7 CFR § 273.18(c)(1)(i)


The correct amount of SNAP benefits must be determined for each month the EDG received an overpayment.

Overpayment Period

7 CFR § 273.18(c)(1)(i) and CT Claim Management Plan


Determine the AE overpayment period back to at least 12 months before the date of discovery.


For IHE overpayments not related to SNAP trafficking, determine the overpayment period back to at least 24 months before the date of discovery.  Act on the AE claim within 90 days from the date of discovery.


The Office of Quality Assurance Client Fraud Investigations Division determines the overpayment period for IPV overpayments back to the month the IPV act first occurred.  The date of discovery is the date the Client Fraud Investigations verifies the SIPV referral is valid.

Note:  Do not include any amounts that occurred more than 6 years before the date of discovery for AE, IHE or IPV claims.

Calculating Overpayment Amounts, Except for Trafficking 

7 CFR § 273.18(c)(1)(ii)


Enter information into ImpaCT to compare what the EDG received to what the EDG should have received.  


Calculate the overpayment as follows:

  1. Determine the correct amount of benefits for each month that an overpayment occurred.  

Note:  Remember to use the rules and benefit tables in effect at the time of the overpayment. 

  1. Use the actual income for the month received, when correcting income. 

Note: Do not correct income if the payer determines that the income paid was incorrect, budget the income amount actually received. 

For example, if SSA determines that SSI was underpaid, do not correct the past SNAP budgets. Change the budget when the EDG begins to receive the correct SSI amount.

  1. When correcting earned income, allow the 20% earned income deduction only for AE claims. Do not allow the 20% earned income deduction for earned income that was reported incorrectly or not reported which results in an IHE or SIPV/IPV claim.  
  2. Subtract the correct amount of benefits from the benefits actually received.

Note:  There is no claim if the result of Step 4 is zero or a negative answer.

  1. Reduce the overpayment amount by any expunged benefits.  If a balance remains, the result is the claim amount.

Overpayments Related to Trafficking

7 CFR § 273.18(c)(2)(1)-(iii)


The amount of the overpayment is the value of the trafficked benefits as determined by:

  • the individual’s admission;
  • adjudication; or
  • the information that forms the basis for the trafficking determination.


Client Fraud Investigations handles trafficking cases.