Every recipient whose case is selected in a QC sample must cooperate with both a state review and a federal re-review. Any recipient who refuses without good cause to cooperate with state and/or federal QC is ineligible for benefits in the program being reviewed.
QC will notify the CAO when a recipient fails to cooperate. Upon such notification, the CAO will:
1. Contact the recipient to learn the reason for refusal or failure to cooperate. The CAO should encourage the recipient to cooperate with Quality Control.
2. If the recipient changes his/her mind and agrees to cooperate, arrange an appointment with the QC reviewer.
3. If the recipient still refuses to cooperate, notify the budget group or applicant/recipient group by Advance Notice that benefits will be discontinued.
4. Redetermine eligibility for other benefit programs.
In addition to the discontinuance of benefits, the CAO will impose durational (time) penalties for SNAP households who refuse to cooperate with QC.
NOTE: If a household cooperates with the QC review after the Advance Notice is received, either before or after benefits are terminated, the CAO will not impose a penalty.
Example: On December 1, 2004, Mr. Marple refused to cooperate with the state QC reviewer. The CAO terminated benefits effective January 1, 2005. Mr. Marple chose to cooperate with QC and completed his SNAP review on January 16, 2005. Assuming he met all other conditions of eligibility, Mr. Marple is now eligible for participation in SNAP.
If a household refuses to cooperate, the CAO will discontinue benefits for the time periods indicated below before the household may again participate in SNAP.
For refusal to cooperate with the state QC, the household is ineligible for 95 days from the end of the completed annual review period, or until January 4 of the following calendar year.
Examples:
The annual review period used in the following examples is October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005.
On December 1, 2004, Mr. Bell refused to cooperate with the state QC reviewer. The CAO terminated benefits effective January 1, 2005. Mr. Bell reapplied on March 1, 2005. The CAO determined the household ineligible because the review period had not ended. Mr. Bell remained ineligible until January 4, 2006.
On May 1, 2004, Mrs. King refused to cooperate with the state QC reviewer. The CAO terminated the household’s SNAP benefits effective June 1, 2004. Mrs. King reapplied on January 4, 2005. The household is now eligible because the penalty period ended January 3, 2005.
For refusal to cooperate with the federal QC, the household is ineligible until May 1 of the following calendar year.
Examples:
On May 1, 2004, Miss Ewing refused to cooperate with the federal QC reviewer. The CAO terminated benefits effective June 1, 2005. Miss Ewing chose to cooperate with QC and completed her SNAP review on June 23, 2005. Assuming she met all other conditions of eligibility, Miss Ewing is now eligible for participation in SNAP.
On August 1, 2004, Mrs. Snead refused to cooperate with the federal QC reviewer. Effective September 1, 2004, the CAO terminated the household’s SNAP benefits. Mrs. Snead reapplied on February 1, 2005. The CAO determined that the household was ineligible and remained ineligible until May 1, 2005.
On March 1, 2004, Mr. White refused to cooperate with the federal QC reviewer. Effective April 1, 2004, the CAO terminated the household’s benefits. Mr. White reapplied on May 1, 2005. The household is now eligible as the penalty period ended April 30, 2005.
If the CAO terminates benefits for refusal to cooperate, the household may reapply, but is not eligible until it cooperates with the QC reviewer, or until the penalty period ends.
When the household refuses to cooperate and the CAO imposes a penalty, the household must verify all factors of eligibility before it is again eligible to participate.
Reissued September 20, 2012, replacing March 16, 2012