400-4 VERIFICATION

400-4 VERIFICATION

400-4 A. REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NECESSARY VERIFICATION

An individual must satisfy many eligibility requirements to be determined eligible to receive APA benefits. The client must provide proof that he or she meets each factor of eligibility. The proof offered by the individual may consist of written documents or, if appropriate, the names of collateral contacts who have knowledge of the client's circumstances. The case worker must evaluate the evidence offered and apply prudent judgment in deciding if the evidence shows that the eligibility factor is met. Guidelines for verification of each factor of eligibility are presented in the manual sections that specifically address each factor.

400-4 B. INFORMING THE CLIENT OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NECESSARY VERIFICATION

If a particular factor of eligibility must be verified so that a decision can be made on a client's eligibility for assistance, the case worker shall provide the client with a written notice that states what evidence is needed and gives a reasonable amount of time (at least 15 days) to submit the necessary proof. Whenever possible, the case worker should follow-up a written notice to a blind applicant or recipient with a telephone call.

If the client fails, without good cause, to respond to the notice within the amount of time allowed, eligibility for assistance does not exist. If the client responds to the notice and indicates that he or she is either unable to provide the necessary evidence or unable to understand what is being asked for, the client must be provided with help in understanding the requirement and getting the necessary proof.

400-4 C. FAILURE TO PROVIDE NECESSARY VERIFICATION

Eligibility does not exist if an applicant or recipient fails to provide necessary verification or refuses to allow the agency to verify information relevant to his or her eligibility for benefits.

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

400-4 D. RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE NECESSARY VERIFICATION

The client is always responsible for providing whatever verification is necessary to establish his or her own eligibility for benefits. If, however, the case worker can obtain the needed evidence more easily or more quickly than the client, he or she should do so. For example, if a case worker can get information from SSA through the State Data Exchange ( SDX ), Beneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange ( BENDEX ), or State Verification Exchange System ( SVES ), there is no need for the client to provide proof of the same information.

Case workers must also keep in mind that many APA clients are limited in their capacity to understand program eligibility requirements or to take the steps necessary to get required verification, and offer help with the process if necessary. In many circumstances, it is best to encourage the client to contact a social service or advocacy agency or to appoint an authorized representative for help in getting the needed verification.

400-4 E. WHEN VERIFICATION IS NOT NECESSARY

It is not necessary to get documents or other evidence to verify that a client is ineligible for assistance if the client provides credible information which shows that he or she does not meet one or more factors of eligibility. If, for example, an individual alleges in an interview or on an application that he or she receives monthly income in excess of the applicable maximum, assistance may be denied based on the client's statement.