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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 65 5.11.4 Evaluating Verification To be used as verification, a document or statement must meet the following criteria:  Reasonably show the eligibility factor it is being used to verify.  Be from a person, business or organization that would have knowledge of the information.  Be current and unaltered. Verification of information that can change that is over 60 days old is considered outdated, and current verification must be obtained unless the verification, currently in the case record, is dated specifically for the application time period. Example Mr. Knowles’ case discontinued June 10, 2023. He reapplies on September 18, 2023. The case record contains a lease dated January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023. The lease can be used because it is for the current time period.

5.11.5 No Requirement for Specific Forms of Verification ESA cannot require customers to provide a specific document to verify the household’s circumstances as long as the documents or statements provided reasonably show these circumstances. Example Mr. Sparin has applied for SNAP for himself, his wife and his child. To allow an income deduction for his shelter costs, he needs to provide proof of these expenses. During the interview, ESA attempts to verify Mr. Sparin’s costs over the phone but is unable to contact the landlord. ESA must accept any document that provides proof of Mr. Sparin’s costs, such as a rent receipt, a statement from his landlord or a copy of his lease agreement. 5.12 Questionable Information ESA must verify questionable information that could affect a customer’s eligibility and benefit amounts. Questionable information includes the following:  Contradictory statements on a certification form (e.g. application, mid-certification, recertification)  Information on the certification form inconsistent with other information received by ESA, known in the case record, presented during the interview or discovered from other sources When determining whether information is questionable, ESA must base the decision on each household’s circumstances before requesting verification. Return