Page 1
Date of Last Review: 11/08/2023 Effective Date: 11/15/2023 Date of Next Review: 11/08/2026 RDA: SW22 Page 1 of 4 Families First Overpayments and Underpayments Policy 23.19 Effective: November 15, 2023 Introduction The Tennessee Department of Human Services must correctly and accurately determine eligibility for Families First assistance and provide the correct grant to each assistance unit. When an overpayment of thirty-five dollars ($35) or more is discovered, the Tennessee Department of Human Services must recover the amount overpaid promptly. When an underpayment is discovered, the Tennessee Department of Human Services must issue supplemental payments to provide the amount the assistance unit should have received. Scope The purpose of this policy is to establish the responsibilities of the Tennessee Department of Human Services when an error resulting in an assistance unit receiving the incorrect grant amount is discovered. Policy Overpayments and Underpayments When an overpayment or underpayment is suspected, the Eligibility Counselor or TANF Case Manager must review the case to: 1. Determine the eligibility period in question. 2. Request all necessary verification needed to accurately determine the assistance amount the customer would have been eligible to receive; 3. Determine the correct assistance amount the customer was eligible to receive during the time period in question; and 4. Compare the amount actually received to the eligible amount to determine if there was an overpayment or an underpayment and the amount in error.