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401.2 TANF MANUAL 7/24 Page 2e

d. Adding Other Persons - A request to add an individual not required to be in the unit, such as a caretaker-relative other than a parent or EWB, will be processed within 30-day timeframe for adding persons, with eligibility effective no later than the month following receipt of the request per Section 401.1.I.

3. Evaluation of Reported Information - To ensure the applicant/ recipient has provided all information necessary for the EW to make a proper determination regarding eligibility, every element on the application must be discussed with the client at each application or renewal.

Additionally, when a change is reported by the client, all elements related to the change must be reviewed to ensure continuing eligibility exists.

When statements, either written or verbal, made by the client are deemed questionable, further evaluation of the client's circumstances is required. Questionable information will include, but is not limited to, statements which are:

a. incomplete or unclear;

b. inconsistent with statements previously made by the applicant/recipient;

c. inconsistent with information known by the local agency.

4. Income v. Expenses - In situations where it is obvious the client's monthly expenses exceed verified income, the EW shall discuss with the client how monthly expenses are being met. The EW may not require verification of the client's expenses as a condition of eligibility. Furthermore, assistance may not be denied or terminated based solely on statements made by the client. Rather, the EW shall take this opportunity to explore the client's situation to determine if unreported income is available which allows the assistance unit to meet monthly expenses. The case record must be clearly documented to accurately reflect the client's substantiation of his/her situation. If the EW and the client are unable to resolve the client's circumstances, attempts to do so must also be documented in the case record. It is important to remember, however, that assistance can only be denied/terminated when income is uncovered which, when verified, exceeds prescribed limits or when the client acknowledges he has unreported income but refuses to verify the source and/or amount.

5. Follow-Up on Suspected Unreported Income - When the agency has reason to believe that a recipient is receiving income that has not been reported, the EW will follow-up on obtaining information to substantiate the recipient's circumstances. Community complaints, expenses exceeding income, a history of not reporting, and cases with individuals living with the assistance unit whose income would be deemed available

TANF Transmittal 78