Connecticut Department of Social Services Uniform Policy Manual: 1525.20 Authorized Representatives - Disqualification

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICESPRIVATE UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL ______________________________________________________________________________ Date: 11-1-97 Transmittal: UP-98-12 1525.20 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Eligibility Process POLICY ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: FS Authorized Representatives _______________________________________________________________ Subject: Disqualification ______________________________________________________________________________

1525.20 A. Non-institutional Cases

1. An individual is disqualified from participation in the eligibility process as an authorized representative if the Department obtains evidence that the individual:

a. has knowingly misrepresented the circumstances of the assistance unit and provided false information to the Department; or

b. has made improper use of an EBT debit card.

2. The period of disqualification shall be for twelve months beginning with the month following the month of discovery of the misrepresentation or the misuse of an EBT debit card.

B. Institutions

1. If an institution has its status as authorized representative suspended by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the Department disqualifies the institution from participating in the eligibility process upon notification from FNS.

2. The period of disqualification shall be for the period imposed by FNS.

3. The Department informs FNS of any violation committed by an authorized institution acting on behalf of a resident as an authorized representative.

C. Individuals Disqualified for an Intentional Program Violation

1. Individuals disqualified from the FS program because of an intentional program violation may not serve as authorized representatives for any assistance unit other than the one from which they are excluded for the longer of the following periods:

a. the period of overpayment disqualification; or

b. twelve months beginning with the first month of the overpayment disqualification period.

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL ______________________________________________________________________________ Date: 04-1-03 Transmittal: UP-03-03 1525.20 page 2 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Eligibility Process POLICY ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: FS Authorized Representatives _______________________________________________________________ Subject: Disqualification ______________________________________________________________________________

1525.20 C. Individuals Disqualified for an Intentional Program Violation (continued)

2. Individuals disqualified from the FS program because of an intentional program violation may not serve as authorized representative for the assistance unit from which they are excluded during the fraud disqualification period, except when:

a. the individual is the only adult able to act as head of the assistance unit; and

b. no other adult is able to serve as the authorized representative for the assistance unit.

3. The Department determines separately whether the disqualified individual is permitted to:

a. make application; and

b. obtain and use an EBT debit card as the authorized representative.

4. The individual's authorization is limited during the fraud disqualification period to those duties which no other adult representative is able to perform.

D. Notification

The Department notifies the affected assistance unit and the authorized representative at least thirty days prior to the date the authorized representative is disqualified.