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Iowa’s TANF State Plan: Attachments months for each subsequent violation and be required to repay any amount accessed at a prohibited location. See Exhibit 2 for actual language.

Iowa’s policies prohibiting EBT of TANF benefits at prohibited locations became effective February 1, 2014.

Steps taken prior to this effective date included:

1. Meeting with staff from the Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing to discuss the policy change and DIAL’s role. As DIAL is contracted by Iowa HHS to conduct investigations related to the state’s TANF cash assistance program, including eligibility, this is considered to be covered by the terms of the contract.

DIAL investigations can include interviews with TANF recipients and witnesses as well as the subpoena of video or other records that may be available from the business in question, or from the vendor providing electronic access card services for the state’s TANF program.

2. Developing language advising of the new eligibility requirement and penalties and adding it to all relevant forms. With only slight variations, if any, this language states:

Effective February 1, 2014: You cannot access your cash benefits with your electronic access card (EAC) at a: - Liquor store or any place that mainly sells liquor, - Casino or other gambling or gaming establishment, or - Business which provides adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state (such as a strip club).

If the department determines that you have accessed your cash benefits with your EAC at one of the above places you: - Will have committed fraud, - Have to repay the amount of cash accessed at the location, and - Your family will not get cash benefits for three months with the first misuse and six months for each additional misuse.

This language was added to the following forms provided to TANF applicants and recipients, prior to the February 1, 2014, effective date.  Application – paper and on-line versions  Review/recertification form  Brochure describing the TANF cash assistance program  Rights and Responsibilities form  Sheet describing the electronic access card used to issue TANF cash benefits  Notices of Decisions for approval, changes and reinstatement