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Department
of Human Services Families
First Online Policy Manual Verification Procedures |
Revised: |
30.1 |
POLICY STATEMENT |
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Verification is the process of confirming
or substantiating information provided by the client. Any decision made before the end of the standard of promptness period
must be based on a clear determination of eligibility or ineligibility. Verification is the responsibility of the applicant/recipient for
Families First. The caseworker should
secure verifications when the information is known to the Department through
automated data interfaces or when it is more reasonable for the Department to
secure the information. For a finding of ineligibility, the caseworker may render a decision
based on the AU’s unverified statement.
For example, an AU reporting resources over the program’s resource
limit would be determined ineligible.
However, to render a decision of eligibility, the caseworker must be
able to make a firm determination of eligibility based on verified points of
eligibility. Therefore, the
verification process is central to the caseworker's ability to certify an AU
for benefits. If there is any doubt of
eligibility, the caseworker must resolve it using the best evidence including
documentary evidence, collateral contacts, and home visits. The client's statement of the facts can be accepted as verification
when: ·
The AU has
tried, without success, to obtain the needed verification. ·
The
caseworker has exhausted all means of securing documentary evidence, without
success. ·
The
documents needed are other than those required by another agency, as in
unemployment benefits. Document the efforts that have been made in the eligibility and case
management system. The purpose of verification is to establish as accurately as possible
that the AU meets defined eligibility criteria, and that the benefit amount
is correct. |
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