Section 10. Definitions

For purposes of this chapter:

"Collections" means all overpayment monies collected, recovered or recouped by local departments of social services related to food stamps, TANF, and other federal benefit programs administered by the department.

"Department" means the state Department of Social Services.

"Direct costs" means the cost of salary, fringe benefits and supporting costs of operation. Cost for supervisory and clerical staff is excluded from reimbursement.

"Fraud Recovery Special Fund" means the special fund established under § 63.2-526 D of the Code of Virginia.

"Fraud Reduction/Elimination Effort (FREE)" means the program established in compliance with § 63.2-526 of the Code of Virginia to ensure that fraud prevention and investigation are aggressively pursued throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"FREE prevention, detection and investigation units" means a person or persons whose job it is to work on all aspects of prevention, detection and investigation of fraud cases.

"General fund" means that portion of the budget of the Commonwealth of Virginia that is made up of general tax revenues, the major sources of which are sales tax, income tax, and profits from the Virginia Lottery.

"Investigation" means gathering evidence on questionable applications, on-going cases and closed cases to determine intent to defraud.

"Local department" means the local department of social services of any county or city in this Commonwealth.

"Performance expectations" means qualitative and quantitative standards or measures against which responsibilities and agency/departmental objectives are assessed.

"Private entities" means individuals or organizations other than federal, state or local personnel or agencies.

"Public assistance" means Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); auxiliary grants to the aged, blind and disabled; medical assistance; energy assistance; food stamps; employment services; child care and general relief.

"Reimbursement" means the process by which the Department of Social Services provides monetary credit to local departments of social services for their approved administrative costs.

"State retained portion of collections" means the amount of collections less any refunds due to the federal government, consistent with federal reimbursement regulations.

"Supporting costs of operation" means program costs other than salaries and fringe benefits. These supporting costs of operation include travel, telephone, utilities, supplies, allowance for space and training and conference fees for positions funded by the FREE program.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 16, Issue 22, eff. August 16, 2000; amended, Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. October 1, 2006.

Statutory Authority

§§ 63.2-217 and 63.2-526 of the Code of Virginia.