In accordance with rule 5101:4-8-30 of the Administrative Code, an individual financially responsible (debtor) for a food assistancesupplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) claim that disagrees with a referral to the treasury offset program (TOP) may request a review by the county agency Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS), office of fiscal and monitoring services, bureau of program integrity (BPI), and then by the United States department of agriculture (USDA) food and nutrition service (FNS).

(A)What are the responsibilities of the county agency BPI when a written review request concerning the referral of the debt to the TOP is received?

The county agency BPI shall:

(1)Conduct a review on all requests received within sixty days of the mailing date of the notice issued in accordance with paragraph (D) of rule 5101:4-8-30 of the Administrative Code. The county agencyBPI will not conduct a review on requests received later than sixty days after the mailing date of the notice.

(2)Not refer a claim for offset while the claim is under review.

(3)Verify the debtor's social security number.

(4)Verify that when someone other than the debtor makes a written request for review on behalf of the debtor, the request includes a statement signed by the debtor, authorizing the person to represent the debtor.

(5)For written review requests issueIssue a written notice to the debtor within fifteenthirty days of receipt of the written request for review, when it is determined that the claim is legally enforceable and past-due. The notice includes:

(a)A statement that the claim will be referred to the TOP unless the debtor makes an acceptable repayment arrangement on the claim in accordance with paragraph (E) of rule 5101:4-8-30 of the Administrative Code; and

(b)Instructions and time limits to request a review by FNS of the county agencyBPI determination. The request for an FNS review mustis to be received by the USDA FNS midwest regional office within thirty days from the mailing date of the notice.

(6)For written review requests issueIssue a written notice to the debtor within fifteenthirty days of the receipt of the written request for review, when it is determined that the claim is not legally enforceable and/or past-due. This notice includes:

(a)A statement that the claim will not be referred to offset; and

(b)A statement that the county agency or BPI may take action necessary to establish and/or recover the claim.

(7)Cancel the claim referral in accordance with rule 5101:4-8-30 of the Administrative Code, when a determination is made that a claim is not legally enforceable and/or past-due.

(8)Issue a copy of the written notice(s) sent to the debtor to the county agency.

(B)When an FNS review of the county agencyBPI determination has been requested, who does FNS notify of their determination?

FNS notifies the Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS)BPI and the debtor of its determination. ODJFSBPI will then notify the applicable county agency of the FNS determination.

(1)When FNS determines that the county agencyBPI correctly determined the claim to be past due and legally enforceable, FNS notifies the debtor that any further appeal mustis to be made through the courts and the referral to the TOP will proceed.

(2)When FNS determines that the county agencyBPI incorrectly determined the claim to be past due and legally enforceable, FNS notifies ODJFSBPI about any corrective action that mustis to be taken with respect to the claim.

Effective: 3/1/2020

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 11/21/2019 and 03/01/2025

Certification: CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY

Date: 02/20/2020

Promulgated Under: 111.15

Statutory Authority: 5101.54

Rule Amplifies: 5101.54

Prior Effective Dates: 08/01/1995, 07/01/1996, 09/13/1996, 09/01/1998 (Emer.), 11/01/1998, 01/01/2004, 04/01/2009, 04/15/2010, 08/01/2014