USDA statement on Civil Rights Discrimination complaints policy

Civil Rights Discrimination Complaint Process

Any person, class, or group of persons has the right to file a discrimination complaint if they believe an FSA-administered or FSA-funded program or function, directly or indirectly, results in treatment or services being provided differently because of any of the bases for filing a complaint.

Complaints may be filed on the following bases:

• age
• color
• disability
• familial status
• genetic information
• marital status
• national origin
• parental status
• political beliefs
• income derived from public assistance
• race
• religion
• reprisal
• sex
• sexual orientation.

Note: Not all bases apply to all programs.

Employees may not do either of the following:

• deny benefits or services
• refuse to process applications for benefits to any complainant.

Civil rights discrimination complaints may be filed in writing only.  The complainant must provide as much of the following information as possible:

• description of the decision and action believed to be discriminatory
• explain as clearly as possible what happened, why it is believed to have happened, and how he or she was discriminated against
• include how other persons were treated differently from them, if applicable
• date and location of the incident believed to constitute discrimination
• names of the persons involved in the incident
• name and address of the Agency and/or program involved in the incident
• name, address, and telephone number of the complainant
• name, address, and telephone number of witnesses to the incident, if applicable

A complaint must be filed within  180 calendar days  from the date the complainant knew, or should have known, of the alleged discrimination. USDA Office of Adjudication has the authority to waive the timeliness requirement when it finds that good cause is shown.  The identity of complainants is kept confidential, except to the extent necessary to carry out the purpose of the regulations.

To file a complaint of discrimination, the allegation must be put in writing and signed.  A program discrimination complaint form (available at any USDA office location or online at www.ascr.usda.gov) may be completed and signed as well, but is not required when filing a complaint. The complaint may be submitted by 1 of the following:

• e-mailed to program.intake@usda.gov
• FAXed to 202-619-6853
• postal mail to:

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

United States Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410.

To obtain additional information on filing a program discrimination complaint, or to request documents, individuals may call the Customer Service Unit toll-free at 866-632-9992 (voice). Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at:

• 800-877-8339   (TDD)
• 866-377-8642   (English)

• 800-845-6136   (Spanish).

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

–Submitted by Jean Hazelgrove, Farm Services Agency