10:87-2.22 Sources of verification

(a) The CSSA shall use documentary evidence as the primary source of verification. Documentary evidence is written confirmation of a household's circumstances. Examples of documentary evidence include wage stubs, rent receipts and utility bills. Acceptable verification shall not be limited to any single type of document and may be obtained through the household or other source. Where information from another source contradicts statements made by the household, the household shall be immediately afforded the opportunity to resolve the discrepancy. Whenever documentary evidence cannot be obtained, the CSSA shall use alternate sources of verification such as collateral contacts and home visits. 1. A collateral contact is a verbal confirmation of a household's circumstances by a person outside of the household. The collateral contact may be made either in person or over the telephone and shall be in accordance with N.J.A.C. 10:87-2.30(a)2. The acceptability of a collateral contact shall not be restricted to a particular individual but may be anyone who can be expected to provide an accurate third party verification of the household's statements. Examples of acceptable collateral contacts are employers, social service groups, migrant service agencies and neighbors of the household. Systems of records such as, but not limited to the SDX/BENDEX to which the CSSA has routine access are not considered collateral contacts and, therefore, need not be designated by the household. i. Home visits shall be used as verification only if documentary evidence cannot be obtained and the visit is scheduled in advance with the household. Home visits are to be used on a case-by-case basis where the supplied documentation is insufficient to make a firm determination of eligibility or benefit level. Simply because a household fits a profile of an error-prone household does not constitute lack of verification. (b) When information from another source contradicts statements made by the household, the household shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to resolve the discrepancy prior to an eligibility determination. (c) Responsibility for obtaining verification is as follows: 1. The household has primary responsibility for providing documentary evidence to support statements on the application and to resolve any questionable information. The CSSA shall assist the household in obtaining this verification provided the household is cooperating with the CSSA as specified at N.J.A.C. 10:87-2.14. Households may supply documentary evidence in person, through the mail, by data- fax, electronic data-transfer or through an authorized representative. However, the CSSA shall not require the household to personally present verification at the NJ SNAP office. The CSSA shall accept any reasonable documentary evidence provided by the household and shall be primarily concerned with how adequately the verification proves the statements on the application. 2. Whenever documentary evidence cannot be obtained, the CSSA shall substitute a collateral contact or a home visit. The CSSA shall rely on the household to provide the name of any collateral contact. The household may request assistance in designating a collateral contact. The CSSA is not required to use a collateral contact designated by the household if the collateral contact cannot be expected to provide an accurate third party verification. When the collateral contact designated by the household is unacceptable, the CSSA shall ask the household to designate another collateral contact. The CSSA is responsible for obtaining verification from acceptable collateral contacts. 3. The CSSA shall provide each household, at initial certification and recertification, with a Notice of Required Verification (Form NJ SNAP-33) if the household is required to provide information necessary to complete the certification process. That notice informs the household that the CSSA will assist the household in obtaining the needed verification if the household encounters difficulty, and that failure to secure the required information may affect the household's eligibility for NJ SNAP benefits. History HISTORY: Amended by R.1990 d.270, effective May 21, 1990. See: 22 N.J.R. 139(a), 22 N.J.R. 1599(a). In (d)1: stylistic changes and clarification with reference to N.J.A.C. 10:87-2.14. Amended by R.1991 d.247, effective May 6, 1991. See: 23 N.J.R. 179(a), 23 N.J.R. 1412(b). Added new (d)3. Recodified from N.J.A.C. 10:87-2.23 and amended by R.2004 d.181, effective May 17, 2004. See: 36 N.J.R. 28(a), 36 N.J.R. 2425(a). Former N.J.A.C. 10:87-2.22, Verification of social security and/or SSI using SDX/BENDEX, recodified to N.J.A.C. 10:87-2.21. Rewrote the section. Administrative change. See: 44 N.J.R. 1529(a).