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Title 7: SNAP Page 19 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter C: Nonfinancial Eligibility Investigations Revised September 27, 2024 SNAP Trafficking Any time you still have questionable information or may be missing something, regardless of if it is an application or ongoing investigation, re-refer the case to DIAL for a more complete investigation. Re-referring the case may be done in one of two ways:  Complete a new referral form 470-5130, DHS Investigative Referral to DIA. If you do this, be sure to note that a recent investigation was completed along with the name of the investigator, so that DIAL can assign it to the appropriate investigator.  Contact the investigator directly and explain what information is still needed. Although a closed investigation cannot be reopened, DIAL will open a new investigation to get the additional information based on the re-referral. It is important to make sure you get a complete report with all of your questions resolved. If the case goes to appeal or an intentional program violation (IPV) is pursued, you must have complete evidence to support your actions. At your request, the DIAL investigator will attend appeal or IPV hearings and testify to the information gathered. It is strongly recommended that you request the investigator’s presence any time you have a hearing based on evidence provided. After an investigative report is sent to HHS, it is the responsibility of the worker to consider the information in the report to help determine eligibility and establish any appropriate overpayments based on policy. HHS also uses this information to determine whether to pursue an IPV, as explained in 7-J. The evidence in the findings of the investigative report is considered verified information. Once HHS has determined how the findings of the report affect the case, take any necessary action. Within 30 days of taking these actions, HHS is responsible for completing form 470- 5129, DHS Investigative Referral Follow-Up to DIA to inform DIAL of the outcome of the findings. This completes the process. Comment: Once DIAL provides an investigative report to HHS, DIAL considers the case to be closed. SNAP Trafficking Policy: “Trafficking” means buying or selling of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards. This includes trading benefits for firearms, ammunition, explosives, controlled substances or anything other than eligible food. Trafficking is an intentional program violation. Procedure: Refer complaints of SNAP trafficking to DIAL using form 470-5130, DHS Investigative Referral to DIA. However, these types of IPVs are handled by DIAL and have different procedures once the referral is done.