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S N A P M A N U A L

53 Chapter 5 Verification 5 . 1 V E R I F I C A T I O N P R I O R T O C E R T I F I C A T I O N Verification is the use of documentation or a contact with a third party to confirm the accuracy of statements or information. The Agency must give households at least 10 days to provide required verification. The Agency will verify the following information prior to certification for households initially applying: (1) Identity The identity of the person making application will be verified. Where an authorized representative applies on behalf of a household (Section 3.6 Authorized Representatives), the identity of both the authorized representative and the primary informant will be verified. Identity may be verified through readily available documentary evidence, or if this is unavailable, through a collateral contact. Examples of readily available documentary evidence include, but are not limited to, an IEVS hit or documentation already on file. Examples of acceptable documentary evidence which the applicant may provide include, but are not limited to, a driver's license, a work or school ID, an ID for health benefits or for another assistance or social services program, a voter registration card, wage stubs, or a birth certificate. Any documents which reasonably establish the applicant's identity must be accepted, and no requirement for a specific type of document will be imposed. (2) Residency The residency requirements of Section 7.1 Residency will be verified except in unusual cases (such as homeless households or migrant farmworker households) where verification of residency cannot reasonably be accomplished. Verification of residency should be accomplished to the extent possible in conjunction with the verification of other information such as, but not limited to, rent and mortgage payments, utility expenses, and identity. If verification cannot be accomplished in conjunction with the verification of other information, then the Agency will use a collateral contact or other readily available documentary evidence. Documents used to verify other factors of eligibility should normally suffice to verify residency as well. Chapter 5