WAG 02-07-03-l: Special Verifications for SNAP

PM 02-07-03-l

Identity

Use documents or collateral contacts to verify identity. Examples of acceptable verification include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Driver's license or State ID Card;
  • Work or School ID;
  • Photo ID;
  • Voter Registration Card;
  • Wage Stub;
  • Birth Certificate;
  • SSA crossmatch of U.S. citizenship verified through Wire Third Party Query (WTPY);
  • SOLQ.

Note: See section, Accepting Verification via the Customer's Cell Phone, below when the customer's only source of verification is on their cell phone.

New Manual MaterialVerification of Housing Costs 

Examples of acceptable verification include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Mortgage Statement;
  • Lease Agreement;
  • Rent Receipt;
  • Condo and Association Fee Statement;
  • Homeowners Association Fee Statement;
  • Property Tax Statement;
  • Homeowners Insurance Statement;
  • Letter from Lender/Landlord;
  • Phone Call with Lender/Landlord;
  • Letter from Individual with Whom the Customer Resides;
  • Letter from Homeless Shelter;
  • Campground Fee Receipts.

revised manual textChild Support Income Exclusion from Gross Monthly Income 

  • When a SNAP household includes a member that pays child support, determine if the support order and the payments must be requested from the household or if the support order and payments can be verified in KIDS. Use KIDS to determine if there is any information about the SNAP household member paying support. Ask the customer to verify and issue a Verification Checklist (IL444-0267) for the support order and the actual support payments made in the most recent 30 days to determine the amount to exclude from their gross monthly income when comparing to the Gross Monthly Income Standard for the household size. If eligible after the exclusion is allowed, the household's total gross income (include the child support payment amount) is used in the 20% EI calculation. See WAG 13-01-07. 
  • Verify the support order, including an administrative order using KIDS or a copy of the order.
  • Verify that child support payments are being made by:
    • Canceled checks;
    • Wage or Unemployment Insurance (UI) withholding statements;
    • Circuit Clerk records;
    • Statements from the other parent; or
    • KIDS.
  • Use KIDS unless the information contained on the screens conflicts with the information provided by the SNAP household. If this occurs, ask the customer to verify the information needed.

Note: See section, Accepting Verification via the Customer's Cell Phone, below when the customer's only source of verification is on their cell phone.

Work Requirement

Community Workfare

Community Workfare is a SNAP E&T component that is an option for a nonexempt customer to participate in to meet the SNAP Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits policy when it is in effect. Community Workfare is designed to improve employability and enable customers to move into regular employment. Community Workfare sponsors are public or private not-for-profit entities, such as community-based organizations, churches, or other cooperating organizations. Participation in the component is limited to the household's SNAP allotment divided by, the higher of State or Federal minimum wage. Customers who participate for their maximum number of hours will meet the Work Requirement when it is in effect. Community Workfare sites must have an established agreement. Customers participating in Community Workfare are provided case management and supportive services. The customer verifies participation in Community Workfare at the start of their participation in the component and report when they are no longer participating. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Work Requirement - Community Workfare Verification (Form IL444-3673) is used to verify participation in the Community Workfare component.

Community Service

A customer may self-initiate Community Service with a preapproved Community Work Provider. Community Service Providers offer volunteer positions to individuals receiving SNAP to help them with meeting the Work Requirement when the policy is in effect. The customer is required to work an average of 20 hours per week (80 hours per month) to meet the Work Requirement. The Community Service Provider verifies the individual's participation at the start of the activity and may notify the FCRC when the individual is no longer participating. It is the individual's primary responsibility to report a change in participation. Community Service is not a SNAP E&T activity component. The SNAP Activity Report (Form IL444-2610) may be used when the Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits is in effect to verify the work hours at the start of participation. It is not verified monthly. Customers participating in Community Service are not eligible for Supportive Services. All counties in Illinois are exempt from the SNAP Work Requirement through 10/31/2024.

Financial Management

  • If the SNAP household's monthly paid living expenses related to SNAP eligibility (i.e., housing costs, utilities, or dependent care) exceed the household's known monthly income and resources, discuss financial management during the interview.
  • It is not necessary to request an explanation or verification of a customer's expenses which are not related to SNAP eligibility (such as clothing, diapers, personal hygiene items, or transportation).
  • Include in the discussion whether someone is helping the SNAP household meet its living expenses by:
    • Loaning the SNAP household money; or
    • Paying housing costs and utility bills on the SNAP household's behalf; or
    • Through any other form of contribution.
  • If a non-SNAP household member (such as a roommate or relative) gave the SNAP household an exempt loan (see PM 08-04-04-o) or made vendor payments (see PM 08-04-04-n) the SNAP household's financial management is reasonably explained. Document the SNAP household's explanation and statements regarding financial management in Case Comments. No further explanation or verification is required.
  • Items such as a written statement from a person paying rent or utility bills on behalf of the SNAP household, or a statement regarding loans made to the SNAP household are examples of acceptable verification.
  • Verify and document any information the SNAP household supplies.
  • If the household's management cannot be reasonably explained,
    • check AWVS or review the New Hire Match (see WAG 22-14-02) for information about employment; or
    • contact any last known employer for proof that the applicant has not returned to work.
  • Once management is verified, or when the above criteria have been used in the attempt to verify management, the inquiry is over.
  • The applicant has not fully cooperated in the determination of eligibility when the criteria have been exhausted and no additional income or assets have been verified, but it has been verified that paid expenses still exceed known resources. Deny the application.

Accepting Verifications via the Customer's Cell Phone

  • Use documentary evidence as the primary source of verification when possible. Documentary evidence is the actual item itself, such as a driver's license or paystubs.
  • When a customer is claiming not to have the actual item, accept any reasonable documentary evidence provided by the household that adequately proves the statements on the application and clearly identifies the item as belonging to the customer.
  • Electronic pay verification from an employer may be accepted as proof of income. A customer who only has a photocopy of their paystubs on their cell phone may submit the photos to verify income. To be acceptable, the verification must contain sufficient information to identity the customer and what is needed to determine eligibility. Sufficient pay verification includes the customer's name, employer name, number of hours worked, pay frequency, pay dates, gross income/net income, and deductions. All income must be provided and budgeted correctly.

Email Cell Phone Verification to FCRC General Mailbox

When the customer's only source of proof is on their cell phone, it should be emailed to the FCRC's General mailbox where it can be uploaded to the Electronic Case Record (ECR). The HSC should not request a customer to email any documents to their own individual email address.

  • Example 1: Ms. J is in a homeless shelter and is applying for SNAP. During the interview Ms. J states, she is employed part-time at TB Diner and is paid weekly. When asked for her paystubs for the last 30 days. Ms. J explains that due to her living arrangement she has only a few personal items. She states it is easier and more secure to keep photocopies of paystubs and other documents on her cell phone. The HSC reviews Ms. J's paystubs from the last 30 days and determines that all the necessary information is on each paystub needed for the last 30 days. The HSC tells Ms. J to email her paystubs from the last 30 day to the FCRC's General Mailbox. The verification is uploaded to the ECR and HSC documents in Case Comments.
  • Example 2: Mr. B is applying for SNAP. He is employed with ABC company and is paid twice a month. During the interview Mr. B states his employer does not provide paystubs. Instead, he receives an electronic pay verification statement on his cell phone for each pay period. The HSC reviews the pay verification and determines that Mr. B has the appropriate pay verification from the last 30 days and tells him to email it to the FCRC General Mailbox. The verification is uploaded to the ECR and HSC documents in Case Comments.

Document in Case Comments

  • Document in Case Comments the verifications being used to determine eligibility, including verifications obtained from the customer's cell phone.
  • Case Comments must be documented with information to support eligibility, ineligibility, and benefit level determinations. Documentation should be sufficient in detail to permit a reviewer to determine the reasonableness and accuracy of the determination.