Verification of Disqualified Member Data
At the time of application and when adding a new member to a SNAP household, the office shall verify data with the national IPV/disqualification database for all household members aged eighteen (18) or older to determine if any members have an active IPV / disqualification from another state which requires a portion, or the entirety of, the disqualification period to be served in Colorado. Application processing shall not be delayed while awaiting verification from another state. The local office shall ensure that: A. Disqualifications from another state due to a drug-related felony, as defined in 7 C.F.R. 273.11(m), which is incorporated by reference in section 4.100, above, or any other disqualification that is not pursued in Colorado due to a waiver or state statute shall not be acted upon; B. IPVs/disqualifications from another state must be independently verified with the originating state prior to taking any adverse action against a household’s SNAP benefits, if the client is unable to attest to the accuracy of the disqualification; C. States shall be given twenty (20) calendar days to respond to a request for verification. If verification cannot be provided by the other state, then the disqualification shall not be acted upon. Local offices shall be given twenty (20) calendar days to respond to another state’s request of obtaining verification of a Colorado IPV. If the local office cannot provide verification, then steps shall be taken to remove the IPV from the national database. D. Once independent verification is received, advance notice of adverse action shall be granted prior to benefits being reduced, suspended, denied, or terminated; and, E. The disqualified individual shall be provided an opportunity to appeal any adverse action. If benefits are issued by the local office to an individual while awaiting verification of an IPV disqualification, the benefits issued while awaiting such verification may be reclaimed by the local office if it is determined that the individual was disqualified from the program at the time the benefits were issued.