Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Public Assistance Disqualification for the 2nd Quarter Fiscal Year 2014

By admin

The Director of the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Mr. James W. Gillan, releases the statistics for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2014 (January 2014 to March 2014) relative to the number of clients who were disqualified from participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP formerly known as Food Stamp Program) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program.

These clients were found to have intentionally violated rules under the SNAP and TANF Programs.

PROGRAM	NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS DISQUALIFIED	AMOUNT OF RESTITUTION
PROGRAM	2nd Quarter	2nd Quarter
SNAP	17	$63,067.00
TANF	3	$3,397.00

GRAND TOTAL	20	$66,464.00

Of the twenty (20) disqualifications, six (6) were as a result of failing to report the loss of household members. Nine (9) were disqualified for failing to report employment timely. Four (4) clients were penalized for paying for credited items with the EBT card and one (1) client was disqualified for exchanging benefits for cash, these five (5) cases are considered trafficking. Nineteen (19) of the disqualifications were for 12 months for a first violation. One (1) was disqualified as a second offense.

Individuals who were found to have committed Intentional Program Violation (IPV) through Administrative Disqualification Hearing (ADH) shall be ineligible to participate in the program for:

12 MONTHS for the 1^ST VIOLATION

24 MONTHS for the 2^ND VIOLATION

PERMANENT DISQUALIFICATION for the 3^RD VIOLATION

PERMANENT DISQUALIFICATION for TRAFFICKING over $500.00

Under the Simplified Reporting on SNAP, households are required to report only when the income exceeds 130% of the federal poverty level. This change must be reported by the 10^th of the month following the month the change occurred. To comply with TANF Program requirements, any change in employment, household members moving in or out, or change of address requires that the household report to the department within 10 days from the date the change becomes known to the household.

Should you have any questions, please contact Mr. Francis L.G. Damian, Program Coordinator IV, Investigation and Recoupment Office at the Bureau of Management Support at 735-7379/7344.