3.3 Mandatory Verification at Initial Application.

The following information must be verified prior to certification for households at the initial application: A. Gross nonexempt income – Gross nonexempt income, both earned and unearned, must be verified for all household members prior to certification. B. Citizenship and/or Non-citizen eligibility – The immigration status of all non-citizens applying for SNAP benefits must be verified using the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system. C. Utility expenses – The worker must verify a household’s utility expenses if the household wishes to claim expenses in excess of MDHS’ utility standard and the expense would actually count as a deduction. If the household’s actual utility expenses cannot be verified before the thirty (30) days allowed to process the application expire, MDHS must use the standard utility allowance, provided the household is entitled to use the standard. If the household wishes to claim expenses for an unoccupied home, MDHS must verify the household’s actual utility expenses for the unoccupied home and not use the standard utility allowance. D. Medical expenses – The amount of any medical expense must be verified prior to initial certification and at recertification provided the expense would actually result in a deduction. If a portion of the expense is reimbursable, the amount to be reimbursed must be verified before the non-reimbursable portion can be allowed. Verification of other factors, such as whether services provided are allowable or the eligibility of the person incurring the cost, must be required if questionable. E. Social Security Numbers (SSN) – Households are required to provide the social security number of each household member or apply for a number prior to certification, but the worker must not delay the certification for or issuance of benefits to an otherwise eligible household solely to verify the SSN of a household member. If an individual is unable to provide a SSN or does not have a SSN, the worker must require the individual to apply for a number. Once verified, MDHS must make a permanent notation in their system so as to prevent any further unnecessary reverification of the SSN. F. Residency – Residency in the county must be verified, except in unusual cases (such as homeless households, some migrant farm worker households, or households newly arrived in a county) where verification of residency cannot reasonably be accomplished. G. Identity – The identity of the person making application must be verified. When an authorized representative applies on behalf of a household, the identity of both the authorized representative and the head of household must be verified. H. Disability – Verification of disability is required to identify individuals or households who may qualify for the uncapped shelter expense allowance, for excess medical deduction, the higher resource limit, exclusion from the gross test, and as a condition of eligibility for residents of blind and disabled group living arrangements. I. Household composition – The worker must verify factors affecting the composition of a household, such as student, boarder, or separate household status, if questionable. Individuals are responsible for proving they are a separate household to the satisfaction of MDHS. J. Students – If a person claims to be physically or mentally unfit for purposes of the student exemption, verification may be required. K. Legal obligation and actual child support payments – The legal obligation and actual child support payments made to or for a non-household member must be verified, if allowing the expense could potentially result in a deduction. L. Able-bodied Adult without a Dependent (ABAWD) – The number of hours worked and any countable months in another state must be verified. Any questionable information must also be verified. M. Household members Terminated for Non-Cooperation with State Quality Control (QC) Reviewer – All factors of eligibility must be verified after reapplying after ninety-five (95) days from the end of the annual review period. If it was non-cooperation with a Federal QC reviewer, then all factors of eligibility must be verified after reapplying after seven (7) months from the end of the annual review period. N. Liquid Resources and Loans – The worker will verify liquid resources and whether monies received by households are loans. O. Dependent Care Costs – All dependent care costs must be verified by the household, regardless of the amount. Source: 7 CFR §273.2(f)(1) Revised: March 2022