Food Stamps and Other Food Assistance

You will receive a written notice from the DHS telling you what action has been taken. If you disagree with the action taken, you have the right to appeal. You must appeal in writing within 90 days of the date of the action.

As soon as you receive any notice you disagree with affecting your SNAP benefits, you should contact the Center for Arkansas Legal Services or Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc., at 1-800-9-LAW-AID (1-800-952-9243).

An overpayment is when the DHS says they gave you more SNAP benefits than you were entitled to.

If you are overpaid SNAP benefits, you will be investigated. Even if it is determined that the mistake was made by the DHS, you will still have to pay the benefits back. A reduction in the amount of your monthly SNAP benefits may be necessary to repay the overpayment.

The DHS will open a fraud investigation if they determine that you gave false information or failed to report changes in your household income or size. The investigation can be by the local DHS office or by criminal authorities. Criminal charges may be filed against you if you are found to have lied to the DHS to get more SNAP benefits than you were entitled to.

If you are found guilty of fraud, you may lose SNAP benefits for as little as one year or forever.

It is very important that you contact the Center for Arkansas Legal Services or Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc., at 1-800-9-LAW-AID (1-800-952-9243) if you are notified that you are being investigated for fraud.

You should immediately contact your local DHS office and provide them proof of your income or household changes. You need to do this regardless of whether your income or household size increases or decreases.