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CHAPTER NINETEEN: UNDER-OVER ISSUANCE AND ADJUSTMENTS 19000 UNDER-OVER ISSUANCE AND ADJUSTMENTS

19100 UNDER ISSUED BENEFITS

DSS is required to issue SNAP benefits that are lost as a result of DSS error. No action by the household is required once the under issuance has been discovered. There are two methods to repay under issued benefits 1. Agency error corrective action payment 2. Restoration of lost benefits.

19110 AGENCY ERROR CORRECTIVE ACTION PAYMENT

Agency error corrective action payments are made when: 1. The under issuance is caused by agency error 2. The under issuance is discovered in the same benefit month the under issued benefits were paid, AND 3. The agency error corrective action payment can be paid in the same benefit month the under issued benefits were paid.

If possible, agency error corrective action payments should be completed rather than restored benefits. Because corrective action payments are only made when the household didn’t receive their full benefit amount due to DSS making a mistake, the payment should be authorized to the household as soon as possible. Agency error corrective action payments are the fastest method of payment.

If the under issued benefits cannot be paid the same benefit month the incorrect allotment was paid, the under issued benefits must be paid following restoration of lost benefits’ procedures.

To authorize agency error corrective action payments, make the change(s) on ACCESS, and when the case has completed background transactions, approve the eligibility results. Documentation must also be completed detailing the reason for the corrective payment.

19111 RESTORATION OF LOST BENEFITS (PADJ-Prior Adjustment Period)

Restorations of lost benefits are completed electronically through the Prior Adjustment Period (PADJ) process on ACCESS. PADJ must be made when the under issuance is caused by the following situations:

1. The agency made a mistake (agency error) 2. An intentional program violation (IPV) disqualification is later reversed 3. Federal regulations specifically require it 4. Court ordered 5. The agency error corrective action is not taken or able to be paid, in the same benefit month the under issued benefits were paid.

Whenever a household receives fewer benefits than it was entitled to for one of the reasons listed above, and a corrective action payment cannot be paid in the same benefit month, the Benefits