604-4 C.      VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: CHANGES REPORTED DURING THE CERTIFICATION PERIOD

1. Required Verification

Changes reported by the household must be verified as follows:  

a. Earned income:  Verification is required when a job starts or ends, or when income from a current job changes by more than $125 per month.  See MS 602-3A.

b. Unearned income:  Verification is required when unearned income starts or stops, or when current unearned income changes by more than $125.  See MS 602-3B.

c. Household member moves in:  See MS 604-4E.

• The new member's income must be verified.
• The value and ownership of the new member’s resources need to be verified, if questionable.  
• Residency and U.S. citizenship can be verified by client statement, unless questionable.  Alien status must be verified.  See MS 602-1D(6).
• If the SSNSocial Security Number for the new member is not provided, send a notice requesting the SSNSocial Security Number or verification of the application for a SSN.  Social Security NumberException for adding newborns:  Children born in Alaska can be added to the household without verification of SSNSocial Security Number enumeration or citizenship until the next recertification. See MS 602-1E. Verification of income and resources should only be requested if there is indication that the newborn has income or resources.  
• IPVIntentional Program Violation status by checking eDRSElectronic Disqualified Recipient System

d. Household member moves out:  Verify only if questionable.  See MS 604-4F.

e. Shelter Costs:

• Verification of new shelter costs is needed when the household moves and reports new shelter costs.

• Verification of increases in shelter costs for the current residence is needed prior to allowing the increase only if questionable.  See MS 602-4E(7).

f. Medical Expenses:  Verification of total medical expense that have changed by more than $25.

g. Change in legal obligation to pay child support.  See MS 602-4F.  

2. Required Verification is Not Provided

If the household does not provide the requested verification, close the case with timely notice of adverse action.  The closure is effective the month following the expiration of the notice of adverse action.

If the household provides the verification before the effective date of closure, the caseworker must accept the verification and process the reported change.

Note:  

Do not close a case if a household does not verify deductible expenses.  In these situations, process the household’s benefits without allowing the unverified expenses.

3. Reinstating Certification After Case Closure - Mid Certification

If a SNAP case has been closed mid-certification for failure to provide, and the household submits the required information and/or verification needed to reestablish eligibility within 30 days of the effective date of ineligibility, the caseworker can reopen the case for the remainder of the certification period. A new application or interview is not required.

All of the following must apply to the SNAP case in order for this to occur:

1. The household's SNAP case must be in closed status;
2. The household's SNAP eligibility can only be reinstated without a new application or interview if the missing information is received by the office within 30 days of the date the household became ineligible for SNAP benefits;
3. The household has at least one month remaining in the certification period after the effective date of ineligibility;
4. The household must fully resolve the reason for the SNAP case closure and establish eligibility which may include reporting and verifying any changes in household circumstances;
5. The household must be eligible for SNAP benefits during the reinstatement month and the remaining months of the certification period; and
6. Benefits for the initial month of reinstated eligibility must be prorated from the date the household took the required action to reestablish eligibility.

When reinstating a SNAP case, a new SNAP application date will need to be registered on the existing case with a benefit start date of when the household re-established eligibility and be certified only through the remainder of their previously approved certification period.

The ETEligibility Technician who identifies that the household meets this requirement can register the application needed for the reinstatement.

Example:

A SNAP household was certified 9/18/15 - 2/29/16. The client reported new employment on 11/5/15 and we were unable to verify the income. A request for verification was mailed to the household on 11/5/15 with a due date of 11/16/15. The household did not submit the required verification by the due date. On 11/17/15 the SNAP case was closed effective 11/30/15. On 12/5/15 the verification of income is received at the local office. Since the SNAP is closed, there is at least one month left in the certification period, and the new verified income is below the income standard for the household size, the SNAP case can be reinstated without a new application or interview. The SNAP case is reinstated by registering a new application date with a benefit start date of 12/5/15 and an application received date of the date the registration is completed. The pre-existing certification date of 2/29/16 should be entered on the FSAD screen.

Due to reporting requirements, the following notice is available for use in EISEligibility Information System:

•    F506 - FS CASE REINSTATED MID CERTIFICATION

Do not use SNAP approval or change notices (ex. F100, F102, F103, F112, F701) when reinstating a household.