475 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 2, § 003

Current through September 17, 2024

Section 475-2-003 - VERIFICATION

The Department verifies the eligibility information provided by the applicant.

003.01REQUIRED INITIAL VERIFICATION. Information listed below is verified before eligibility can be determined. The exception is that households eligible for expedited processing may have all verification postponed for the first issuance except identity of the person making the application and the household's authorized representative, if applicable.

003.01(A)REQUIRED VERIFICATION. The following information must be verified:

(i) Identity of the person making application and the authorized representative, if applicable;

(ii) Social security numbers or proof of application for social security number;

(iii) Residency;

(iv) Alien status for household members applying for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits;

(v) Eligible student status if claimed;

(vi) Resources if the total amount of countable resources indicated on the application is $1500 or more;

(vii) Income; and

(viii) Expenses allowed as a deduction:

(1) Medical expenses and disability if claimed;

(2) Dependent care costs; and

(3) Child support costs.

003.01(B)ELIGIBILITY FACTORS MAY REQUIRE VERIFICATION. The following eligibility factors are verified if questionable:

(i) Citizenship;

(ii) Work requirements;

(iii) Household composition;

(iv) Shelter costs;

(v) Utility costs; and

(vi) Countable resources under $1,500.

003.01(C)QUESTIONABLE INFORMATION. Information on the application is questionable if it is inconsistent with:

(i) Statements made by the applicant;

(ii) Other information on the current application or a previous application; or

(iii) Any information received by the local office.

003.01(D)OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT DISCREPANCIES. If information from a source of verification contradicts information given by the household, the household will have an opportunity to resolve the discrepancy before an eligibility determination is made.

003.02SOURCES OF VERIFICATION. Residency or household composition may be verified through either readily available documentary evidence or a collateral contact.

003.02(A)DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE. Any written confirmation of a household's circumstances is considered documentary evidence. This evidence may be obtained from the household or another source.

003.02(B)COLLATERAL CONTACT. An alternate source of verification is the collateral contact. This is confirmation of a household's circumstances by a person outside the household. A collateral contact is not restricted to any particular individual; it can be anyone who is expected to provide an accurate verification of the household's statements. Collateral contacts are designated by the household, but the household may request assistance from the local office in making this designation. Verification by a collateral contact may be given in person or by telephone.

003.02(C)HOME VISIT. A visit to the household's home is used for verification only when the household cannot provide documentary evidence.

003.02(D)INTERFACES - AUTOMATIC EXCHANGES. Interfaces are automated exchanges of information received from the Department of Labor, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and other divisions of the Department. Every pending or active Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program household member whose income and resources are used to determine eligibility will have their social security number routinely matched against automated exchanges.

003.03RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING VERIFICATION. The household has the primary responsibility for providing verification to support income statements and to resolve questionable information. Verification may be supplied in person, through the mail, electronically, or through an authorized representative.

003.04VERIFICATION AFTER INITIAL CERTIFICATION. The following applies to verifying information after initial eligibility has been determined.

003.04(A)AT RECERTIFICATION. Changes reported at the time of recertification are subject to the same verification procedures that apply at initial certification. At the time of recertification, verification is required for the following:

(i) Resources if the total amount of countable resources indicated on the application is $1500 or more;

(ii) Earned income;

(iii) Unearned income if the source or the amount has changed;

(iv) Medical expenses, dependent care costs, and child support costs claimed by the household if the source or amount of the claimed expenses have changed;

(v) social security numbers if not previously provided; and

(vi) Questionable information.

475 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 2, § 003

Amended effective 7/4/2020

Amended effective 9/17/2024