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3. Discuss methods of repayment with the individual If the individual refuses to cooperate, secure a written statement from the individual that he refuses to repay the overpayment.
Once reasonable efforts to collect the overpayment have proven to be unsuccessful, the agency must document the case record with evidence that further recovery efforts from an individual no longer receiving assistance would equal or exceed the amount of the over- payment. Such evidence may include the cost of staff time, the cost of legal/attorney fees, or any other evidence the agency has which demonstrates that further recovery efforts while the individual does not receive assistance would not be cost-effective. The agency head, or his designee, will make the final determination as to whether further efforts would be cost-effective.
When a TANF recipient declares bankruptcy and the court decides that the TANF debt will be part of the waived debts for the individual, the TANF overpayment will be waived.
C. Retention of Information - The agency must maintain information on individuals no longer receiving assistance who received an overpayment which was waived, including overpayments less than $125, for three years. (See 100.4 for information about the Library of Virginia schedule for retention of specific types of information.) The agency must initiate recoupment procedures should one or more of those individuals again be found eligible to receive assistance.
D. Intentional Program Violation (IPV) - In situations involving a TANF/VIEW IPV, the agency must make every effort to collect the overpayment regardless of the amount; the overpayment may not be waived. See Section 102 for guidance on handling Intentional Program Violations (IPV).
503.7 CALCULATING OVERPAYMENTS - There are several factors which must be considered when calculating overpayments (IPV and non-IPV).
A. Determination of Continued Eligibility - When any change in circumstances which caused an overpayment is still in effect at the time of discovery, the agency must first prospectively determine the client's continued eligibility.
B. Determination of When the Overpayment Began - The worker is to determine when the overpayment began and secure all verifications necessary to calculate the overpayment. The overpayment began the month following the month the change occurred or as soon as administratively possible per guidance at 401.2B.
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