Reviews A review conducted by States at the project area level to determine if State agencies are administering and operating SNAP in accordance with program requirements. Mandatory Utility Allowance (MUA) A utility deduction allowed for households that incur and are billed for a heating and cooling cost. Master Issuance File A cumulative file containing the individual records and status of households, and the amount of benefits, if any, each household is authorized to receive. Means-tested Programs which limit eligibility to individuals or families whose incomes and or assets fall below a pre-determined threshold (means test). A determination of whether an individual or family is eligible for government assistance, based upon whether the individual or family possesses the means to do without that help. It measures an individual or family's income against the federal poverty line. Medicaid Medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act, as amended. Medical Deduction The portion of out-of-pocket medical expenses in excess of $35 per month per household, excluding special diets, incurred by at least one eligible household member who is elderly or disabled. Minimum Benefit The minimum monthly amount of SNAP benefits that eligible one- and two-person households receive. National Performance Measure The sum of the products of each State agency's payment error rate times that State agency's proportion of the total value of the national allotments issued for the fiscal year using the most recent issuance data available at the time the State agency is notified of its performance error rate. Natural Parent The woman who gave birth to a child or the man who is related by birth to a child. This parent is also known as the biological parent. Negative Case A category in which a case is selected for SNAP QC review. The household’s participation in SNAP was denied, suspended, or terminated.