Section 388-446-0015. What is an intentional program violation (IPV) and administrative disqualification hearings (ADH) for food assistance.

(1) An intentional program violation (IPV) is an act in which someone intentionally:

(a) Misrepresents, conceals or withholds facts in order to be found eligible for benefits or to receive more benefits than their actual circumstances would allow. This includes making a false statement regarding household circumstances.

(b) Acts in violation of the Food Nutrition Act of 2008, regulations for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) under Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations or any state statute relating to the use, presentation, transfer, acquisition, receipt, trafficking, or possession of food assistance benefits including:

(c) Attempts to buy, sell, steal, or trade food assistance benefits issued and accessed via electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, EBT card numbers or personal identification numbers (PINs), for cash or anything other than eligible food, alone or acting with others.

(2) If we suspect someone has committed an IPV we refer their case for an administrative disqualification hearing (ADH), if:

(a) The suspected IPV causes an over issuance of four hundred fifty dollars or more; or

(b) The suspected IPV is due to the trafficking of food benefits; and

(c) The person has not been referred for criminal proceedings.

(3) An administrative disqualification hearing (ADH) is a formal hearing to determine if a person committed an IPV. ADHs are governed by the rules found in chapter 388-02 WAC. However, rules in this section are the overriding authority if there is a conflict.

(4) A person suspected of an IPV can choose to waive their right to an ADH by signing a disqualification consent agreement that waives their right to the hearing and accepts the IPV penalty under WAC 388-446-0020.

(5) If someone commits one or more IPVs and is suspected of committing another, we refer them for an ADH when the act of suspected violation occurred:

(a) After we mailed the disqualification notice to the client for the most recent IPV; or

(b) After criminal proceedings for the most recent IPV are concluded.

(6) When we suspect someone has committed an IPV, we refer their case for an administrative disqualification hearing (ADH). The office of administrative hearings (OAH) sends them notice of an ADH at least thirty days in advance of the hearing date. OAH sends the notice by certified mail, or personal service. The notice will contain the following information:

(a) The date, time, and place of the hearing;

(b) The charges against the person;

(c) A summary of the evidence, and how and where they may examine the evidence;

(d) A warning that a decision will be based entirely on the evidence the department provides if they fail to appear at the hearing;

(e) A statement that the person has ten days from the date of the scheduled hearing to show good cause for failing to attend the hearing and to ask for a new hearing date;

(f) A warning that a determination of IPV will result in a disqualification period; and

(g) A statement that if we schedule a telephone hearing, they can request an in-person hearing by filing a request with the administrative law judge one week or more prior to the date of the hearing.

(7) The department may combine an ADH and a regular hearing when the reason for both hearings is related.

(8) The person or a representative shall have the right to one continuance of up to thirty days if a request is filed ten days or more prior to the hearing date.

(9) The administrative law judge (ALJ) will conduct the ADH and render a decision even if the person or representative fails to appear, unless within ten days from the date of the scheduled hearing:

(a) The person can show good cause for failing to appear; and

(b) The person or representative requests the hearing be reinstated.

(10) We may change a scheduled telephone hearing to an in-person hearing if this is requested by the person or department representative at least a week in advance. The person requesting a change less than one week in advance must show good cause for the requested change.

(11) The ALJ issues a final decision as specified in WAC 388-02-0215 through 388-02-0525. The decision determines whether the department had established with clear and convincing evidence that the person committed and intended to commit an IPV.

(12) The department and the client each have the right to request a reconsideration of the decision as specified in WAC 388-02-0610 through 388-02-0635. The final order or the reconsideration decision is the final agency decision.

(13) We will not implement a disqualification and continue benefits at the current amount if:

(a) The client can show good cause for not attending the hearing within thirty days from the date the disqualification notice was mailed; and

(b) An administrative law judge determines the client had good cause; or

(c) The client requests reconsideration or files a petition for judicial review to appeal the disqualification as specified in WAC 388-02-0530 (1) or (4).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 7 C.F.R. § 271.2. WSR 14-05-063, § 388-446-0015, filed 2/18/14, effective 3/21/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.04.510, 74.04.770, 74.12.260, 74.08.580, 9.91.142, 7 C.F.R. 273.16, the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 as amended and 42 U.S.C. 601a; and 2011 c 42. WSR 11-19-047, § 388-446-0015, filed 9/13/11, effective 10/14/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 9.91.142. WSR 05-23-082, § 388-446-0015, filed 11/15/05, effective 1/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. WSR 98-16-044, § 388-446-0015, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 7 C.F.R. § 271.2. WSR 14-05-063, § 388-446-0015, filed 2/18/14, effective 3/21/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.04.510, 74.04.770, 74.12.260, 74.08.580, 9.91.142, 7 C.F.R. 273.16, the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 as amended and 42 U.S.C. 601a; and 2011 c 42. WSR 11-19-047, § 388-446-0015, filed 9/13/11, effective 10/14/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 9.91.142. WSR 05-23-082, § 388-446-0015, filed 11/15/05, effective 1/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. WSR 98-16-044, § 388-446-0015, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.

Rules

388-02,388-446-0020,388-02-0215,388-02-0525,388-02-0610,388-02-0635,388-02-0530,