OAR 461-195-0621: Intentional Program Violations; Penalties and Liability for Overpayments

(1) Disqualification penalties resulting from intentional program violations and other violations of law are listed in this rule. An individual may be subject to disqualification for an intentional program violation (IPV) (see OAR 461-195-0601) only if the individual was advised of the disqualification penalties prior to committing the IPV. A disqualification established in another state or established in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations continues in effect in Oregon. (2) In the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program, if an IPV is established against an individual through a contested case hearing, a waiver of the right to hearing, or by a state or federal court, that individual is liable for repayment to the Department of the full amount of overpayment (see OAR 461-195-0501) the Department has established. Payments of restitution to the Department are credited against the amount owed. A recipient (see OAR 461-195-0301) is not subject to an IPV disqualification but is still required to repay overpayment amounts. (3) A child care provider who has incurred an overpayment established as an IPV claim is ineligible for payment--- (a) For six months and until the full amount of the overpayment is paid; or (b) Permanently, if the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) finds that such ineligibility is in the public interest. The following is a non-exclusive list of reasons that support a determination of permanent ineligibility: safety concerns; or, the likelihood of future violations; or, the degree of egregiousness of any of the established IPVs; or, the degree of primary involvement in the violation by the provider. (4) In the Refugee Assistance (REF), Summer EBT (SEBT), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, when an IPV is established against an individual through a contested case hearing, a waiver of the right to hearing, or by a state or federal court: (a) Except as otherwise set forth in this section, the individual is disqualified from receiving benefits in the program in which the IPV was committed for a period of 12 calendar months for the first IPV, 24 calendar months for the second IPV, and permanently for the third IPV. (b) In the REF program, the individual is disqualified from receiving benefits in the program in which the IPV was committed for the remaining months of eligibility, as per OAR 461-135-0900(4). (c) An individual found by a federal, state, or local court to have traded a controlled substance for SNAP benefits is disqualified from participation in the SNAP program as follows: (A) For a period of two years upon the first occasion. (B) Permanently upon the second occasion. (d) An individual found by a federal, state, or local court to have traded a controlled substance for SEBT benefits is disqualified from participation in the SEBT program as follows: (A) For a period of two years upon the first occasion. (B) Permanently upon the second occasion. (e) An individual found by a federal, state, or local court to have traded firearms, ammunition, or explosives for SNAP benefits is permanently disqualified from participation in the SNAP program. (f) An individual found by a federal, state, or local court to have traded firearms, ammunition, or explosives for SEBT benefits is permanently disqualified from participation in the SEBT program. (g) An individual convicted of trafficking (see OAR 461-195-0601) SNAP benefits for a value of $500 or more is permanently disqualified from participation in the SNAP program. (h) An individual convicted of trafficking (see OAR 461-195-0601) SEBT benefits for a value of $500 or more is permanently disqualified from participation in the SEBT program. (i) Unless permanently disqualified in the same program, an individual is disqualified for a 10-year period from receiving benefits in the program in which the individual committed fraud if the individual -- (A) In TANF program: (i) Is convicted in state or federal court of having made a fraudulent statement or representation with respect to the place of residence of the individual in order to receive assistance simultaneously from two or more states under programs that are funded under Title IV or XIX of the Social Security Act; or (ii) Is found in an IPV hearing or admits, in a written waiver of the right to an IPV hearing, to having made a fraudulent statement or representation with respect to the identity or place of residence of the individual in order to receive benefits simultaneously from two or more states. (B) In the SNAP program, is found to have or admits to having made a fraudulent statement or representation with respect to the identity or place of residence of the individual in order to receive multiple SNAP benefits simultaneously. (C) In the SEBT program, is found to have or admits to having made a fraudulent statement or representation with respect to the identity or place of residence of the individual in order to receive multiple SEBT benefits simultaneously. (5) If the TANF grant is affected by the IPV penalty imposed under this rule, eligibility (see OAR 461-001-0000) for and the level of SNAP benefits are determined in accordance with OAR 461-145-0105. (6) In the SEBT program, an individual disqualified for an intentional program violation (IPV) under OAR 461-195-0601 is ineligible to receive SEBT benefits for qualifying children for the duration of their disqualification period. (7) Once a disqualification period begins, it continues uninterrupted until completed, regardless of the eligibility of the filing group (see OAR 461-110-0310 and 461-196-0020) of the disqualified individual.