Ishler v. Commonwealth , 102 Pa. Commw. 306 ( 1986 )

Opinion by

Judge MacPiiail,

Betty L. Ishler (Petitioner) appeals a final administrative action of the Department of Public Welfare (Department), affirming an adjudication and order of the hearing officer which held that Petitioner had received an overissuance of food stamps. The case is now before us on reargument.

Prior to June 21, 1983, federal regulations permitted states participating in the food stamp program to utilize a standard utility allowance (SUA) in calculating deductions for shelter costs,¹ provided, inter alia, the household had incurred heating or cooling costs separate and apart from their rent or mortgage. 7 C.ER. §273.9(d)(6)(i) (1983). On June 21, 1983, federal rules governing SUA were amended to further provide that cooling costs would be limited to the operation of air conditioning systems or room air conditioners.² 48 Fed. Reg. 28192 (1983), codified at 7 C.F.R. §273.9(d)(6)(i) (1986) (federal amendment). The federal amendment was subject to state implementation no later than October 19, 1983. 7 C.F.R. §272. l(g)(66) (1986). Owing to what the Department claims was administrative error, the Departments regulation containing SUA requirements, 55 Pa. Code §523.3(d)(5)(iii), was never revised to conform to the new federal requirements. Instead, on April 10, 1985, the Department communicated the federal amendment to its caseworkers by way of an internal Department memorandum, entitled Income Maintenance Bulletin No. 523-85-10 (IMB), which was to take effect on May 1, 1985.

As a result of the Departments error, Petitioner, a food stamp recipient, was permitted to receive a deduction under SUA for cooling costs she incurred in 1984 while operating a twenty-inch electric fen to cool her second floor apartment.

Petitioner received a notice from the Department dated April 15, 1985, which indicated that she had received an overpayment of food stamps. Petitioner requested a hearing which was held on June 3, 1985, by telephone. At the hearing, counsel for Petitioner argued that inasmuch as she had incurred a separate cooling cost, she was eligible for SUA and that the IMB could not be applied retroactively. The hearing officer dismissed Petitioners argument on the basis that Petitioner failed to qualify for SUA under the federal amendment. The Department affirmed the decision of the hearing officer and the instant appeal followed.³

We note as a preliminary matter that the food stamp program is a joint undertaking of the federal and state governments under which the participating states agree to administer the program in conformity with the provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (Act), 7 U.S.C.A. §§2011-2029 (West Supp. 1986), regulations issued pursuant to the Act and any changes in federal law and regulations. See 7 C.F.R. §272.2(b) (1986). In exchange for state compliance, the federal government, through the US DA pays 100 percent of the programs benefits and all the administrative costs at the national level.

Petitioner contends initially that the federal law is inapplicable inasmuch as the SUA is a state option. We disagree. Even where a state adopts an optional federal procedure, it must still ensure that its practices conform to federal law. See Harrington v. Blum, 483 F. Supp. 1015 (S.D.N.Y. 1979), aff'd, 639 F.2d 768 (2d Cir. 1980).

Petitioner next contends that the Departments decision constitutes retroactive application of the law inasmuch as the pertinent Department guidelines were not in effect during the period in question. We cannot agree. In Van Dusen v. Department of Public Welfare, 79 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 60, 468 A.2d 540 (1983), we stated: “States must use the federal eligibility standards in determining eligibility for food stamp grants. 7 U.S.C. §2014(b). Furthermore, state or local policies or practices inconsistent with federal statutes or regulations are invalid.” Id. at 64, 468 A.2d at 542. We concluded in Van Dusen that where a conflict exists between state and federal regulations, federal law is controlling.

Here, the Departments regulation concerning SUA at 55 Pa. Code §523.3(d)(5)(iii) was clearly in conflict with the federal amendment at the time Petitioner was certified for food stamps. To the extent that such a conflict existed, federal law was controlling. There is, therefore, no question of a retroactive change in the law as contended by Petitioner in her reliance upon Klesh v. Department of Public Welfare, 55 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 587, 423 A.2d 1348 (1980).

Petitioner finally contends that she should be relieved from liability because the change in the law was a change in household circumstances which she was not required to report under 55 Pa. Code §541.3(d). We must reject her argument inasmuch as the regulation is simply inapplicable here.

We acknowledge that it seems unfair for the Department to take action to recover overpayment when such overpayment is the result of the Departments own error. This result, however, is mandated by the federal regulations.⁴ The Department argues, moreover, that its failure to establish a claim in this instance could jeopardize Pennsylvania’s eligibility for administrative cost reimbursement.⁵ Finally, the Department asserts that Petitioner may elect to have the amount due repaid by having her food stamp allotment reduced and that if that method is selected, her allotment may not be reduced by an amount with which she does not agree for payment of an administrative error claim. See 7 C.F.R. §273.18(g)(3)(h) (1986).

We conclude that where a participant in the food stamp program has received an overissuance of food stamps under applicable federal regulations due to the Departments administrative error, the Department is entitled to recoupment in view of the mandatory nature of the federal regulations, the possible jeopardy to the entire program in Pennsylvania if the Department foils to act in such circumstances and the likelihood that recoupment will be had, if at all, by a plan which must first be negotiated with the party against whom recoupment is sought.

The Department has stated that it will reduce its claim to twelve months preceding its discovery of the overissuance pursuant to 55 Pa. Code §561.4(3). We, accordingly, will affirm the Departments order with that modification.

Order

The order of the Department of Public Welfare, dated September 9, 1985, is affirmed as modified to provide that Petitioner shall not be responsible for administrative error claims that occurred more than twelve months prior to the date the overissuance was discovered.

1 Under the food stamp program, eligible low income households must pay a certain amount of money, based on the households net income, in exchange for food stamp coupons of a greater lace value than the amount paid. Applicable deductions work to decrease a household s net income for food stamp purposes and thereby to increase its food stamp benefits. Households not entitled to SUA are still permitted to claim deductions for various utilities the households pay separately. See 7 C.F.R. §273.9(d)(6)(i) (1986); 55 Pa Code §523.3(d)(5)(iii)(B).

2 The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) elected not to include cooling costs relating to the operation of fens, reasoning that “such costs are relatively low and households relying on fens for cooling will not be adversely affected since they will be able to use actual utility costs.” 48 Fed. Reg. 28191 (1983).

3 Our scope of review of orders of the Department is limited to determining whether the adjudication is in accordance with the law, whether constitutional rights have been violated and whether the findings of feet are supported by substantial evidence. Brog Pharmacy v. Department of Public Welfare, 87 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 181, 487 A.2d 49 (1985).

4 It is provided in 7 C.F.R. §§273.18(a)(2) and 273.18(b)(2)(ii) (1986) that:

(a) . . . The State agency shall establish a claim against any household that has received more food stamp benefits than it is entitled to receive.

(2) ... A claim shall be handled as an administrative error claim if the overissuance was caused by State agency action or failure to take action.

(b) . . . The State agency shall take action to establish a claim against any household that received an overissuance due to an inadvertent household or administrative error if the criteria in this paragraph have been met. At a minimum, the State agency shall take action on those claims for which 12 months or less have elapsed between the month an overissuance occurred and the month the State agency discovered a specific case involving an overissuance. . . .

(2) Instances of administrative error which may result in a claim include, but are not limited to, the following:

(ii) A State agency incorrectly computed the household’s income or deductions, or otherwise assigned an incorrect allotment. . . . (Emphasis added.)

5 See 7 C.F.R. §276.4 relating to suspension and disallowance of administrative cost.