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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES VERIFICATION/DOCUMENTATION

10/25 VOLUME V, PART III, PAGE 5

Separate Household Status for Elderly, Disabled Persons For elderly, disabled persons who are unable to purchase and prepare meals separately, the agency must first determine the disability and then establish that these persons are unable to purchase and prepare meals because of the disability. The Social Security Administration’s list of disability conditions may be used for this evaluation.

If it is obvious that the individual could not purchase and prepare meals because of the disability, the BPS must consider the individual disabled even if the disability is not specifically mentioned on the SSA list. If the disability is not obvious, the BPS must verify the disability by a statement from a licensed medical provider or licensed or certified psychologist, along with a statement that, in the doctor’s opinion, the disability prevents the individual from purchasing and preparing meals.

Disabled for Determining Eligibility for Group Homes, Medical Expenses, Unlimited Shelter Expenses, Net Income Standards, 24-month Certification Periods, Resource Eligibility, Immigration Eligibility Verification of this evaluation of disability, as noted in Definitions, will usually be determined by receipt of or approval for certain income sources or benefits. For example, approval for or receipt of a disability check from the SSA, including SSI, verifies disability.

k. Child Support Payments

A household member's legal obligation to pay child support, the obligated amount of support to be paid, and the amount of child support actually paid must be verified to allow an income exclusion.

Documents which may be used to verify the household's legal obligation to pay child support and the obligated amount include a court or administrative order, or a legally enforceable separation agreement. The actual payment of support may be verified through such methods as cancelled checks, withholding statements from wages or unemployment compensation, statements from custodial parents about direct payments or payments made to third parties, or payment records of the Division of Child Support Enforcement. Documents used to verify legal obligation to support do not constitute verification of actual payments. Therefore, separate verification of the obligation and actual payments must be obtained, unless the information is obtained through APECS.

2. Verification of Questionable Information (7 CFR 273.2(f)(2))

Local departments of social services must not verify any other factors of eligibility prior to certification unless they are questionable and affect a household's eligibility or benefit level. To be considered questionable, the information on the application must be:

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