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Iowa’s TANF State Plan: Attachments

Random supervisory case reading also helps ensure that: (1) the most current version of forms are being used showing that applicants and recipients have been advised of the prohibition; and (2) that reports of use of the FIP electronic access card at prohibited locations have been acted upon according to policy and procedure, including making referrals to the DIAL, and initiating recoupment of any benefits (and associated fees) accessed inappropriately.

Procedures for responding to complaints of card usage at prohibited locations and making referrals to the DIAL to investigate are found in Employees’ Manuals, title 4, chapters A, B, C and H. See Exhibits 7 and 13A.

The FIP program manager can request ad hoc reports based on reason codes identifying cases where FIP has been canceled for accessing benefits at prohibited locations.

The DIAL informs the FIP program manager of the status of investigations conducted and conclusions reached. The program manager maintains a spreadsheet on all investigations and the outcomes of those investigations. Iowa HHS retains the authority to make the final determination whether a violation has occurred, and a penalty imposed.

All actions associated with a report of a violation, including notices to the family, are documented in the electronic case file.

(iv) How the state responds to findings of non-compliance or program ineffectiveness.

As specified in administrative rules, a first instance of confirmed non-compliance results in a 3-month period of ineligibility and a requirement to repay any amount accessed at the prohibited location along with any associated fees that may apply. Subsequent non- compliance results in a 6-month period of ineligibility and recoupment of any amount accessed and associated fees.

(11) The state's TANF Plan must describe how the state will: (i) Implement policies and procedures as necessary to prevent access to assistance provided under the State program funded under this part through any electronic fund transaction in an automated teller machine or point-of-sale device located in a place described in section 408(a)(12) of the Act, including a plan to ensure that recipients of the assistance have adequate access to their cash assistance;

Policies and procedures to prevent access through electronic fund transaction at prohibited locations are described in detail in the previous section.

To ensure that these policies and procedures do not prevent recipients from having adequate access to their cash assistance, the state has, to the extent not expressly precluded by federal law or regulation, or by the federal Office of Family Assistance