1145.005.00 Referral for Investigation-WIU – DSS Manuals

IM-50 May 18, 2023 ; IM-133 August 28, 2019 ; IM-140 November 30, 2005 ; IM-94 July 29, 2002

Any suspected intentional program violation (IPV) is referred to WIU for investigation. There are three types of investigations, those involving a suspected program violation where an overpayment has not been determined, those where a SNAP (claim) has been determined, and those involving a program violation without a SNAP overpayment. Refer these cases in the following manner:

Referrals involving a suspected program violation where the amount of an overpayment has not been determined. When a program violation is suspected and a claim has not been established, forward the referral to WIU via the Overpayment Portal located on the FSD Task Management Site .

Referrals involving a SNAP overpayment. Claims that are suspected program violations (SPV) are automatically referred to WIU, upon establishment of the claim. An SPV indicator is entered on the CARS Overpayment Claim Change (OVCC) screen and a report is generated to WIU listing all the SPV claims.

Referrals involving a program violation without a SNAP overpayment. In some case situations, it may be appropriate to pursue a disqualification when there is no claim involved, such as in the instance of an allegedly fraudulent application for which no benefits are issued. Refer the case to WIU via the Overpayment Portal located on the FSD Task Management Site .

WIU investigations result in one or more of the following:

criminal prosecution

civil prosecution

voluntary repayment

waiver of administrative disqualification hearing (ADH)

no action due to lack of evidence of an IPV

forward to PIU for the establishment of a claim

forward to the IM Hearing Unit to request an administrative disqualification hearing