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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTIONS 100 TO 900 900 Authorized Representatives 980 Residential Facilities as Authorized Representatives(ARs)

Any organization, institution, or group living arrangement that serves as an AR is responsible for any misrepresentation or fraud knowingly committed when resident households are approved for SNAP benefits. For this reason, the employee designated to serve as the AR must be familiar with each resident’s household situation and must carefully review each application for SNAPs with the household before submitting the application to the county office. A facility will also be strictly liable for all misuse of SNAP benefits received on behalf of resident households and for all over issuances that occur while households are residing in the facility and are represented by the facility. There are two exceptions: EXCEPTION 1: Residents of group living arrangements applying on their own behalf are responsible for over issuances as would be any other household. EXCEPTION 2: Residents of shelters for battered women and children are responsible for any misinformation and/or over issuances even if they were certified through an AR. When it is determined administratively or judicially that a facility has misappropriated or used SNAP benefits for purposes not contributing to a certified household’s meals, the facility may be penalized. Employees of alcoholism and drug addiction treatment centers and the heads of group living arrangements that intentionally misrepresent a resident’s circumstances while acting as the resident’s authorized representative in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may be prosecuted under applicable state and federal statutes for their acts. The county office will promptly notify the Central Office Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Section in writing when it believes that a facility is misusing SNAP benefits. The SNAP Section will, in turn, notify FNS when it has reason to believe that the facility is misusing SNAP benefits. FNS will determine whether a facility will be disqualified. No action will be taken by the state against the facility before FNS takes action. If FNS disqualifies an organization or institution as a result, the SNAP Section will notify the county office of this action. The County Office will then suspend the violator’s status as an AR for the same time period as instructed in SNAP 970. If a group living arrangement has its status as an AR suspended, residents applying on their own behalf may still participate. A claim will be established against the facility for over issuances of SNAP benefits held for resident households if such over issuances are discovered during an FNS investigation or hearing.