(A)
Initial Application. All gross nonexempt income shall
be verified prior to certifying a household as eligible to participate in SNAP.
However, when all attempts to verify the income have been unsuccessful because
the third party providing the income has failed to cooperate, and all other
sources of verification are unavailable, the Department shall determine an
amount to be used for certification purposes based on the best available
information. If the household has no income, a statement from the household
that it has no income shall be acceptable verification.
(B)
Recertification.
Verification of income at recertification will be the same as at initial
application with the exception of TAFDC cases. These cases shall not be
required to submit verification of income at redetermination.
(C)
Reported
Changes. The verification requirements of a reported change are
discussed in
106
CMR
366.120:
Department
Responsibility to Take Timely Action.
(D)
Verification of Excluded
Income. Excluded income may be verified if the information given
by the household is questionable, as defined by
106
CMR
361.620:
Questionable
Information.
(E)
Unreported Income. When an applicant states that he or
she has no source of income during the interview, and the applicant is
employable, or appears eligible for other benefits such as Social Security,
Unemployment Compensation, or public assistance, it may be necessary to verify
that he or she is not receiving income from such sources. Additional situations
when the possibility of unreported income should be investigated include, but
are not limited to, difficulty finding the head of the household at home,
seasonal employment in an area that is at its peak season, or shelter costs
higher than reported income, provided that nothing in
106
CMR
363.210(E) shall limit
the ability of the Department to verify information from other government
agencies.
(F)
Expenses
Exceeding Income. A household's report of expenses that exceed its
income may be grounds for a determination that further verification is
required. However, this circumstance alone shall not be grounds for a denial.
The Department shall explore with the household how it is managing its
finances, whether the household receives excluded income or has assets, and how
long the household has managed under these circumstances.
(G)
Methods of Verifying
Income. Documentary evidence is the primary source of income
verification as defined in
106
CMR
361.640(A):
Documentary Evidence. If other types of verification are used,
the case manager shall document in the case record why an alternate source was
needed. If all attempts to verify income have been unsuccessful because the
person or organization that is responsible for providing documentation of the
income has failed to cooperate with the household and the case manager, and all
other sources of verification are unavailable, the case manager shall determine
an amount to be used for certification purposes based on the best available
information.
When verifying that income is exempt as a loan, a legally
binding agreement is not required. A statement signed by both parties that
indicates that the payment is a loan and must be repaid is sufficient
verification. However, if the household receives payments on a recurrent or
regular basis from the same source but claims the payments are loans, the case
manager may also require that the provider of the loan sign an affidavit that
states that repayments are being made or that payments will be made in
accordance with an established repayment schedule.
(1)
Earned Income.
Earned income shall be verified by pay stubs, pay envelopes or a written
statement signed by an employer. The verification must show gross wages
(including tips, if applicable) and the number of hours worked.
Self-employment income, in accordance with
106
CMR 365.900 through
365.970, shall be verified by
business records, tax returns and other appropriate documents showing gross
income and the total business expenses associated with the gross income
earned.
(2)
Unearned Income. Unearned income may be verified using
the following types of documents, including, but not limited to Social Security
award letters, unemployment compensation award letters, records from the
Department of Unemployment Assistance, pension award notices, Veterans
Administration award notices, correspondence on benefits, Income Tax records,
Railroad Retirement award letters, Railroad Retirement Board records, Workers
Compensation records, support and alimony payments evidenced by court order,
divorce or separation papers, and contribution checks.
(3)
Best Evidence
Available. If all attempts to verify gross income are unsuccessful
because the person or organization providing the income has failed to cooperate
with the household and the Department, and all other sources of verification
are unavailable, the Department shall determine the amount to be used for
certification purposes based on the best available information.
