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Vermont Department for Children and Families Seasonal Fuel Assistance Rules Economic Services Division 2925 Recoupment

2925 Recoupment (06/22/2024, 23-18)

a. The Department may recoup any overpayment of benefits, regardless of the reason for the overpayment.

b. In the case of fraud or an intentional program violation, the household shall be disqualified from receiving any further fuel assistance benefits until the first of the following occurs:

1. The Department recoups the entire overpayment amount; or

2. One heating season has passed during which the household received no fuel assistance benefits.

c. The Department may use any lawful means to recoup an overpayment, including any of the following or any combination of the following:

1. The Department may require a household to repay the amount of the overpayment;

2. The Department may require a household’s fuel supplier to repay the amount of the overpayment on behalf of the household from any balance remaining on the household’s account;

3. The Department may withhold an equivalent amount of future benefits until the full amount of the overpayment is repaid; or

4. The Department may disqualify the household from receiving benefits for a specified time period.

d. The Department must request recoupment of the overpayment within 180 days of the end of the heating season in which the overpayment occurred, except in the case of fraud.

1. When an overpayment is the result of fraud, the Department must request recoupment within 180 days of the Department’s discovery of the fraud.