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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION INCOME AND RESOURCES FNS 305 RULES FOR BUDGETING INCOME

6 Section 305 Change #01-2023 January 09, 2023 2. Electronic verifications received through the Online Verification System (OVS) from the source of the income. This includes but is not limited to Social Security income, Supplemental Security Income Work Number, and Unemployment. NOTE: The Department of Employment Services (DES) is not the source of earned income and cannot be used as verification of wages. 3. Documentary evidence which includes wage stubs, work number, award letters, bank statements, etc. a. The FNS unit has primary responsibility for providing documentary evidence to support statements on the application and to resolve any questionable information. b. The FNS worker must assist the applicant or household in obtaining verifications as needed or if requested by the FNS unit. c. Documentary evidence may be provided in person by the FNS unit to the county, by mail, electronically, by fax, or through an authorized representative. d. Do not require a specific type of verification. Accept any reasonable documentary evidence that adequately proves the information provided by the FNS unit. Client’s statement is acceptable, unless questionable, if the FNS unit states that they cannot obtain the required or mandatory verification 435 Determining Eligibility and the FNS worker takes the following steps: a. The FNS caseworker must try to obtain the information through telephone or electronic means if available. b. If unable to contact by telephone or obtain through electronic means the FNS caseworker must issue a DSS-8650, written request directly with the source of the verification and allow them 10 days to provide the verification. i. If the source of verification refuses to provide the required verification, the worker may use the client’s statement as best available information upon the refusal by the source of verification. ii. If the source of verification fails to provide the required verification, the worker may use the client’s statement as best available information after the expiration of the written request made directly with the source of the verification.