705-4 Verification

705-4 VERIFICATION

See MS 700-4 for policy on verification and documentation.

705-4 A. VERIFICATION REQUIRED PRIOR TO ALLOWING DEDUCTIONS

Except for shelter costs that are not questionable,caseworkers must obtain verification of allowable expenses when the expenses result in a deduction of countable income and an increase in the amount of benefits. Families must be given an opportunity to provide the verification before the eligibility determination is made. If the family does not provide verification of the following expenses, the application is processed without the deduction.

Dependent care expenses.

Deductible child support payments.

Shelter costs and family’s responsibility for utility expenses or family’s responsibility for the cost of heating their home, if questionable.

Note:

Shelter costs for households living in subsidized housing must be verified.

See TA MS 780-19 K for examples of questionable shelter costs.

Note:

If obtaining verification of the expense, including a questionable shelter costs, would delay processing the initial application, the family may choose to have the application processed without the deduction. Document this request in the case record.

705-4 B. INFORMATION FROM DATA SYSTEMS AND EIS Eligibility Information System INTERFACES

Several data systems and computer interfaces are available through the Internet and on-line EIS Eligibility Information System access. Some interfaces must be checked at each application and recertification as part of the verification process. Others only need to be checked if questionable or if certain conditions apply.

1. Interfaces That Must Be Checked

Interface	Information Verified	When To Check
State of Alaska Department of Labor (DOL)	Unemployment Insurance Benefits Unreported employment	At each application and recertification
Interface Inquiry (ININ Interface Inquiry) (#9 on INME) SDX State Data Exchange Social Security Administration PFA State of Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Division WAG State of Alaska Department of Labor (DOL)	SSI Supplemental Security Income payments PFD Permanent Fund Dividend payments Employment history through quarterly wage match	At each application and recertification
NSTAR or NFIN State of Alaska Child Support Services Division	Child Support collections Child support disbursements Legal obligation to pay child support	At each application and recertification

2. Interfaces That Are Checked If Questionable or Under Certain Conditions

Interface	Information Verified	When To Check
BENDEX Beneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange Inquiry Social Security Administration (#15 on INME)	SSA Social Security Administration payments	At each application and recertification only if it appears the applicant or recipient could be eligible for Social Security benefits.
INGENS Public Information Database Public Information Database	Ownership of resources including vehicles, real estate, fishing permits, mining claims, boats Drug felony charges	When the caseworker receives questionable information about resources or felony charges
Verification Information System (VIS Verification Information System) through the SAVE Program	Qualified alien status of household members who are not U.S. citizens	It is not necessary to re-verify alien status through the SAVE program at every review or recertification. This verification is only required for each alien at initial application and whenever an alien is added to a household.
State Online Query (SOLQ) (#14 on INME)	SSA Social Security Administration and SSI Supplemental Security Incomepayments	At each application and recertification only if it appears the applicant or recipient could be eligible for Social Security benefits.
State Verification Exchange System (SVES State Verification Exchange System) (#13 on INME)	SSA Social Security Administration and SSI Supplemental Security Income payments	At each application and recertification only if it appears the applicant or recipient could be eligible for Social Security benefits.

Note:

The SOLQ State Online Query interface may be used only to determine eligibility for the Alaska Temporary Assistance, Food Stamp, Medicaid, and Adult Public Assistance programs.

In some situations, the information will be from the source and can be used as verification. In other situations, the caseworker must follow-up on the information.

Example:

The caseworker checks the interfaces and data systems for the two members of an applicant household. The Department of Labor system shows one is currently receiving unemployment benefits of $120 weekly. This information is used as income verification since the information is directly from the source of the income. The caseworker also finds that the other applicant had earnings listed for the prior quarter. The caseworker contacts the household to determine if the person is still working and, if so, requests verification of wages. If the person is not working, the caseworker asks why the job ended to find out if there was a recent job quit.

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		MC #33 (08/11)