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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 7
West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 7 Chapter 7 Verification
7.2.5.C Applying Reasonable Explanation Eligibility determination begins with the applicant’s self-attestation regarding his non-financial and financial information. When available, applicant information is matched by the Federal Data HUB (FDH) or other electronic data source. The majority of eligibility factors are subject to the reasonable compatibility assessment when there is a discrepancy between the applicant’s statement and information in the FDH or other electronic data source. Self-attestation is accepted without further verification for certain factors including residency, household composition, and pregnancy. The Worker must reconcile discrepancies in information using this process: • The Worker must give the applicant the chance to provide an explanation for the differences. If the client explains the differences and the Worker accepts the explanation as reasonable, no further verification is necessary. The Worker can use the self-attested information. • If the applicant’s explanation is questionable and the Worker does not accept it as reasonable, the Worker must check all other electronic databases first, as well as any other information available to the Department, such as the client record, before requesting verifications from the applicant. • If, after checking other available sources and requesting and reviewing verification from the applicant, the Worker cannot reconcile the self-attested information with information received from an electronic data source as reasonably compatible, then additional information is requested. 7.2.5.D Applying Reasonable Compatibility to Income The Worker must accept self-attestation of income information when the applicant’s attestation and information obtained through an electronic data sources are reasonably compatible, meaning any difference in income information does not impact eligibility. EXCEPTION: Citizenship and immigration status must be verified regardless of the applicant’s explanation of discrepancies.