7 CFR § 273.2(a)(2) & (g)


Review the EDG’s:


Enter in ImpaCT:

  • case notes about the actions taken,
  • information from the interview, and
  • new or updated EDG information.

Fraud Early Detection (FRED) Investigation

CT Process


A FRED investigation is completed during the application process when circumstances indicating an increased likelihood of fraud are discovered.  A case should be referred for a FRED investigation when:

  • A change in household composition is reported that appears intended to preserve the EDG's eligibility or benefit level, such as when the EDG initially reports income for a household member, the worker informs the EDG that such income will result in a reduction or denial of benefits, and the EDG subsequently reports that the household member no longer resides in the home;
  • Evidence indicates that the EDG is living above its means, such as when the EDG has no reported income but states that it pays rent, utilities or other costs;
  • The EDG’s lease, utilities, phone bill, bank accounts, vehicles or other belongings are registered or listed in the name of a person who is not an EDG member, or are registered or listed as jointly held with a person who is not an EDG member;
  • The EDG requests assistance from the department within 3 months of the date it moved to Connecticut from another state and reports that it was not receiving benefits in the previous state;
  • There is at least one child between 5 and 17 years of age in the EDG’s household, but the local school reports that this child is not enrolled;
  • The person the EDG reports as its landlord appears to be a legally liable relative or other relative of one or more members of the EDG;
  • Verifications provided by the EDG appear to have been altered or are inconsistent with other information available to the department, such as when wage stubs submitted by the EDG are inconsistent with information obtained from the Department of Labor;
  • Evidence indicates that one or more members of the EDG have used multiple aliases;
  • The EDG claims to have no knowledge of an absent parent’s whereabouts, but a member of the EDG has multiple children with the absent parent, or other information available to the department indicates that the address for the absent parent is the same as the EDG’s address;
  • The department or a court has previously determined that a member of the EDG committed fraud in a program administered by the department or the Child Care Assistance Program; or
  • There are other circumstances that lead you to reasonably believe the application may involve fraud.


Take the following actions to refer the case for a FRED investigation:

  • Use the referrals module in ImpaCT to create a referral.
  • Select "investigations" as the unit and select "FRED" as the referral type.
  • Select the appropriate referral reason from the dropdown menu. If you select "other" as the referral reason, narrate the reason for the referral.
  • Select "SNAP" as the program type and then select the specific program (federal SNAP, state SNAP or disaster SNAP).
  • Select the source of the information that led to the referral (generally EDRS or Eligibility for a FRED referral).
  • Enter any other information that would be helpful to the FRED investigator in the narrative box.
  • Hit the submit button.


If the FRED investigator finds evidence of fraud, they will create an alert on the case and a work item for appropriate action to be taken on the case in ImpaCT.


Processing Timeframes

7 CFR § 273.2(g)


Process applications as soon as possible when all requirements are met, but no later than 30-calendar days from the application file date. 

Exception:  See Expedited Service, Processing Timeframe. 


See Delayed Processing if the eligibility determination was not completed within 30 days.    


Delayed Processing

7 CFR § 273.2(h)(1)(i)(A)-(D) & 7 CFR § 273.10(g)(1)(iii)


Review determinations of eligibility not completed before the 30th day for the cause of the delay. Complete the review:

  • on the 30th day from the application date, or 
  • the first business day after the 30th day when it falls on a weekend or holiday.   


Agency Caused Delays

7 CFR § 273.2(h)(1)(i)(A)-(D) and (ii) & (3)(i)-(ii) & (4)(i)-(ii)


Continue pending the application until eligibility is determined.  Do not deny the application when delayed due to the agency or SSA.  


Send the EDG a pending status notice on the 30th day, or the next work day when the 30th day falls on a weekend or holiday.      


Determine eligibility as soon as possible, and if eligible, restore benefits from the application date.

EDG Caused Delays

7 CFR § 273.2(h)(1)(i)(A)-(D) and (2)(i)–(ii) and (4)(iii)


Delays are the fault of the EDG if the EDG failed to complete the application process and the worker cannot take any further action. Deny the application on the 30th day.  

EDG Completes Actions on Denied Applications 31 to 60 Days from Application File Date

7 CFR § 273.2(h)(2)(i)(A) and (ii) 


Reactivate the application and determine eligibility when the EDG completes required actions 31 to 60 days from the application file date.  

Note:  A new application is not required.  


Complete the eligibility determination as soon as possible, but no later than the 60th day from the application file date.  


Issue benefits from the date the required actions were completed, if eligible.  Benefits are not issued for the month of application when the EDG caused the delay.