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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION CLAIMS ____________________________________________________________________________________

2 Section 800 Change #1-2017 April 1, 2017

800.05 TRAFFICKING REFERRALS Trafficking referrals apply to cases of suspected benefit misuse or abuse that violates the USDA Federal Regulation §271.2. Federal Regulation §271.2 defines trafficking as the buying or selling of FNS benefits for cash or consideration other than eligible food; or the exchange of benefits for firearms, ammunition, explosives or controlled substances; or the attempt to buy or sell FNS benefits online and in public; or the reselling of food purchased with FNS benefits; or the purchasing of a product with FNS benefits that has a container requiring a return deposit with the intent of obtaining cash by discarding the product and returning the container for the deposit amount. Trafficking referrals can originate from USDA/Food and Nutrition Services or an outside source. Trafficking referrals also may result from the attempt to buy or sell FNS benefits online and in public. Consider each person listed on an USDA store disqualification charge letter a referral. Refer to Section 830, EBT Recipient and Retailer Fraud. Enter trafficking referrals in EPICS with a referral type of “ T”.

800.06 INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES

Program Integrity must create a referral in EPICS when a FNS overissuance or IPV is suspected, within 10 business days. The date of discover should not be entered until the investigation is completed. Complete an investigation and enter a Date of Discovery in EPICS before establishing a claim or seeking an IPV disqualification or making a criminal referral, or unsubstantiating a referral. The date the DSS-1682 is completed will become the Date of Discovery. If during the investigation it is determined that a suspected IPV has occurred, but no overissuance can be established, enter the date of the ADH notice or criminal referral as the Date of Discovery. If during the investigation it is determined that there is no overissuance and no IPV, unsubstantiate the referral and this date becomes the Date of Discovery. A Date of Discovery must be entered within 180 days from the referral creation date.

Complete Food and Nutrition Services investigations using the following steps. Mail original notices to the individual suspected of committing the IPV, and a copy of all notices to any known legal or authorized representative.

A. Upon the receipt of a referral:

1. Create a referral in EPICS and do not enter a Date of Discovery if the DSS-1682 is not completed. (See the EPICS User’s Manual for instructions.)

2. Open an investigative file folder and begin a narrative.

3. Pull the case files for all aid programs the client received, and label to prevent purging. Close the referral if the eligibility file(s) has been purged or lost for the period of suspected overissuance.

B. Investigate the referral:

1. Review all local agency eligibility files for the household under investigation. Check for verifications or other reported pertinent information.

2. Send a written request to all third party verification sources (such as employers, neighbors, etc.) to verify the information reported by the referral that is not part of the Food and Nutrition Services or other agency files. Request a reply within 30 days.