Page 6

6. Disability – verify the individual meets the definition of disabled defined in the glossary (SNAP 0-4). Acceptable verification includes but is not limited to the client receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security disability/blindness benefits, or Veterans Administration (VA) benefits due to being 100% disabled. 7. Student status – verify eligible student status (SNAP 201-5). 8. Gross non-exempt income – verify all non-exempt income. Non-exempt interest income, of any amount, received by a household, must be verified. Acceptable verification includes but is not limited to: pay stubs, W-2 forms, employer wage verification form, income tax forms and returns, bookkeeping records, bank account statements, sales and expenditure records, award letters (unemployment insurance, Veteran’s Administration, pension, Railroad Retirement); support and alimony payments (court order, divorce decree, or separation papers); contribution checks; benefit warrants, current SDX or BENDES interfaces, SEARCHES, and MISTICS for Montana Unemployment Insurance (SNAP 500 through SNAP 503-2). If the household cannot provide acceptable documentary proof of income, they must identify a collateral contact that eligibility staff can contact to obtain the verification. When all attempts to verify the income are unsuccessful because the person or organization providing the income does not cooperate with the household or OPA and all other verification sources are not available, the best available information is used to determine the amount to prospectively budget. 9. Deductible expenses: The eligibility staff member will assist the household with obtaining verification when required if the household is cooperating with the application process. If the client reports an expense but doesn’t submit verification (when required), the expense is removed, and eligibility is determined without it. a. Child support obligation – verify the household’s legal obligation to pay child support, the obligation amount, and monthly amount of child support the household pays. Acceptable verification may include but is not limited to canceled checks, wage withholding statements, verification of withholding from unemployment compensation, statements from custodial parent, and SEARCHES (SNAP 602-2). b. Medical expenses – verify medical expenses including the reimbursement amount (SNAP 602-3). When documentary evidence cannot be obtained or is insufficient to