790-5          VERIFICATION OF CHANGES

790-5 A.     REQUIRED VERIFICATION

Changes reported must be verified as follows:

1. Earned income:  Verification is required when a job starts or ends, when the rate of pay changes, and when income from a current job changes by more than $50 per month.  
    

2. Unearned income:  Verification is required when unearned income starts or stops, or when current unearned income changes by more than $50.  
    

3. Family member moves in:  

    

   • 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. United States citizenship can be verified by client statement, unless questionable.  Alien status must be verified.
      

   • If the SSN Social Security Number for the new member is not provided, send a notice requesting the SSN Social Security Number or verification of the application for an SSN Social Security Number.

Exception for adding newborns:

Children born in Alaska to Temporary Assistance recipients can be added to the assistance unit without verification of Social Security enumeration or citizenship. Verification of income and resources should only be requested if there is indication that the newborn has income or resources. Verification of paternal relationship must be obtained if the father of the newborn is included in the assistance unit and the relationship is questionable.

4. Family member moves out:  Verify only if questionable.
    

5. Shelter costs:  Verification of new shelter costs is needed when the household moves and reports new shelter costs, if the amount reported by the household is questionable.  Verification of increases in shelter costs for the current residence is needed prior to allowing the increase only if questionable.

790-5 B.     REQUIRED VERIFICATION IS NOT PROVIDED

If the family does not provide verification that is needed to determine ongoing eligibility and benefit level, 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 family provides the verification before the effective date of the case closure, the caseworker must accept the verification and process the reported change.

Note:

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