CLAIMS HANDBOOK - Department of Human Services

BENEFIT RECOVERY (CLAIMS) HANDBOOK
Federal Review Processing –
Request for State / Federal Review
**Hearings requested involving a disputed claim or disputed claim balance are processed by
the county. The customer has 30 days from initial notification to request a hearing on a TANF
claim or 90 days from initial notification to request a hearing on a FS claim.
Federal Tax Refund / Federal Benefit Offset is not subject to Fair Hearing Rights. Customer
may request a State Review by contacting the Claims / Collections Unit at:
Claims / Collections Unit
P O Box 38442
Atlanta, GA 30334-0442
(800) 669-6334 or (404) 657-3626 - Fax
Sequence of events:
• A claim is identified as delinquent by SUCCESS
• After an additional 180 days without payment, Notice 1056 (Notice of Intent to Offset
Federal Benefits) is mailed. Contact information for the State Office is included in the
text of the notice.
• Customer receives Notice 1056 and has up to 60 days to request a review or make other
arrangements to prevent referral to the Treasury Offset Program (TOP). County’s claims
manager must also review via Report DMJ5803I* monthly to prevent invalid referrals to
TOP.
• Claims / Collections Unit competes review, county’s claims manager is contacted via
email for additional information if required
• County’s claims manager responds to email, and provides supporting documentation for
the claim via FAX
• If customer is determined liable, a federal review may be requested and will also be
processed by State Office staff. Submission of claim to TOP is suspended until all
reviews are completed.
*The state of Georgia must certify that all claims submitted to the Treasury Offset Program (TOP)
are valid and collectible.
Report DMJ5803I is produced monthly and identifies customers who have received Notice
1056. Whether or not the customer requests a review, the county’s claims manager is required
to verify that:
• The claim is valid based on program policy, and can be supported
• The claim meets delinquency criteria (30 + 180 days after notification / OPIC disposition)
• The customer referred is liable for repayment
• The claim balance is not included in bankruptcy
Once a claim is submitted to TOP, the balance will remain until the claim is paid in full, the
customer is approved for Food Stamp benefits, or the balance is no longer delinquent due to
consistent monthly receipt of payments. If a claim is removed from TOP and the active case
closes or a monthly payment is later missed, the remaining balance will immediately be
activated for intercept of federal benefits.
Timely and accurate posting of payments is critical to prevent federal benefits being offset in
error. Each federal offset costs the customer a fee separate from the amount forwarded to the
state.
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