Chaudhary v. Department of Human Services

Summary

The court held that, when the governing law is silent and the Department initiates proceedings to recover alleged SNAP overpayments from an existing recipient, the Department bears the burden of proof throughout the administrative appeal. It also held that the Secretary's determination was against the manifest weight of the evidence because the record did not establish that Ramzan resided at the relevant address during the overpayment period and the Secretary disregarded material contrary evidence. The court therefore affirmed the lower courts and reversed the Department's overpayment decision.