IM-127 09/23/03 REMOVAL OF REQUIREMENT
TO COOPERATE WITH A FOOD STAMP
FRAUD INVESTIGATION TO RECEIVE FOOD
STAMP BENEFITS
| SUBJECT: |
| REMOVAL OF REQUIREMENT TO COOPERATE WITH A FOOD STAMP FRAUD INVESTIGATION TO RECEIVE FOOD STAMP BENEFITS |
| DISCUSSION: |
| Effective immediately, the eligibility
unit (EU) is not penalized by sanction if they do not cooperate with a
food stamp fraud investigation. Discontinue use of the IM-31 Appointment
Letter/Request For Contact (RFC) if the EU does not appear for an interview
with or supply information to the Welfare Investigation Unit (WIU).
WIU, in the course of investigation of food stamp fraud, may request the EU to supply information or meet with the investigator. In policy issued in Memorandum IM #118 dated 09/19/02, staff were instructed to use the RFC to request the EU to contact the caseworker to discuss the failure to cooperate with WIU. After further review, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has advised this policy is no longer correct. The new ruling from FNS is that the RFC may only be issued when the worker learns of changes in the EU's circumstances that calls into question the EU's continued eligibility for the Food Stamp Program or its current level of benefits. The RFC is not issued as an attempt to require an individual to meet with, or supply information to, a fraud investigator. The worker can not threaten to terminate participation in the Food Stamp Program for failure to cooperate with a fraud investigation. |
| NECESSARY ACTION: |
|
| IM-126 |
|