Department of Public Health and Social Services

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Public Assistance Disqualification for the 1st Quarter Fiscal Year 2015

The Director of the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Mr. James W. Gillan, releases the statistics for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2015 (October 2015 to December 2015) relative to the number of clients who were disqualified from participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP formerly known as Food Stamp Program) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program.

These clients were found to have intentionally violated rules under the SNAP and TANF Programs.

PROGRAM NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS DISQUALIFIED AMOUNT OF
RESTITUTION
1st Quarter 1st Quarter
SNAP 42 $40,549.00
TANF 6 $ 9,017.00

GRAND TOTAL 48 $49,566.00

Of the forty-eight (48) disqualifications, two (2) were as a result of failing to report the loss of household members. Twenty-six (26) were disqualified for failing to report employment timely. Twenty (20) clients were disqualified for crediting food/nonfood items with their SNAP EBT card, which is considered trafficking. Forty-seven (47) were disqualified for 12 months as a first time violation and one (1) client was permanently disqualified as a result of a third violation of the SNAP program.

Individuals who were found to have committed Intentional Program Violation (IPV) through Administrative Disqualification Hearing (ADH) shall be ineligible to participate in the program for:

12 MONTHS for the 1ST VIOLATION
24 MONTHS for the 2ND VIOLATION
PERMANENT DISQUALIFICATION for the 3RD VIOLATION
PERMANENT DISQUALIFICATION for TRAFFICKING over $500.00

Under the Simplified Reporting on SNAP, households are required to report only when the income exceeds 130% of the federal poverty level. This change must be reported by the 10th of the month following the month the change occurred. To comply with TANF Program requirements, any change in employment, household members moving in or out, or change of address requires that the household report to the department within 10 days from the date the change becomes known to the household.

Should you have any questions, please contact Mr. Francis L.G. Damian, Program Coordinator IV, Investigation and Recoupment Office at the Bureau of Management Support at 735-7379/7344.

For Immediate Release
January 9, 2015; 12:40 pm
DPHSS Release No. 2015-002

As part of this year’s Senior Citizens Month celebration, a Centenarian Recognition event is being planned. A Centenarian is any senior citizen who is or will be 100 years of age or older between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015. In addition, for purposes of this program, the centenarian’s primary residence must be Guam.

To assist the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Division of Senior Citizens in recognizing Centenarians, the public is encouraged to inform a centenarian, or the person’s family or caregiver about this event and where to access and submit the biographical forms. The biographical form can be obtained from the Division of Senior Citizens located at 130 University Drive, Suite 8, University Castle Mall (near Subway in Mangilao) or it can be requested via email to jeanette.gomez@dphss.guam.gov or monica.untalan@dphss.guam.gov.

The deadline to submit biographical forms to the Division of Senior Citizens is 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 6, 2015. For more information, please contact Jeanette Gomez or Monica Untalan at 735-7415/7421.