Verification for cause must not be used to automatically verify the households of all SFA employees whose children are certified for free or reduced-price meals. However, from among the list of children approved for free or reduced-price meals, an SFA could identify children of SFA employees and use SFA salary information available to them to identify questionable applications and then conduct verifications for cause on those questionable applications.
SFAs can use verification for cause to review approved applications for free or reduced-price meals when known or available information indicates SFA employees may have misrepresented the income on their applications to receive free or reduced-price meals for their children. USDA recommends that an SFA consult with legal counsel in establishing the parameters of verification for cause for school district employees.