{"data":{"id":"us-va/12vac5-195-200","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"12VAC5-195-200","heading":"Program abuse and sanctions","body":"A. The state agency determines program abuse and sanctions that may be issued to applicants and participants. When more than one abuse is involved at a time, the sanction shall be based on the more serious abuse.\n\nB. If an abuse occurs more than 12 months after the last abuse, the local agency shall process the abuse as a first offense.\n\nC. When more than three abuses in a 12-month period occur, the local agency shall issue a three-month temporary disqualification.\n\nD. Program abuses and assigned sanctions are as follows:\n\nAbuse\n\nNumber of Offenses\n\nSanction\n\nClass I\n\nAny deliberate misrepresentation of income, name, residence,   family size, medical data, or date of birth to obtain WIC benefits\n\nAll\n\nThree-month disqualification\n\nDual participation – redeeming food instruments from two   programs or agencies in same month\n\nAll\n\nOne-year disqualification\n\nAssessed claim for $100 or more\n\nAll\n\nOne-year disqualification\n\nAssessed second or subsequent claim for any amount\n\n2nd or subsequent\n\nOne-year disqualification\n\nAttempting to steal or actually stealing food instruments from   the local agency or another participant\n\nAll\n\nThree-month disqualification\n\nSelling, exchanging or giving away food instruments, food, or   formula\n\nAll\n\nThree-month disqualification\n\nRedeeming WIC food instruments reported as lost or stolen\n\nAll\n\nThree-month disqualification\n\nAttempting to redeem or redeeming WIC food instruments for   nonfood items (i.e., diapers, wine, cigarettes)\n\nAll\n\nThree-month disqualification\n\nPhysically abusing the WIC or retailer staff (An incidence of   physical abuse of WIC or retailer staff or properties should be reported to   the police)\n\nAll\n\nThree-month disqualification\n\nAccepting cash or credit from a retailer in connection with a   WIC transaction\n\n1st\n\nOne-month disqualification\n\n2nd\n\nTwo-month disqualification\n\n3rd\n\nThree-month disqualification\n\nClass II\n\nCreating a public nuisance at the local agency or the retailer   (i.e., verbally abusing, harassing, or threatening WIC or retailer staff, destroying   retailer merchandise, or disrupting normal local agency or retailer   activities)\n\n1st\n\nWarning letter\n\n2nd\n\nTwo-month disqualification\n\n3rd\n\nThree-month disqualification\n\nAttempting to redeem or redeeming WIC food instruments for   unauthorized food, formula, or food amounts\n\n1st\n\nWarning letter\n\n2nd\n\nTwo-month disqualification\n\n3rd\n\nThree-month disqualification\n\nAllowing unauthorized persons to use the WIC ID Folder to   pick-up or redeem WIC food instruments\n\n1st\n\nWarning letter\n\n2nd\n\nTwo-month disqualification\n\n3rd\n\nThree-month disqualification\n\nRedeeming WIC food instruments before or after valid spend   dates\n\n1st\n\nWarning letter\n\n2nd\n\nOne-month disqualification\n\n3rd\n\nTwo-month disqualification\n\nAttempting to redeem or redeeming food instruments at   unauthorized retailers\n\n1st\n\nWarning letter\n\n2nd\n\nOne-month disqualification\n\n3rd\n\nTwo-month disqualification","path":["Title 12. Health","Agency 5. Department of Health","Chapter 195. Virginia WIC Program","Part II. Participant Requirements"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title12/agency5/chapter195/section200/","current_through":"2026 Regular Session (effective July 1, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:50:00Z","sha256":"652c0580099b29b1e702aa4333daea8bc11f791b7e74fb31980a6bac19c949c3","source_id":"us-va-vac","stale":false,"prev":"us-va/12vac5-195-190","next":"us-va/12vac5-195-210"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}