910.7 Disqualification for Intentional Program Violations

An individual will be disqualified from participating in the Cash Assistance and/or SNAP programs if:

55 Pa. Code § 255.1(c)

 

7 CFR § 273.16(b)

Individuals will be disqualified from the Cash Assistance programs:

55 Pa. Code § 255.1(c)

Exception: If on the first or second offense a court finds an individual fraudulently misrepresented residence to obtain GA, TANF, MA, SNAP, or SSI benefits in two or more states, the disqualification is 10 years.

42 USC § 608(a)(8)

62 P.S. § 481(f)

55 Pa. Code § 255.1(c)

 

Individuals will be disqualified from the SNAP program:

7 CFR § 273.16(b)

7 USC § 2015(b)(1)

 

Exceptions:

7 USC § 2015

 

7 USC § 2015(b)(1)(iv)

The disqualification penalty must be imposed within 45 days from:

7 CFR § 273.16(g)(2)

 

7 CFR § 273.16(h)(2)

 

When a disqualification penalty is imposed, the individual does not have the right to request a fair hearing on the underlying court conviction or ADH decision that led to disqualification, but may appeal other facts, such as:

7 CFR § 273.16(e)(8)(ii)

 

Once an individual has been disqualified, the disqualification period continues uninterrupted until completed regardless of any change in the eligibility of the disqualified individual’s family/household during the disqualification period.

55 Pa. Code § 255.1(f)

7 CFR § 273.16(e)(8)(iv)

Current cash and SNAP disqualification penalty information is available to the CAO through OARS.

NOTE:  The time that a person serves for a disqualification penalty does not count toward the cash assistance eligibility time limits.

 

910.71 OSIG Disqualification Procedures

The OSIG will enter Pennsylvania Cash Assistance and SNAP disqualification information into OARS within five work days of the date that:

The OSIG receives a batch file from the national SNAP database which is cross-referenced with CIS to locate any individuals who may be actively receiving benefits.  Individuals who are identified in this process are entered into OARS and imposed disqualifications as outlined in Section 910.72.

910.72 OARS Disqualification Actions

The OARS will impose the disqualification of an individual who is not actively receiving benefits when the disqualification is ordered. OARS will send the inactive individual a Disqualification Notice, which will show the effective date of the disqualification, the disqualification number, and the length of the disqualification penalty.

OARS will interface with the Client Information System (CIS) to provide the CAO with information on an applicant who is serving a disqualification. CIS will display a message on the CAPDRS screen during the application process (AP) if the applicant is serving an out-of-state or Pennsylvania disqualification for committing an IPV.

OARS will notify the CAO by alert if an individual who is receiving benefits should be disqualified for committing an IPV. The alert is generated when the SSN of an active individual is matched in both the OARS and CIS. The alerts generated by OARS to the CAOs are:

NOTE:  For alerts #127 and #128, OARS has imposed the disqualification and notified the individual.

910.73 CAO Disqualification Actions on Active Cases

Within 10 work days from the date of receipt of an OARS disqualification alert on an active case, the CAO will:

1. Check OARS to obtain the case demographics (SSN, Name, Date of Birth, and Sex) and disqualification penalty offense number.

2. Compare the OARS demographics to the demographics in the case record. If the demographics match, continue with the disqualification action as indicated below. If the demographics do not match, no disqualification action can be taken. Immediately notify the OSIG by telephone at (717) 783-2633.

3. Obtain secondary verification for OARS alerts for a disqualification from out of state.

NOTE:  It is not necessary for the CAO to wait for the receipt of the secondary verification from the out-of-state contact if the individual confirms the out-of-state disqualification information. However, if the individual denies/disputes the out-of-state disqualification information, the CAO must wait for the out-of-state disqualification evidence before taking further action.

4. Take immediate action to disqualify and remove the individual from the benefit program.

5. Determine the eligibility of the remaining family/household members. The income and resources of the disqualified individual are considered available to the remaining members. Income deductions are allowed from the disqualified individual’s income and resources as if that person was an active individual. See Cash Assistance Handbook, Chapter 160 and SNAP Handbook, Chapter 555.

55 Pa. Code § 255.1(c)

 

7 CFR § 273.11(c)(1)

 

6. Send an Advance Notice to Discontinue or Reduce case benefits – see CIS Reference Table (transaction TENG) to select the appropriate disqualification text for the notice.

NOTE:  If a manual notice is used instead of the automated notice, send a copy of the manual notice to the OSIG at the address listed below (#8).

7. Enter the disqualification action in the case record narrative.

8. Send the secondary evidence obtained on an out-of-state disqualification to the OSIG, Bureau of Fraud Prevention and Prosecution, 555 Walnut Street, 7th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

 

910.74 CAO Disqualification Actions on Applications

For an applicant who is applying for benefits and is serving a Cash Assistance or SNAP disqualification for an IPV committed in Pennsylvania, the CAO will:

For an applicant who is applying for SNAP benefits and is serving an out-of-state SNAP disqualification, the CAO will:

7 CFR § 273.11(c)(1)

 

NOTE:  Waiting for the receipt of out-of-state disqualification evidence shall not interfere with or delay expedited service benefits beyond the five-day delivery standard. When the out-of-state evidence is received, an individual error overpayment claim is established against the household for any overpaid benefits.

910.75 Untimely Disqualifications

The CAO must refer the overpayment to the OSIG when a disqualification penalty is not imposed within 45 calendar days from the date the court or hearing authority found the individual committed an IPV (See the “Disqualification” tab in OARS ), and an agency error overpayment occurs for any benefits received by the individual who should have been disqualified and possibly for the benefits received by the other household members.

In addition, the period of the individual’s disqualification will be decreased by the period of time covered by the overpayment.

Example: Mr. Holland should have been disqualified for six months, starting on 4/1/14. However, this action was not taken until 6/1/14.. Therefore, an overpayment exists for the period 4/1/14 through 5/31/14. The period of Mr Holland’s disqualification is reduced to four months, beginning on 6/1/14.and ending on 9/30/14.. Mr Holland may reapply for benefits on 10/1/14.

 

Updated April 17, 2023, replacing March 24, 2021