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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 1

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 16 Chapter 1 Application/Redetermination Process

1.2.3.B Home Visits Home visits may be conducted for any program, during any phase of the eligibility determination process, when the Worker or Supervisor believes a home visit is advisable. The client may also request a home visit due to illness or inability to travel, when he has no person to act on his behalf.

1.2.3.C Collateral Contacts When the Worker must make a collateral contact, such as with a client’s employer, the Worker must not disclose the client’s status as an applicant/client of a department program. 1.2.3.C.1 SNAP Only Exception DOHS staff must not initiate contact with law enforcement officials to disclose information regarding SNAP clients. However, information pertaining to a SNAP client or member of his household may be provided when written requests from federal, state, or local law enforcement officers are received on the official department letterhead of the issuing law enforcement agency and verifies the following: • The individual is fleeing to avoid prosecution, custody, or confinement for a felony; or • The individual is violating parole or probation; or NOTE: Home visits for SNAP AGs may only be made on a case-by-case basis and not because an AG fits an error prone or other profile. NOTE: For SNAP, home visits must be scheduled. For all other Programs, the visit may be scheduled or unscheduled, at the Worker or Supervisor's discretion. If a home visit is made for another Program, and information is obtained which affects SNAP eligibility or benefit level, it is acted upon whether or not the home visit was scheduled. The client may refuse entry to the Department's representative.