Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Social Services
 
Board
State Board of Social Services
 
chapter
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [22 VAC 40 ‑ 601]
Action SNAP Certification Periods
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 11/10/2010
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11/5/10  10:39 am
Commenter: Heather Cline, City of Roanoke DSS

Fraud Investigator
 

I believe that discontinuing the Interim Report process would be beneficial to the Commonwealth of Virginia.  It would help prevent all types of over payments from occuring because it would require the household to review all circumstances by completing a review, which would include, who lives in the household, who moved out, new jobs, child support, unemployment, resources, and any new felony drug convictions that may or may not affect eligibility.  Furthermore, it would allow for the proper amount of SNAP benefits to be issued for a shorter amount of time based on household circumstances, which would save the government money, because it would require that all household circumstances be reevaluated.  This would also make customers more responsible for their benefits.  If they are in need of assistance, they should have no problem complying with program rules. SNAP rules are so loose as they stand now that customers don't have to report anything.  The IR process is not reflective of household circumstances because it only asks changes needed or no changes needed for certain eligibility criteria, where as a renewal requires all eligibility criteria be reevaluated.  Most importantly, the IR process is confusing to customers, they always use I didn't understand what that meant, even though it has clear instructions on the form. 

CommentID: 14591