PM 02-07-01: Clearances

WAG 02-07-01

IES Clearances

The Clearance Results page provides current results of clearances for individuals on an application or case. The Clearance Results page is accessible in Application Registration as well as Data Collection. The Clearance Results page displays after the Individual-Summary page in Application Registration and after the Program Request - Summary page during Data Collection. The Name drop down list allows the worker to select the individual on the case and either view or retrigger their clearances. All clearances results are displayed for each individual with a Social Security Number (SSN). Clearances may also be viewed or triggered from the Data Exchanges page by entering the individual's SSN. The Data Exchanges page offers the worker to view current or historical clearance results.

Clearances do not always replace the need to verify information. Instead, they are the first place to check to verify information. If the appropriate information cannot be verified using Electronic Clearances continue to use other sources. For example: if identity cannot be verified through SSA or SOLQ, a driver's license can be used. All clearances are automatically run, in the background, once the Individual Household page is saved. Clearances can also be manually triggered on individual pages during Data Collection. Review clearances for information that might affect the programs a person qualifies for and their benefit amount. Scan and upload all manual clearances, except the Work Number, to the Electronic Case Record (ECR), even if they provide no information. See WAG 02-07-01 for a description of these clearances.

Note: Each clearance can only be run once per day. If a clearance is triggered twice in the same day, the original information is displayed.

Medical Redeterminations

Clearances are used in the automated process for medical redeterminations. IES uses the results of required clearances to determine which medical cases can be selected for auto-REDE and which ones require manual processing. See PM 19-02-04.

Asset Verification System (AVS)

Effective 04/03/2023, the AVS system is integrated into IES. The integration of AVS expedites the processing of AABD and long-term care applications and redeterminations by automating the request for verification of assets and providing a detailed report of the AVS results in the Electronic Case Record (ECR). 

See PM 02-07-03-n for guidance on the Asset Verification System (AVS).

National Accuracy Clearinghouse (NAC)

• Effective 01/15/2025, the interstate duplicate SNAP participation data system, known as the National Accuracy Clearinghouse (NAC) is integrated into IES. The NAC was established by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to comply with requirements of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill). The NAC is to prevent states from issuing duplicate SNAP benefits to the same individual simultaneously. All state agencies administering SNAP are required to provide information about participants to the NAC and conduct matches against the NAC to discover and prevent interstate duplicate participation by 2027. Until all states are participating in the process, a NAC query can only be done with those states that have implemented the process. 
• The NAC is an IES automated process in Illinois. 

Nightly NAC Batch Upload

• IES checks nightly to see who is receiving SNAP benefits in Illinois for the current calendar month and uploads that information to the NAC database to ensure that other states do not issue benefits to the same individual. *When another state initiates the query and has a match with an individual receiving SNAP in Illinois, Notice of SNAP Participation Match in Another State (IL444-00267 NAC) is systematically generated by IES and mailed to the SNAP household's Illinois address or if not systematically sent, a task is generated for a worker to go through the driver flow and send the NAC notice.

Note: NAC will prevent a PARIS match because it looks for duplicate assistance prior to it occurring. PARIS looks at duplicate assistance after it occurs.

NAC Interface

• IES retrieves nightly any newly created matches from the NAC website and updates IES systematically.

NAC Clearance

• A NAC clearance can only be triggered if the SSN. identity and residency of the individual has been verified. The NAC will run when a request for SNAP benefits is made in Illinois at application, REDE, or when a member is being added to the SNAP EDG. When Illinois initiates the query, NAC is systematically triggered on one of the following screens when the worker goes through the driver flow:
  • Program Request Summary; or
  • Individual Demographics Summary; or
  • Eligibility Summary; or
  • Redetermination Review Summary.
• Which screen NAC will trigger on depends on the case, but it will be triggered before the SNAP EDG can be certified. Workers can also manually trigger the clearance on the Clearance Results Screen and the Out of State Benefits - Details Screen.
• With the exception of expedited benefits, NAC will only be triggered if the SSN, identity and residency have been verified. See PM 03-02-03-d.

Non-Citizenship Status

Clearances used to validate non-citizen status.

There are two clearances available to validate non-citizen status.

1. Federal Data Service Hub (FDSH) Verify Lawful Presence (VLP) in IES.

2. Web-based Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE).

• • SAVE is an online clearance used to verify non-citizen status. When SAVE is used to validate non-citizen status, the response uploaded to the ECR as "proof - citizenship".
  • SAVE should only be used when:
    • The only information given is the USCIS (A) #,
    • The response from the VLP is "Institute Additional Verification", or
    • The VLP provides the message "You have selected a value for the "Non-citizen Type/Document" that cannot be used to process this case. View document in ECR and run VLP clearance to validate provided information."
• See PM/WAG 03-01-06 for guidance on using the SAVE System.

When Does the Verify Lawful Presence (VLP) Clearance Need to be Ran?

Non-citizen status must be reviewed at initial application and at redetermination. The clearance must be revisited at redetermination to verify that the status is still valid and/or review any changes. Ensure entries in IES match the current status.