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Title 7: SNAP Page 18 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter C: Nonfinancial Eligibility Investigations Revised September 27, 2024

Investigations Legal reference: 481 IAC 72.1(10A), 72.2(10A), 72.4(10A) Policy: The purpose of an investigation is to prevent households from fraudulently receiving benefits or determine if households previously received benefits incorrectly. HHS contracts with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) to conduct investigations. Complete investigations on applicant, participant, or past recipient households, as explained below:  Application/Recertification investigations occur at the time of application or recertification, and include applications to add a member to an ongoing household. Complete these investigations before an eligibility determination to prevent households from receiving benefits to which they are not entitled.  Ongoing/Closed investigations occur on a household that is currently participating or has received benefits in the past. These are initiated if HHS believes the household may have provided incorrect or incomplete information that led to the receipt of benefits to which the household were not entitled. Use these findings to determine whether the household’s current benefit level needs to be adjusted or past benefits are subject to overpayment. It is important to remember that DIAL does not determine eligibility. DIAL investigates and provides their findings, but HHS is responsible for using that information to determine eligibility based on policy. Procedure: Before referring a case for investigation, take a prudent-person approach to the information the client gives you. Allow the household an opportunity to explain the situation or resolve any questionable information. If you still find the information to be questionable, refer the case to DIAL using form 470-5130, DHS Investigative Referral to DIA. Once the referral is received, DIAL will conduct an investigation. It is the responsibility of the investigator to gather information and state the findings. DIAL will close the investigation and provide a written investigative report with the findings to HHS within the following timeframes:  For application investigations, within 10 working days.  For ongoing investigations, within 90 working days. Because application investigations are done before making a benefit determination, there is a shorter timeframe to ensure HHS is able to meet processing standards. This means application investigations may not be as thorough as ongoing investigations. If a more thorough investigation is warranted, the case should be re-referred as an ongoing investigation after the application is processed.