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Page | 315 SPEC-C-RECO & the RE-894 must still be completed by the Benefits Specialist as ORFI must still track these errors.

For categorically eligible households, an agency error claim will be prepared following the threshold limits indicated above when DSS took action or failed to take action, which resulted in the household's improper eligibility for TANF provided the claim is based on additional income and/or changes in household size and/or deductions.  If SSI or CCS failed to take action or took improper action on income, household size, or deductions, it would be filed as an inadvertent household error because we did not make the error.

The most common agency errors occur when DSS: 1. Incorrectly issued duplicate benefits. 2. Incorrectly computed the household's income and/or deductions, or otherwise, assigned an incorrect allotment.

3. Failed to take prompt action on a change reported by the household. 4. Continued to provide an allotment after a household's certification had expired and the household had not reapplied. 5. Failed to provide a household a reduced level of benefits because its TANF grant changed. 6. Failed to take the appropriate action which resulted in a household improperly receiving TANF; therefore, improperly receiving SNAP benefits as a categorically eligible household.

19222 INADVERTENT HOUSEHOLD ERROR CLAIMS (IHE)

Inadvertent household error claims are those claims established against households for overpayments caused because the household had a misunderstanding or unintended error in reporting or failing to report information.

The most common IHE claims occur because: 1. The household failed to provide correct and complete information unintentionally. 2. The household failed to timely report changes in its household circumstances unintentionally. 3. The household received continued benefits pending a fair hearing decision and was found to be ineligible or eligible for fewer benefits.

Other IHE claims include, but are not limited to: 1. The household was receiving benefits solely because of categorical eligibility and it was later determined ineligible to receive TANF/SSI/CCS because of unreported circumstances Example: The recipient reported that the parent that was not in the home, who was employed, has now returned to the home. DSS neglected to add him to the household. An AER claim would be prepared adding the other parent and his income to the household. Example: The SNAP household members consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Jones and their two children. Mr. Jones’ employed cousin, Kevin, moved into the home as a member of the household. The household did not report the change in the members of the household nor the additional income which resulted in putting the household over the gross income limit. Mr. Jones told the EABS that he did not report the change as he did not understand that he should report the change since Kevin is only a cousin and not a member of his immediate family. This would be an IHE claim.