709.07 Replacing Coupons Totally Lost or Stolen Prior to Receipt SR 94-04, 04/94 (FSM-A)

See SR 98-50 dated 8/98 for changes to this policy applicable only to Concord D.O. pilot implementation of New HEIGHTS.

_____________________________________________________________

Coupons lost or stolen after receipt cannot be replaced. This includes household claims that an unauthorized person accepted certified mail delivery of coupons.

Coupons which were mailed first class may be lost or stolen prior to the household's receiving them. If loss or theft occurs, the household must report the loss during the month of intended use; that is, the month in which the coupons were mailed (as indicated by the postmark date). If the stamps were mailed after the 20th of the month but before the first of the following month, the household has 20 days from the postmark date to report a loss.

Convert a household from first class mail to certified mail after the second report of lost or stolen coupons.

Households are limited to 2 replacements in a six-month period for coupon losses that do not involve the State Office coupon stuffing process. To determine the six-month period, consider the month the lost coupons were originally mailed as a month of replacement. Count the month that the coupons were not received and the 5 preceding months. Advise households when a replacement request is denied.

Example

January - Individual did not receive stamps. January is a month of replacement regardless of when the individual receives substitute stamps.

March - Individual did not receive stamps. March is a month of replacement regardless of when the individual receives substitute stamps.

June - Individual did not receive stamps again. June is a month of replacement also, regardless of when the individual receives substitute stamps.

The individual is not eligible for replacement of June's stamps because the individual has reported unreceived stamps 3 times in the previous 6 months.