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Date of Last Review: 06/26/2024 Effective Date: 07/01/2024 Date of Next Review: 06/26/2027 RDA: SW22 Page 1 of 6 Families First Verification and Documentation Policy 23.17 Effective: July 1, 2024 Introduction Family Assistance eligibility staff must confirm all information provided to the Tennessee Department of Human Services that will have an impact on a customer’s eligibility is accurate. All information received must also be documented in the eligibility and case management system to substantiate all actions taken on an application or existing case. Scope The purpose of this policy is to outline and detail all information that must be verified, when it must be verified, and what must be documented in the case record to establish, as accurately as possible, that the assistant unit meets defined eligibility criteria and that the benefit amount is correct. Policy Verification Any decision made before the end of the standard of promptness period must be based on a clear determination of eligibility or ineligibility. 1. Obtaining and providing Verification is ultimately the responsibility of the Families First customer. 2. The caseworker should secure verifications when the information is known to the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) through automated data interfaces or when it is more reasonable for TDHS to secure the information. 3. The caseworker may render a decision of ineligibility for the assistance unit (AU) based on the customer’s unverified statement of facts. 4. To render a decision of eligibility, the caseworker must be able to make a firm determination of eligibility based on verified points of eligibility.