The S.C. Department of Social Services published procedures for filing civil rights complaints related to USDA- and HHS-funded programs such as SNAP and TANF.
Based on a release from S.C. Dept. of Social Services.
The South Carolina Department of Social Services has published a non-discrimination statement detailing how residents can file civil rights complaints regarding federally funded programs, according to the department.
Under federal civil rights laws and U.S. Department of Agriculture civil rights regulations, the USDA and its agencies, offices, employees, and participating institutions are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, according to DSS. Programs receiving federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, are also subject to similar prohibitions, DSS said.
People with disabilities who need alternative communication formats, such as Braille, large print or American Sign Language, should contact the agency where they applied for benefits, according to DSS. Those who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may reach USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339, DSS said.
To file a complaint involving USDA programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, individuals can complete the Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, and submit it by mail, fax, phone or email to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, according to DSS. The USDA SNAP hotline number is (800) 221-5689, DSS said.
Complaints involving HHS-funded programs, including TANF, Head Start and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, can be filed through the HHS Office for Civil Rights’ online Complaint Portal, by mail, fax or email, according to DSS. The OCR toll-free number is (800) 368-1019, DSS said.
Complaints may also be filed directly with the DSS Office of Civil Rights by writing to P.O. Box 1520, Columbia, S.C. 29202-1520, or by calling (800) 311-7220 or (803) 898-8080, according to the department.
