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Page | 149 When the customer reports changes in income during the interim months, the change should be entered on ACCESS and verification requested. It is essential that the correct income amount is budgeted because Quality Control (QC) and other management information show income is the most frequent area in which program errors and wrong allotments are made.

Customers usually can provide documentary verification of earned income such as pay stubs, W-2 forms, and income tax returns. Ledgers, bookkeeping records, tax forms, or sales and expenditure records may be used as verification for self-employed persons.

Income not from earnings also must be verified. The following are suitable: SSA, SSI, and RSDI award letters (be alert for later changes and cost of living increases); award letters for Reemployment Assistance (RA), VA, pensions, railroad retirement, and similar benefits; support and alimony payments from a court order, DCS child support screens, divorce decree, or separation papers; contribution checks; and benefit warrants.

Verification from other sources includes SVES, social security district office files, employer's records, union records, workmen's compensation records, Veterans' Administration, insurance company records, tax records, and Railroad Retirement Board records, Vital Statistics Records, obituaries, etc.

Customers who cannot give acceptable documentary proof of income must identify a collateral source the benefits specialists can use to get the needed information.

8401 INCOME AND ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION SYSTEM (IEVS)

IEVS provides information on Social Security, SSI, IRS wage and unearned income, and Department of Labor for wage and Reemployment Assistance (RA) information. Information obtained through IEVS will be used to verify eligibility, benefit amounts, and potential overpayments. IEVS hit information is located on ACCESS at INFC/IEVP (information by individual) REPT/IEVW (information by Benefits Specialist) or REPT/IEVD (information by region). The IEVS hit may be resolved from any of the locations.

8402 WAGE VERIFICATION AND REMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE COMPENSATION ON-LINE VERIFICATION

Wage verification and Reemployment Assistance (RA) information may be queried on-line (e.g. DLR, the Work Number). On-line wage and RA queries should be completed for all adult household members at application, renewal, and to verify questionable wage information; these should also be completed when adding adult household members to the SNAP household. On-line wage and RA queries contain names of recipients, employers, and wages individuals received during a past period (not necessarily the last three months). Staff should use the information to plan conversations during the interview to confirm the household's earlier statements about income, or to discover unreported income. Wage information should be used as follows:

A. To review the accuracy and timeliness of income reported by the household.

B. Review information at application and renewal to determine if an individual had recent employment changes; such as termination of employment or new or changed income to report.

Note: Give priority to potential unreported income situations when reviewing information at application and renewal.