8. REFUSAL OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE VERIFICATION

The Department will deny or close an application or case when verification is not provided due to refusal or failure to provide verification. For a determination of refusal to be made, the household must be able to cooperate, but clearly demonstrate that they will not take actions that they can take and that are required to complete the certification process. For example, to be denied for refusal to cooperate, a household must refuse to be interviewed, not merely fail to complete it. If there is any question as to whether the household has merely failed to cooperate the household must not be denied or closed based on refusal.

If the household refuses or fails to provide verification, the Department shall deny the application, unless there is good cause (Section 999-1).

If the household is receiving benefits and refuses or fails to provide verification, the Department shall close the case, unless there is good cause (Section 999-1).

C. The household is not ineligible based upon a person outside the household failing to cooperate with a request for verification. Individuals considered disqualified (see list at Section 444-4) and authorized representatives (Section 222-3) are not considered as a person outside the household.

D. If a household refuses to cooperate with a Quality Control reviewer, the household shall be denied or terminated for refusal to cooperate. The household is not eligible until they cooperate with the Quality Control review or they reapply after the time limits described below. This ineligibility applies to all households, including those eligible for expedited service.

(1) If a household, which has been terminated for refusal to cooperate with a State Quality Control reviewer, reapplies after 125 days beyond the annual review period for that Quality Control sample month, they may be found eligible, but each eligibility factor must be verified, regardless of whether or not the information is contradictory to information known to or received by the Department.

(2) If such a household reapplies after 125 days from the end of the annual review period for that Quality Control sample month, and the household is eligible for expedited service, the household shall be provided benefits based on the expedited service processing requirements, including the provision that only identity must be verified. However, before the household may receive an issuance not processed under expedited service requirements, the household must provide verification of all eligibility requirements.

(3) Verification of all eligibility requirements refers to any household circumstance that could affect eligibility. Required verification is not limited to those items required at the time of initial application or at annual eligibility review. Items such as household composition, citizenship or eligibility for a standard utility allowance that would normally only be verified unless contradictory to information known to or received by the Department, must be verified in these cases.

(4) If a household which has been terminated for refusal to cooperate with a Federal Quality Control reviewer reapplies after 9 months beyond the annual review period for that Quality Control sample month, it may be found eligible but each eligibility factor must be verified.

NOTE: The annual review period refers to the federal Quality Control review period and runs from October 1 through September 30.

E. Where verification is incomplete, the Department shall provide the household with a written statement of required verification and an offer to assist in obtaining it. The Department shall allow the household at least ten days from the date of the initial request for the particular verification to provide the missing verification.

F. When information from another source contradicts statements made by the household, the Department shall give the household at least 10 days to resolve the discrepancy.

G. When the household fails to provide verification required to establish a deductible expense or income exclusion, the Department shall determine eligibility without the deduction or exclusion. The Department shall not deny or terminate benefits for failure to provide such verification.