Collateral Contacts
A. A collateral contact is a verbal confirmation of a household's circumstances by a person outside the household, made either in person, in writing, or by telephone. Acceptable collateral contacts include, but are not limited to: employers, landlords, social/migrant service agencies, and neighbors of the household who can be expected to provide accurate third-party verification. The name of the individual contacted, the individual’s contact information, and the information provided shall be documented in the case record. B. Confidentiality shall be maintained when talking with collateral contacts. The local office shall disclose only the information that is necessary to get information being sought. When talking with collateral contacts, the local office must not state that an individual or household has applied for SNAP. C. If the household fails to provide a collateral contact or provides a contact that is unacceptable to the eligibility technician, the technician may select a collateral contact that can provide information that is needed. D. The local office shall not determine the household to be ineligible when a person outside the household fails to cooperate with a request for verification. Household members who are disqualified or in an ineligible status shall not be considered individuals outside the household. E. In cases in which the information from another source contradicts statements made by the household, the household shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to resolve the discrepancy prior to an eligibility determination.