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Page | 46 CHAPTER THREE: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

3000 ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS

3100 IDENTITY

The Specialist must verify the identity of the applicant (head of household). Benefits cannot be approved without identity and expedited benefits cannot be given without identity being verified. If an authorized representative (AR) applies on behalf of the household, Specialists must verify the identities of both the AR and the head of the household prior to approval. Specialists may use a collateral contact for verification if documentary evidence is not readily available. Examples of acceptable verification may be, but not limited to, the following:  Driver's licenses  Work or school IDs or IDs for health or other public aid  Tribal Identification  Voter registration verification document  Wage stubs  Other official documents or combinations of documents.

Photo ID is NOT required for identification. If photo ID is not used to verify identity, any documents which reasonably establish the applicant’s identity must be accepted. Documentation of what was used to verify identity must be narrated. No requirement for a specific type of document (such as birth certificate) may be imposed on the household.

The AR ID requirement is only if they are applying on behalf of the applicant. Otherwise, we do not have to request ID for the AR.

If there is a break between certification periods, the Benefits Specialist must check to ensure identity has previously been verified. If there is a new authorized representative applying or completing a renewal, on behalf of the applicant, the identity of the AR is required before benefits can be approved. If the ID on file is expired, a request for new ID can be requested, but is not required to approve eligibility and should not hold up eligibility.

Since EBT cards are mailed to customers, ID is not required to request an EBT card for new applications and late renewals.

3200 RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS

Customers should be living in the county in which they are applying unless he/she has requested to apply in another office and has a good cause reason for applying in that office (e.g. closer to employment).

No individual may participate as a member of more than one household or in more than one county in any month; unless an individual is a resident of a shelter for battered women and children and was a member of a household containing the person who abused the shelter resident.

No duration residence requirement or fixed mailing address requirement may be imposed. Applicants living in the county for any purpose other than a vacation, regardless of the length of time they have been there or plan to stay, meet the residence requirements.