SNAP and POWER Policy Manual – 300 – Extended Menu

301 Verification

Verification is the use of documentation or a contact with a third party to confirm the accuracy of statements or information. Verify each eligibility factor for each individual to be included in the assistance unit prior to making the initial/ongoing eligibility determination.

1. Verify the eligibility factors prior to making the ongoing eligibility determination.
   1. Eligibility factors required to be verified include but are not limited to:
      1.  Gross Non-Exempt Income
      2.  Alien Eligibility
      3.  Utility Expenses
      4.  Medical Expenses
      5.  Social Security Numbers
      6.   Residency
      7.  Identity
      8.  Disability
      9.   Household Composition
      10.   Students
      11.  Legal Obligation and Actual Child Support Payments
      12.   ABAWD Eligibility
2. Authorize the $1 nonpayment status for POWER for noncompliance when eligibility cannot be determined because the applicant/recipient refuses to provide:
   1. The requested document(s)/documentation, or
   2. The written consent to obtain it.
3. Require the applicant/recipient to provide the document(s)/ documentation necessary to verify the eligibility factors except:
   1. When the verification is provided on one (1) of the following interfaces:  Reports and Verification for Eligibility (RAVE), Numident, TPQY, BENDEX, SDX, ESY4 or RIS; and
   2. When verification is available within DFS in a prior case file and the factor is not subject to change (i.e. a SSN or date of birth).
4. Assist the applicant/recipient, upon request, in obtaining the document(s) for verification when the individual is or would have difficulty providing them.
5. Evaluate the verification(s):
   1. Compare each piece of verification to the others to see if the information is consistent.
   2. Assure the date the document(s) was created verifies the factor and does not raise more questions.
   3. Consider the reason why the document was created.
   4. Examine the verification to determine whether it has been tampered with or altered.
   5. Determine whether the verification answers the issue in question.
6. Resolve any discrepancies or questions raised by the verification by:
   1. Requiring additional verification; or
   2. Contacting a knowledgeable source.
7. Allow the assistance unit at least 10 days from the date the notice is mailed to provide required verification.
8. Accept a collateral contact in cases when requiring documentary evidence would delay processing the application:
   1. Conduct a collateral contact either in person or over the phone;
   2. Select a collateral contact if the assistance unit fails to designate one (1) or designates one (1) which is unacceptable;
   3. Disclose only the information absolutely necessary to get the information being sought; and
   4. Do not disclose the assistance unit applied for SNAP, failed to provide information or suggest the assistance unit is suspected of any wrong doing.
9. Schedule a home visit only when documentary evidence is insufficient to make a firm determination of eligibility or benefit level or cannot be obtained.
10. Allow postponement of eligibility factors, excluding identity, when the assistance unit is eligible for expedited SNAP and:
    1. Certify the assistance unit for the appropriate time period; or
    2. Allow migrant farm-workers two (2) months to provide verifications from out-of-state sources.
11. Review and evaluate the information provided by the RAVE, ESY4, SDX, BDX, RIS and eDRS interfaces at each application, re-certification and when adding a new household member.

302     Documentation

1. Enter the proof of the verification in the case record by recording the type of verification, identifying numbers and any clarification notes.
2. Document the case file narrative as follows:
   1. The name of the person providing the information;
   2. The title of the person providing the information (when appropriate);
   3. The organization name;
   4. The date obtained;
   5. The type of document and date of the document;
   6. Identification number of the document (if any);
   7. Volume and page(s) reference of public records (when appropriate);
   8. The content of the information/document; and
   9. The initials of the individual who verified the information and the date verified.
3. Obtain a free copy of the Wyoming birth certificate for DFS purposes only by emailing the designated contact at the Department of Health, Vital Records Department.
   1. Specify the individual's full name at birth, mother's maiden name, father's name, date and place of birth.
4. Obtain information concerning immigrant status through the SAVE process (Section 606(G)) or by writing USCIS at SAVE.Help@uscis.dhs.gov.

303     Acceptable Verification/Evidence

A. Use the table below as a guide for requesting primary evidence and secondary evidence to be used for verification and documentation.

1. The document/documentation needs to clearly link the evidence to the household.

B. Require the applicant/recipient to provide no less than one (1) primary source or two (2) secondary sources of documentation to verify each eligibility factor.

1. Require the primary document/documentation when it is obtainable.
2. Accept secondary documents/documentation only when the primary evidence is not available.
3. One (1) document may verify more than one (1) eligibility factor for more than one (1) applicant/recipient.