Section 1240-01-16-.03 - VERIFICATION AT INITIAL APPLICATIONAt application the worker must examine both financial and nonfinancial factors of eligibility for Food Stamps and AFDC. Information provided by the applicant/recipient on each factor must be examined and must be verified.
(1) Identity (a) For AFDC purposes, the identity of the person making application and all aid group members must be verified prior to approval.(b) For Food Stamp purposes, the identity of the person making the application shall be verified. Where an authorized representative applies on behalf of a household, the identity of both the authorized representative and the head of the household shall be verified through documentary evidence, or if unavailable, a collateral contact.(2) Residence. There is no durational requirement for either Food Stamps or AFDC. (a) AFDC. The aid group must be living in the State.(b) Food Stamps. Households must be living in the county in which they file application. In unusual cases, such as migrants and farm workers, homeless households, or households newly arrived in the county, if verification of residency cannot be readily accomplished, the worker may accept the household's statement that it resides in the county.(3) Alien Status. In both the Food Stamp and AFDC programs, the worker must verify alien status if members of the HH/AG are identified on the application of aliens. If the proper INS documentation is not available, the worker must accept other forms of documentation or information from INS that the aliens are eligible aliens.(4) Social Security Numbers. Social Security numbers reported to the agency by the HH/AU must be verified for each HH/AU member, in both the Food Stamp and AFDC programs.(5) Household Size /Aid Group Composition. In Food Stamps, the number of persons in the household must be verified prior to approval. In AFDC, the worker must verify that persons for whom AFDC is requested live together and that the person requesting AFDC has responsibility for the aid group.(7) Gross Non-Exempt Income(8) Medical Expenses - Food Stamps(10) Shelter Costs - Food Stamps(12) Other Mandatory Verification - AFDC Only (b) Living with a Specific Relative(c) Deprivation of Parental Support/Care(13) Questionable Information. For both AFDC and Food Stamps, the worker must verify factors other than those listed above if such factors are questionable and would affect the HH/AGs eligibility or level of benefits. Questionable information can be information on the application which is:(a) Inconsistent with statements made by the applicant;(b) Inconsistent with other information on the application or previous application;(c) Inconsistent with information received by the worker.(d) Questionable information is not limited to the above three criteria if in the prudent judgment of the worker and/or supervisor the information provided by the household appears to be unreasonable when considered in relation to the other household circumstances.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-01-16-.03
Original rule filed August 15, 1980; effective September 29, 1980. Amendment filed August 17, 1982; effective September 16, 1982. Amendment filed March 28, 1983; effective April 27, 1983. Amendment filed May 17, 1983; effective June 16, 1983. Amendment filed September 29, 1986; effective December 29, 1986.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 14-8-106, 14-8-109, and 14-27-104; PL 99-198; 51 Federal Register 98 (May 21, 1986); 7 CFR 273.2; 7 CFR 273.6; 34 CFR 206.10, 232.10 and 233.10.