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Subject: SNAP Claims and Issuances

Policy 24.22 Date of Last Review: 11/30/2023 Effective Date: 08/15/2019 Date of Next Review: 11/30/2026 RDA: SW22 Page 8 of 15 b. TDHS has documentation which shows the HH cannot be located, c. TDHS determines that collection action will prejudice the case against a HH member who has been referred for prosecution. 3. Initiating Collection on Claims TDHS shall initiate collection action by providing the HH a written demand letter containing the following information: a. The amount owed by the HH, b. The reason for the claim, c. The period of time the claim covers, d. Any offsetting that was done to reduce the claim, e. How the HH may pay the claim, f. The HH’s right to a fair hearing if the HH disagrees with the amount of the claim, unless the HH has already had a fair hearing on the amount of the claim as a result of consolidation of the ADH with the fair hearing, and g. Information regarding free legal representation, if there is an individual or organization available that provides free legal representation. 4. Action against Households Which Fail to Respond to Collection Action a. If the HH against which collection action has been initiated for repayment of any claim regardless of class is currently participating in the program and does not respond to the written demand letter within thirty (30) days of the date the notice is mailed for the claim, TDHS will reduce the HH’s SNAP allotment after adverse notification is received. b. TDHS sends an initial demand letter on a claim. The individual may request a fair hearing within the first ninety (90) days after receipt of the initial demand letter. c. TDHS may also pursue other collection actions, as appropriate, to obtain restitution of a claim against any HH which fails to respond to a written demand letter for repayment of any inadvertent HH error, administrative error, or IPV claim. 5. Suspending Collection of Claims a. Inadvertent Household and Administrative Error Claims An inadvertent HH or administrative error claim may be suspended if no collection action was initiated because the claim is less than thirty-five dollars ($35) and cannot be recovered through allotment reduction, HH cannot be located, or the claim is being referred for prosecution or for ADH. Collection action of an inadvertent HH error claim against a nonparticipating HH or of any administrative error claim may be suspended when: i. The HH cannot be located; or