VERIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION

A. Verification is the use of documentary evidence or a contact with a third party to confirm information and to establish the accuracy of statements provided by the household. B. The case record shall consist of statements and documentation regarding the sources and results of verification used to determine a household’s eligibility. Such statements must be sufficiently detailed to support the determination of eligibility or ineligibility and to permit a reviewer to determine the reasonableness of the eligibility technician’s determination. When ineligibility is determined, the case record must clearly indicate the reason for denial or termination of SNAP benefits and the verification used in making the decision. If information is considered questionable or if an alternate source of verification was requested, the reason for additional verification shall be documented in the case record. The case record shall also contain all correspondence pertaining to fair hearings and administrative disqualification hearings (ADH). Information to retain in the case record for fair hearings shall include, at a minimum, the household’s request for a fair hearing, the scheduling notice with the hearing date and time, all decisions pertaining to the fair hearing, an any formal objections to the court’s ruling (known as exceptions) filed by the local office or the household. Information to retain in the case record for an ADH shall include, at a minimum, the notice to the individual of the alleged intentional program violation (IPV)/fraud, any notice given to the household waiving the household’s right to an ADH, the scheduling notice of the ADH if the waiver is not signed and returned, all decisions issued regarding the outcome of the ADH hearing, and the disqualification notice sent to the household notifying the individual of the disqualification period. C. The local office shall provide each household at the time of application for initial certification, recertification, and periodic report form with a notice that informs the household of verification requirements that the household must meet as part of the application, recertification, or periodic report process. The notice will inform the household that the local office will assist the household in obtaining verification, provided the household is cooperating with the office. The notice shall be written in clear and simple language and shall meet bilingual requirements. D. The household has the primary responsibility for providing documentary evidence for required verification and to resolve questionable information. The local office shall assist the household to obtain the necessary documentation provided the household is cooperating with the local office. E. The household shall also be determined ineligible if it refused to cooperate in any subsequent review of its eligibility, including reviews generated by reported changes, recertifications, or as part of a quality control review.