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Division/Section Family Support Chapter No./Name 4 – Economic Stability (ES) Part No./Name C – Case Processing Section No./Name C-100-FITAP-SNAP Household Determination Document No./Name C-170-SNAP Authorized Representative Effective Date August 15, 2022

1 of 4 I. STATEMENT OF POLICY

The head of the household or other responsible household member may name a non-household member as an Authorized Representative (AR) to apply for benefits for the household. The authorized representative is someone who may act on the household’s behalf to obtain and use benefits for the household and conduct business with the agency for the household. The authorized representative has the same rights and responsibilities as the client.

Explain that the household will be held responsible if an over issuance occurs because an authorized representative gives incorrect information.

C-171-SNAP - PO RESTRICTIONS ON AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

Persons disqualified from SNAP because of an Intentional Program Violation (IPV), may serve as authorized representative only if the agency has determined that no one else is available to serve as an authorized representative.

If no one else is available to act as authorized representative, Economic Stability (ES) employees and retailers authorized to accept the Louisiana Purchase Automated Benefit Card may serve as authorized representative only if the ES Manager gives written approval.

Under no circumstances shall an employee who is an authorized representative on a case take any action on that case. This includes, but is not limited to, certification action, interim changes, and requests for new EBT cards.

The agency may limit the number of households an authorized representative may represent in order to prevent program abuse. However, such limitations must only be set on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval after cause has been established. If the parish office cannot establish cause and continues to suspect program abuse, the case should be referred for fraud investigation using normal procedures.

C-172-SNAP - PO AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE APPLYING FOR HOUSEHOLD

When the head of household or another household member cannot apply, a non-household member may be designated as the authorized representative. This person must be:

 An adult.

 Designated in writing by the head of the household or another responsible household member. This designation must include the name and address of the person chosen as an authorized representative, the signature of the household member making the choice, and the date. Designation made by a blind head of household requires 2 witnesses.