3.11 Automated Resources-Mandatory Use of Income Eligibility and Verification System (IEVS).

A. IEVS uses the SSN of an applicant or a recipient to collect and exchange income and resource data from other federal and state agencies to be used in verifying eligibility for benefits for eligible households. B. This must be done in accordance with the disclosure safeguards and date exchange agreement. C. IEVS data must be requested for all household members, including excluded household members if the SSN is known. D. Applicants must be notified that information available from IEVS will be requested, used, and may be verified through collateral contact when discrepancies are found and that such information may affect household eligibility and benefit levels. E. IEVS data matches must be reviewed at every initial application and every time a new household member is added. F. Verified Upon Receipt: Information regarding social security, SSI benefit information, TANF benefit information and UB information are all considered verified upon receipt. Proper notices to households must be sent to households to terminate, deny or reduce benefits based on this information. G. Unverified Upon Receipt: Information regarding unearned income from IRS, wage information from SSA and SWICAs (State Wage Information Collection Agency) and any questionable IEVS information must be independently verified by MDHS before any action is taken to terminate, deny or reduce benefits. Independent verification entails contacting the household in writing and/or the appropriate income, resource or benefit source. Except with respect to unearned income from IRS, if MDHS has information which indicates that independent verification is not needed, then such verification is not required. H. Documentation: MDHS must record when IEVS information results in an adverse action and when it does not. Source: Section 7 CFR §272.8, 7 CFR §273.2(f)(6) and (9)(iii)(iv) Revised: March 2022