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3. The source requires a release, and 4. The individual, their spouse, or another appropriate adult in the household refuses to sign the release, and 5. The release is the only way the verification can be obtained. This page last updated in Release Number: 07-01 Release Date: 10/29/07 Effective Date: 02/01/08 9.8 General Rules 1. Over-verification, including requiring excessive pieces of evidence for any one item or requesting verification that is not needed to determine eligibility, is prohibited. Once the accuracy of a written or verbal statement has been established, additional verification can’t be required. For example, once U.S. citizenship is verified, a member or applicant never has to verify it again (see SECTION 4.2 VERIFYING U.S. CITIZENSHIP). 2. If information has already been verified, the applicant or member does not need to verify it again except in the following situations: a. There is reason to believe the information is fraudulent or differs from more recent information. If fraud is suspected, the IM agency determines if a referral for fraud or for front-end verification should be made (see SECTION 9.10 QUESTIONABLE ITEMS). b. The member reported a change to information that is subject to mandatory verification rules or is questionable. c. At renewal, if information is subject to mandatory verification rules or is questionable. 3. One particular type of verification can’t be exclusively required when various types are adequate and available. 4. Verification may be submitted in person, by mail, fax, e-mail, or electronically through ACCESS or the MyACCESS mobile app. Verification is not required to be presented in person. 5. Applicants and members must not be subject to different verification requirements solely based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, religion, or migrant status when people in similar circumstances would not otherwise have the same verification requirements. Example 1 Marie reports on her application that she is a U.S. citizen. She also reports that the primary language spoken in her home is a language other than English, and it is her preferred language. Marie’s preferred language has no impact on the verification policy for U.S. citizenship. Verification of U.S. citizenship is attempted using the same methods used for all applicants that report U.S. citizenship, which is explained in SECTION 4.2 VERIFYING U.S. CITIZENSHIP. 6. The applicant or member can’t be required to sign a release form (either blanket or specialized) when the applicant or member provides required verification. 7. Verification of information that is not used to determine eligibility cannot be required. 8. During verification, the applicant or member can’t be harassed or have their privacy, personal dignity, or constitutional rights violated. 9. A one-time 10-day extension to the verification due date can be provided for the following reasons: a. The applicant or member requests additional time to provide the requested verification. b. The verification submitted by the applicant or member is incomplete or unreadable.