Page 214

MS 1020

(6)

a. Review EBT transaction history from where the prior excessive card task review ended to present for trafficking activity.

b. If trafficking activity is detected, follow the same procedures outlined in item D of this section. When conducting the appointment, regional claims staff should also discuss proper card security and use with these recipients.

c. If no trafficking activity is detected and the recipient was not contacted over the initial excessive card task, an appointment is required to be scheduled to discuss the reason behind the excessive number of cards that have been issued and to counsel the recipient on proper card security and use.

i. During the appointment, question the recipient to determine if the number of replacement card requests is reasonable. Counsel the recipient on proper card security and use. Enter detailed comments about what was discussed. If the recipient continues to receive subsequent excessive card tasks, a new appointment is not required unless review of EBT transaction history shows additional patterns of trafficking. Comments should be entered to detail the findings of the review.

ii. If regional claims staff are not able to reach the recipient for the scheduled appointment, annotate in IEES that the interview was attempted. With subsequent excessive card tasks, regional claims staff must continue to schedule an appointment with the recipient until contact is made to discuss why so many cards have been requested and proper card security and use. Once the recipient is reached and provides a reasonable explanation, if they continue to receive subsequent excessive card tasks, a new appointment is not required unless review of EBT transaction history reveals a pattern that is indicative of trafficking. Review findings for each excessive card task should be annotated in IEES.

F. [FNA investigates, prosecutes, and disqualifies a retailer when fraud is substantiated.

1. FNA notifies IAS that a retailer is disqualified and provides a listing of SNAP benefit recipients who had transactions meeting trafficking criteria at that store during the investigated period.]

2. IAS forwards the information of the SNAP recipients involving high dollar amounts to OIG, which makes a determination whether to pursue prosecution.

3. A list of recipients not pursued by OIG for prosecution is forwarded back to