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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 6

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 19 Chapter 6 Data Exchanges

Independent Verification Example 1: The worker receives IRS information about interest on a bank account and completes a DFA-6 or eligibility system request for verification. The verification request includes all the information obtained from the IRS report. The following steps occur: • The client takes the verification request to the bank. • A bank official independently verifies the information by comparing it with the bank’s official records. • If the bank records confirm the IRS-reported data, the official documents the information and signs the verification request. • The client then returns the completed verification to the worker. Because the IRS-provided information is still included in the returned verification, it remains subject to the safeguarding procedures described in Safeguarding Information, below. Independent Verification Example 2: Same situation but rather than completing the DFA-6 or verification request form, the bank official provides the following: • A bank generated account statement or printout, covering all relevant transactions and account details for the past three years. • The printout is signed and certified by the bank official and contains sufficient information to confirm the interest income reported by the IRS. • The client returns only the bank-issued printout the to the worker. In this case, the bank documentation constitutes independent verification obtained directly from the financial institution and does not contain IRS-provided information. • The returned documentation is not subject to the safeguarding requirements outlined under Safeguarding Information. 6.4.5 SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION IRS, Prisoner Match, Beneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange (BENDEX), and Beneficiary Earnings Exchange Record System (BEERS) regulations require that the DOHS take the necessary steps to safeguard the data by restricting access. The following safeguards apply DOHS-wide and to staff performing their duties in a DOHS-sanctioned work site, an out-