TDHS Partnership Communication Forum
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Content in this Newsletter
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- A Message from Commissioner Carter
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Spread the Word
TDHS Aims to Conduct 35,000 Federally Mandated SNAP Interviews this Week
TDHS Process to Request Replacement of Skimmed SNAP and D-SNAP Benefits – First Deadline Approaching
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Partner News
Govenor Lee to Deliver Sixth State of the State Address on February 5th
This season, Don’t Pay to File your Taxes – VITA can do it for FREE
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Upcoming Events
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Let’s coordinate, share ideas, and learn from our individual customer groups on how we can work together to better serve Tennessee’s low-income families.
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A Message from Commissioner Carter
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New Year. Fresh Ideas. New Opportunities. As we step into this promising new year at TDHS, our commitment to ensuring our valued customers receive their benefits promptly has never been stronger.
This week, we're proud to announce the scheduling of 35,000 federally mandated interviews, a strategic move aimed at significantly improving our SNAP processing times. By streamlining our operations, we aim to make the benefits delivery process more efficient for our customers.
We are also actively addressing staffing challenges by prioritizing high-demand positions and providing accelerated training for new hires within our Eligibility Staff. Our goal is to augment the team dedicated to processing SNAP applications, ensuring we meet the demand for our services.
At TDHS, we remain dedicated to making continuous improvements to better serve our customers. Thank you for your trust in us, and here's to a year filled with positive changes and improved services.
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TDHS Aims to Conduct 35,000 Federally Mandated SNAP Interviews this Week |
In the past several months, TDHS has been diligently working to manage processing times for SNAP applications. In effort to address the challenges head-on, the department would like to share an important and timely update.
As we make continuous strides to develop innovative strategies to manage processing times for SNAP cases, our Family Assistance division at the Department of Human Services is taking proactive measures to address this issue. The department has scheduled 35,000 federally mandated interviews starting January 22nd through January 26th to expedite the processing of pending SNAP applications. As a reminder, SNAP applicants must complete the interview to obtain eligible benefits.
To assist in this process, please find essential tips for customers preparing for their interviews:
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Please note that the department will call from any of the following phone numbers: 866-311-4287, 615-984-0902, or 615-532-0762. Staff will make at least two attempts to reach the customer for the scheduled interview.
For more information on the SNAP application process and needed documents, please visit the TDHS website.
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TDHS Process to Request Replacement of Skimmed SNAP and D-SNAP Benefits – First Deadline Approaching |
TDHS will accept requests for replacement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) benefits stolen from households impacted by EBT card skimming, cloning, and similar fraud between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2024. The review period opened on November 6, 2023 and will close on September 30, 2024.
As of November 6, 2023, TDHS will accept and process households’ replacement requests within the One DHS Customer Portal at OneDHS.tn.gov. Customers that cannot access the online portal to submit a request can retrieve a paper form at their local TDHS office.
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For skimming incidents occurring between October 1, 2022 – November 5, 2023, reports must be submitted by February 5, 2024 to be considered.
- For skimming incidents occurring between November 6, 2023 - September 30, 2024, reports must be submitted within 30 days of the date the customer discovered the fraud.
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Only the following types of fraud are eligible for replacement:
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Card skimming (when devices illegally installed on ATMs or point-of-sale [POS] terminals capture card data or record households’ PINs)
- Card cloning (when data captured by skimming are used to create fake EBT cards and then steal from households’ accounts)
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Other similar fraudulent methods (including but not limited to scamming through fraudulent phone calls or text messages that mimic official TDHS messaging and phishing)
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All reports of skimming, cloning, or similar fraud will require confirmation from the customer verifying that all information reported in the request is true and correct. Customers who purposefully give false information may be prosecuted under applicable state and federal criminal laws. Customers may be contacted to provide further validation of their request.
Only fraudulent transactions related to skimming, cloning or similar fraud (text and phone schemes) can be submitted through this process.
Customers can track their fraud replacement request status through their One DHS Customer Portal account, where they will also receive notification of the request outcome.
For more information on replacement benefits related to fraud, please visit https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/need-help-/tdhs-fraud.html. To report fraud, call the Office of Inspector General fraud hotline at 800-241-2629.
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Governor Lee to Deliver Sixth State of the State Address on February 5th |
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced he will deliver his sixth State of the State address to the General Assembly and fellow Tennesseans on Monday, February 5 at 6 p.m. CST. The joint session will take place in the House Chamber of the Tennessee State Capitol.
The address can be found on Governor Lee’s Facebook and YouTube channels and will be aired statewide.
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This season, Don’t Pay to File your Taxes – VITA can do it for FREE
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) helps families who make less than $70,000 get the tax credits they deserve without the fees. You can file in-person, virtually, or do-it-yourself all for free. VITA is a program of United Way of Greater Nashville in partnership with the IRS.
What customers should know about their taxes:
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- Your tax refund may be lower this year if you received unemployment.
- Unemployment benefits are taxable income and must be reported to the IRS.
- Unemployment does not count as earned income for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
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What: 2024 Summer Summit for the Summer Food Service Program
A summit for national, state, and local thought leaders on food insecurity and food access to connect with Tennessee community organizations and speak about challenges, opportunities and plans for the 2024 Summer Food Service Program in Tennessee.
During the Summit, participants and attendees will focus on how the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) will provide meals to school-age children during the 2024 summer months when the National School Lunch Program is unavailable.
When: January 31, 2024 10:00 am to 3:00 pm CST
Where: Nashville Inner City Ministry 1000 Apex St Nashville TN, 37206
Click here to register to attend this event.
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What: Panel Discussion: Let’s Talk Transition in the 901
During this event there will be a dynamic panel discussion exploring the challenges and opportunities transition-age youth face as they transition from education to employment in Memphis and surrounding areas. Our esteemed panelists, representing diverse backgrounds and expertise, will offer insights and practical advice on how we as stakeholders should merge the educational expectations of our students with the labor market. The event is free, and registration is required.
When: February 8, 2024 at 11am – 12 pm CST
Where: Cossitt Library - Memphis Public Libraries
33 South Front Street Memphis, TN 38103
Please click this link to register.
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Career Development Opportunities at TDHS |
At TDHS, we are consistently looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals who are eager to make a meaningful difference in our state. If you are interested in joining our team, please review new career opportunities on our website.
Detailed listings on all open positions (Preferred and Executive Service) can be found at https://www.tn.gov/careers/apply-here.html. Preferred Service job postings through the Tennessee Department of Human Resources (DOHR) open on Thursday and close on the following Wednesday evening at 11:59 pm CST, depending on the length of the requisition.
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The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) consists of multiple divisions with a unified mission to build strong families by connecting Tennesseans to employment, education, and supportive services. Led by governor-appointed Commissioner Clarence H. Carter, TDHS serves nearly two million Tennesseans to ensure that all state residents have an opportunity to reach their full potential as contributing members of their community. Among the many services and programs provided by TDHS, some of the leading programs include the Child Support Program, Child and Adult Care Licensing, Families First (the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Rehabilitation Services for people with disabilities, and Adult Protective Services, along with many others. TDHS is an organization committed to connecting people to resources that help individuals, families and communities thrive towards long-term economic freedom and prosperity.
To find out the latest information from TDHS, please visit:
TDHS Homepage
Events Page
News Page
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin
Check out the latest TDHS Annual Report
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This Newsletter will be distributed on the last Wednesday of each month, and we kindly ask that all news be approved by leadership and submitted at least three weeks in advance.
Let’s coordinate, share ideas, and learn from our individual customer groups on how we can work together to better serve Tennessee’s low-income families.
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For the latest news from the Tennessee Department of Human Services,
Follow @TNHumanServices
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