1603 Computing the Amount to be Restored

After correcting the loss for future months and excluding those months for which benefits may have been lost prior to the 12-month time limits described in Sections 1601 and 1602, the county department shall calculate the amount to be restored as follows: 1. If the household was eligible, but received an incorrect allotment, the loss of benefits shall be calculated only for those months the household participated. 2. If the loss was caused by an incorrect delay, denial, or termination of benefits, the months affected by the loss shall be calculated as follows: a) If an eligible household’s application was erroneously denied, the month the loss initially occurred shall be the month of application, or for an eligible household filing a timely reapplication, the month following the expiration of its certification period. b) If an eligible household’s application was delayed, the months for which benefits may be lost shall be calculated in accordance with procedures in Section 207. c) If a household’s benefits were erroneously terminated, the month the loss initially occurred shall be the first month benefits were not received as a result of the erroneous action. After computing the date the loss initially occurred, the loss shall be calculated for each month subsequent to that date until either the first month the error is corrected or the first month the household is found ineligible. For each month affected by the loss, the county department shall determine if the household was actually eligible. In cases where there is no information in the household’s case file to document that the household was actually eligible, the county department shall advise the household of what information must be provided to determine eligibility for these months. For each month the household cannot provide the necessary information to demonstrate its eligibility, the household shall be considered ineligible. For the months the household was eligible, the county department shall calculate the allotment the household should have received. If the household received a smaller allotment than it was eligible to receive, the difference between the actual and correct allotments equals the amount to be restored. If a claim against a household is unpaid or held in suspense as provided in the Claims Against Households Manual, the amount to be restored shall be offset against the amount due on the claim before the balance, if any, is restored to the household. At the point in time when the household is certified and receives an initial allotment, the initial allotment shall not be reduced to offset claims, even if the initial allotment is paid retroactively.