Library: Policy

340:65-9-7. Collection effort suspension or termination

Revised 9-15-22

(a) The Adult and Family Services (AFS) Benefit Integrity and Recovery (BIR) Unit staff suspends collection efforts on cases no longer receiving benefits, when the:

(1) head of household is deceased and there are no remaining debtors responsible for the overpayment;

(2) household cannot be located; • 1

(3) cost of further collection action is likely to exceed the amount that can be recovered;

(4) debtor(s) provides verification to the AFS BIR Unit that bankruptcy proceedings initiated; or

(5) debtor(s) requests a fair hearing.

(b) AFS BIR Unit staff may begin collection actions held in suspension when changes in household circumstances occur, such as:

(1) AFS BIR Unit staff locates the household when the client reapplies and becomes eligible in the future;

(2) the court dismisses instead of discharging the debt through bankruptcy; or

(3) the fair hearing decision is not in the debtor(s)' favor.  • 2

(c) When the household pays an overpayment in full, AFS BIR Unit staff sends the household the monthly overpayment account statement showing a zero balance to notify the household that the debt is satisfied. 

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:65-9-7

Revised 9-15-22

1. This occurs when the United States Postal Service returns the monthly account statement to Oklahoma Human Services with no forwarding address and Adult and Family Services (AFS) Benefit Integrity and Recovery (BIR) Unit staff is unable to find another address for any responsible household member.

2. When the appeal is found in the debtor(s)'s favor, Financial Services staff reimburses owed direct payments and AFS BIR Unit staff reimburses owed recoupment.