Verification Sources
7 CFR § 273.2(f)(4)
Sources of verification include:
Refer to Suggested Verification Sources for verification examples.
Written Evidence
7 CFR § 273.2(f)(4)(i)
Written evidence is the most common verification of the EDG’s circumstances, such as:
- Award letter
- Employer statement
- Rental agreement
- Wage stubs
Collateral Contacts
7 CFR § 273.2(f)(4)(ii)
Collateral contact is an acceptable verification if written evidence isn’t available. A collateral contact is a verbal confirmation of the EDG’s circumstances by an individual outside of the EDG. Make the collateral contact by phone or in-person with anyone who can give reliable information. Acceptable collateral contacts include, but are not limited to:
- Employers
- Landlords
- Dependent care providers
- Community Service agencies
Home Visits
7 CFR § 273.2(f)(4)(iii)
Home visits are also an acceptable verification if written evidence or collateral contacts are not enough to make an eligibility determination. Home visits must always be scheduled in advance with the EDG. Note why the home visit was completed in case notes.
Automated Resources
7 CFR § 272.1(c)(1)-(2) & 7 CFR § 272.8 & 7 CFR § 272.11 & 7 CFR 272.12 & 7 CFR 272.13 & 7 CFR 272.14 & 7 CFR 272.16 & 7 CFR § 273.2(f)(4)
Use automated resources for verification, whenever possible. However:
- workers may request additional verification for questionable information, or
- give the EDG the opportunity to provide other verification if they disagree with the automated information.
Do not delay timely approval of benefits if automated resources are unavailable.
Run automated matches for only the following members to obtain information on income and resources to determine EDG eligibility:
- applicants,
- recipients,
- ineligible members, and
- disqualified EDG members.
Enter case notes for all actions taken on any automated resource.
Take action on automated match information within 10 days of receipt.
Deceased Individual Match
7 CFR § 272.14
The deceased individual match is completed through SVES, BENDEX, or SDX.
Run the match at:
- application,
- 12-month renewal, or
- 12-month periodic report for EDGs with 24-month benefit periods.
Send a Notice of Match Results to the EDG requesting information on their household situation. Include the following required information in the notice:
- What information the EDG must provide regarding the individual identified as deceased, and
- What will occur if the EDG fails to respond to the notice.
Act accordingly if the EDG responds and clarifies their household situation.
If the EDG fails to respond, or refuses to provide information to clarify its situation, remove the individual and their income, and adjust benefits. Issue a NOA advising the EDG of the actions taken.
Electronic Disqualified Recipient System (eDRS)
7 CFR § 273.2(f)(11) & 7 CFR § 273.16(i)(2)(ii) and (4)(i)
eDRS is a nationwide database of individuals disqualified for an Intentional Program Violation (IPV). It is used to prevent participation of individuals IPV disqualified by another State.
Complete a match for each EDG member 18 years of age or older.
Run the match at:
- application,
- renewal, and
- when adding a new EDG member.
Verify any match information received before:
- approving an application, or
- disqualifying the individual.
Note: This is a 2-step process. Verification is Step 1. Disqualification and required notice is Step 2.
Immediately contact the EDG and/or the State agency that originated the disqualification record to obtain verification that confirms the disqualification record in eDRS. Verification includes but is not limited to electronic or hard copies of:
- Administrative disqualification hearing decisions
- Court decisions
- Signed administrative disqualification hearing waivers
- Signed disqualification consent agreements
- Other official documents that confirm the disqualification
Exception: If electronic or hard copies are not available, accept a verbal or written statement from the:
- originating State agency stating one of the documents exists, or
- household confirming the accuracy of the disqualification information.
Scan the documents or written statement into case notes. If verbal confirmation was used, provide the collateral contact information.
After verification is received, enter the disqualification information in ImpaCT and send the required notices. See Intentional Program Violation, Disqualification.
Note: Process the case without the disqualification if the verification is not received. Complete an overpayment if verification is received after benefit approval and the individual should have been disqualified.
Income Eligibility and Verification System (IEVS)
7 CFR § 272.8 & 7 CFR § 273.2(b)(2) and (f)(7) and (9)(i)-(v)
IEVS has the following matches using the applicant's or recipient's SSN to obtain income and asset information:
- Care4Kids child care payment information
- Connecticut Child Support Enforcement System (CCSES) child support information
- Connecticut Department of Labor
- Wage Information
- Unemployment Compensation Benefits (UCB)
- Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission (WC)
- SSA Beneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange (BENDEX)
- Medicare Part A and Part B payer and premium amount
- Retirement Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) benefits
- SSN Enumeration Validation
- State Data Exchange (SDX)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Internal Revenue Services (IRS)
- 1099 income: Income reported to IRS that is not from wages such as, but not limited to:
- annuities
- cash prizes
- contract income
- dividends
- interest
- pensions
- royalties
- State Verification Exchange System (SVES)
- 40-qualifying work quarters information
- Black Lung payment
- Citizenship
- Social Security income
- Social Security numbers
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- State Wage Information Collection Agencies (SWICA)
Run the match on EDG members at:
- application,
- renewal, and
- when adding a new EDG member.
The following matches are verified upon receipt:
- BENDEX
- Care4Kids
- CCSES
- Connecticut Department of Labor UCB information
- Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission WC information
- SDX
- SSN Enumeration/Validation
For matches not verified upon receipt, verify any match information received before:
- approving an application, or
- taking action on an active case.
Complete all actions no later than 45 days after receipt of IEVS information.
National Directory of New Hires (NDNH)
7 CFR § 272.16
A match on EDG members 18 years of age or older from a national directory that identifies wage and unemployment information.
Run the match on adult EDG members at application and renewal.
Verify any match information received before approving an application or renewal.
Prisoner Verification System (PVS) Match
7 CFR § 272.13
A match to identify EDG members 18 years of age or older who are incarcerated.
Run the match on adult EDG members at application and renewal.
Send a Notice of Match Results to the EDG requesting information on their household situation. Include the following required information in the notice:
- What information the EDG must provide regarding the individual identified as incarcerated.
- What will occur if the EDG fails to respond to the notice.
Act accordingly if the EDG responds and clarifies their household situation.
If the EDG fails to respond, or refuses to provide information to clarify its situation, remove the individual and their income, and adjust benefits. Issue a NOA advising the EDG of the actions taken.
Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)
7 CFR § 272.11 & 7 CFR § 273.2(f)(10)(i)-(v)
SAVE is a program verifying the validity of EDG members’ non-citizen status. After the USCIS form for the non-citizen is received, use the SAVE system to verify the form is accurate.
Exception: American Indians may not be listed on SAVE.
Run the match at:
- application,
- reported changes in status, and
- when adding a new EDG member who is a non-citizen.
Complete USCIS Form G-845, for secondary verification when:
- the non-citizen’s status was not verified through SAVE, or
- there are differences in the SAVE data and the information submitted by the non-citizen.
Submit the G-845 and photocopies of the non-citizen’s forms to USCIS for secondary verification.
Enter in case notes:
- why you used the G-845,
- the date the G-845 and photocopies were sent to USCIS, and
- USCIS’ response.
Scan the G-845 into the case record.
SAVE information is verified upon receipt.