An issue has been identified affecting the continuation flag variable for SNAP receipt.  The continuation flag variable applies to SNAP spells that are on-going in the month of December of the reference year.  When RFS_CONTFLG=1, it indicates that the SNAP spell ended in the month of December.  When RFS_CONTFLG is equal to 2 or to 3, it indicates the SNAP spell continued past the reference year.

When the last recorded month of a spell falls in December (EFS_EMONTH=12) there should be a value of 1, 2, or 3 for RFS_CONTFLG.

92 person-months have been identified where EFS_EMONTH=12, but RFS_CONTFLG=N.  In these cases, AFS_CONTFLG=0, where it should be equal to 3.  We are investigating this inconsistency.

SUGGESTED INTERIM ACTION-We suggest data users using the RFS_CONTFLG and AFS_CONTFLG variables consider dropping those observations where EFS_EMONTH=12 and RFS_CONTFLG=N.  

A second issue has been identified affecting the continuation flag variable for SNAP receipt. 

As discussed above, there should only be a value of  1, 2, or 3 for RFS_CONTFLG in those cases where EFS_EMONTH=12.  In spells where the last month of receipt is between January and November, inclusive, (EFS_EMONTH lt 12) the value of RFS_CONTFLG should be N for all records, and for AFS_CONTFLG should equal 0.

162 person-months have been identified where EFS_EMONTH was less than 12 but RFS_CONTFLG was not equal to N, although it should be.  We are investigating this inconsistency.

SUGGESTED INTERIM ACTION-We suggest data users using the RFS_CONTFLG and AFS_CONTFLG variables set these 162 person-month records to N and 0, respectively.