Page 253

S N A P M A N U A L

253 incorrect delay, denial, or termination of benefits, the months affected by the loss will be calculated as follows: (B) If an eligible household's application was erroneously denied, the month the loss initially occurred will be the month of application, or for an eligible household filing a timely reapplication, the month following the expiration of its certification period. (C) If an eligible household's application was delayed, the months for which benefits may be lost will be calculated in accordance with Section 6.4 Delays in Processing the Application. (D) If a household's benefits were erroneously terminated, the month the loss initially occurred will be the first month benefits were not received as a result of the erroneous action. (E) After computing the date the loss initially occurred, the loss will be calculated for each month subsequent to that date until either the first month the error is corrected or the first month the household is found ineligible. For each month affected by the loss, the Agency will determine if the household was actually eligible. In cases where there is no information in the household's case file to document that the household was actually eligible, the Agency will advise the household of what information must be provided to determine eligibility for these months. For each month the household cannot provide the necessary information to demonstrate its eligibility, the household will be considered ineligible. For the months the household was eligible, the Agency will calculate the allotment the household should have received. If the household received a smaller allotment than it was eligible to receive, the difference between the actual and correct allotments equals the amount to be restored. If a claim against a household is unpaid or held in suspense (See Chapter 23 Claims Against Households), the amount to be restored will be offset against the amount due on the claim before the balance, if any, is restored to the household. At the point in time when the household is certified and receives an initial allotment, the initial allotment will not be reduced to offset claims, even if the initial allotment is paid retroactively.

2 1 . 5 L O S T B E N E F I T S T O I N D I V I D U A L S D I S Q U A L I F I E D F O R I N T E N T I O N A L P R O G R A M V I O L A T I O N ( I P V ) Individuals disqualified for Intentional Program Violation (IPV) are entitled to restoration of any benefits lost during the months that they were disqualified, not to exceed twelve months prior to the date of Agency notification, only if the decision which resulted in disqualification is subsequently reversed. For each month the individual was disqualified, not to exceed twelve months prior to Agency notification, the amount to be restored, if any, will be determined by comparing the allotment the household received with the allotment the household would have received had the disqualified member been allowed to participate. If the household received a smaller allotment than it should have received, the difference equals the amount to be restored. Participation in an administrative disqualification hearing in which the household contests the Agency assertion of IPV will be considered notification that the household is requesting restored benefits.