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• If the household provides missing verifications within the initial 30-day period, the OPA reopens the application and if eligible, provides benefits from the applications date. If the household does not provide the missing verification until the second 30 days after filing an application, the OPA reopens the application and provides benefits from the date the household furnished the missing verification. When a Recertification, Simplified report, or an ongoing case is processed, eligibility staff must send a notice allowing the household at least 10 days to provide requested verification. TYPES/SOURCES OF VERIFICATION: Types of verifications include: 1. Documentary evidence is written confirmation of a household’s circumstances. It is used as the primary type of verification. Although documentary evidence is the primary type of verification, acceptable verification is not limited to a single type of document and may be obtained through the household or other source. Eligibility staff must document the documentary verification source, the information verified, and the date the verification was received in case notes. 2. Collateral Contact is an oral or written confirmation of a household’s circumstances by a person outside of the household. Examples of acceptable collateral contacts may include employers, landlords, social service agencies, migrant service agencies, and neighbors of the household who can be expected to provide accurate third-party verification. The collateral contact may be made either in person or by telephone. The OPA may choose a collateral contact if the household does not designate one or designates one that is not acceptable. The eligibility staff member should only disclose the information that is necessary to obtain the needed information. When talking to a collateral contact, eligibility staff should try to avoid disclosing that the household is applying for SNAP benefits and try to avoid disclosing any information the household supplied. If a collateral contact is used to verify the information, case notes must be documented with the collateral contact’s name and phone number, the information verified, and the date the information was verified. 3. A Home Visit may be used as verification only when documentary evidence is insufficient or cannot be obtained to make an accurate eligibility determination. A home visit must be scheduled with the household in advance. RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING VERIFICATION: