CLAIMS HANDBOOK - Department of Human Services

BENEFIT RECOVERY (CLAIMS) HANDBOOK
State Tax Offset
State tax refunds are offset and posted for delinquent TANF and FS debts with a balance of
$25 or more. The debt is referred to Debt Set Off if a monthly payment is missed and
remains until the end of the calendar year. The Georgia Department of Revenue and the
Office of Financial Services notifies the debtor of the offset. The Office of Financial
Services holds the tax refund for 30 days. If the customer does not request a hearing or
the county does not discover the offset to be in error, the tax refund is applied to the claim
after the 31 st . day from the notice date. The county refunds any postings found to be in
error after they have been applied to the debt.
State Tax Reports:
• “Notified Clients of 30 Day Waiting Period” (DMJ 5701I)
provides a list of AU’s with intercepts pending posting
• “State Tax Postings” (DMJ 5702I)
provides a list of posted claim payments by AU
State Tax Offset status is viewed by accessing OMEN-L, entering the person’s SSN,
current tax year and code “S”.
During the 30 day period that the State Tax offset is being held, the customer or the Claims
/ Collections Unit staff may request that the county review the validity of the debt or the
balance.
• If an error is discovered prior to posting, and all or part of the offset should be
returned to the customer, complete form 18, Case Summary Settlement, and fax to
the Claims / Collections Unit Office. Notify the customer that the refund check will
be released to them directly from the Office of Financial Services.
• If an error is discovered after the offset has been posted in SUCCESS, the county
must process a system refund to the customer.
• If the customer reapplies and the AU# is in pending or active status, or if the claim
has been suspended or terminated, the offset will not post and the Office of
Financial Services will mail the refund check to the customer after the 30 th day.
• If the customer requests a fair hearing on the intent to offset the refund, the hearing
request must be in writing and directed to the Claims / Collections Unit:
o The Claims / Collections Unit staff notifies the county via Form 17, Notice of
Hearing Request, that a hearing has been requested.
o The county office responds via Form 18, Case Summary Settlement, if the
offset is not correct.
o The county office responds via Form 19, Case Summary, if the offset is valid
and attaches supporting documents for the hearing.
o If a hearing is scheduled it will be held in the county where the claim was last
active and the case manager will be notified to attend. The OPIC agent
should also attend the hearing if the claim is IPV.
Samples of offset forms are included in the forms section of this handbook.
Rev December ‘10 27