603.11 Verification of Deductions (FSM)

SR 22-29 Dated 09/22

Previous Policy

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It is always the SNAP household’s responsibility to report and provide proof of any income deductions claimed, and to do so within timeframes. The Department will not contact SNAP households about providing proof of any deductions the household has requested. If the household fails or refuses to provide verification of a claimed deduction within timeframes, process the case with zero as the deduction amount.

At application, applicants must verify any claimed expenses that would result in a deduction.

If the individual fails or refuses to report or provide verification of a claimed expense within timeframes, process the case with zero as the deduction amount.

Unless questionable, at recertification, do not re-verify deductions incurred by a recipient household in the following circumstances:

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the household has not changed residences;

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the household is requesting the same deductions; and

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the deductions have been previously verified by a third party, and the verifications continue to meet current verification requirements.

 

If any of the above criteria is not met, e.g., the household has changed residences, the household is requesting new deductions or has not requested a deduction at all, or the verification in the case file does not meet current verification requirements, the household must verify the deduction and residence, if applicable. In these circumstances where verification is required, if the recipient household fails or refuses to provide verification of a claimed expense within timeframes, process the case with zero as the deduction amount.

 

When a change in a deduction is reported or discovered:

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First, attempt to contact the third party. Successful contact is considered as verified, and no further action is necessary.

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If collateral contact is unsuccessful, verify the reported change using:

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information from the client, if the change is expected to reduce benefits. See PART 153, CHANGES THAT DECREASE BENEFITS; or

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standard verification procedures, if the change is expected to increase benefits. See PART 151, CHANGES THAT INCREASE BENEFITS. If standard verification procedures are required and the individual fails or refuses to provide verification of a claimed expense, process the case with zero as the deduction amount.

 

Exceptions:

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If at recertification the SNAP household is no longer requesting a deduction that had been requested before, even if there has been no change in residence, do not apply the deduction.

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Use prudent judgment in determining whether verification is adequate when verifying circumstances for homeless individuals.

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Accept estimates of anticipated medical expenses based on verified past expenses.

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For SNAP households who are recertifying, have not moved since the last recertification, have been receiving the heating/cooling (AC) SUA due to receipt of LIHEAP, have requested an income deduction due to receipt of LIHEAP, and have not provided updated proof of receipt of LIHEAP at recertification, check the recipient household’s case file to see if the “more than $20 annually in receipt of LIHEAP” requirements have been met:

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If current proof in the case file fulfills the requirement that the recipient household must have received at least $20 annually in LIHEAP to receive the heating/cooling (AC) SUA, then no further proof is required from the household for the household to continue to receive that SUA deduction in the current certification period. Consider the deduction verified and apply the deduction.

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If the case file does not contain proof that the recipient household has received $20 annually in LIHEAP, it is the household’s responsibility to provide proof of the deduction within timeframes. Consider the deduction not verified, and if the household does not provide proof within timeframes, do not apply the income deduction.

 

Acceptable verification documents all of the following:

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type of expense;

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amount of expense;

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frequency of expense;

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amount of any reimbursement for a claimed expense; and

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proof that the expense meets the specific requirements listed for each deduction.

 

Note: SNAP households that pay for a cellphone that includes both voice (phone) and data (internet service) may verify two utilities for the Utilities-only SUA with one phone bill. The bill must indicate both phone service (e.g. minutes, voice, etc.) and internet service (e.g. data, GB, gigabyte, MB, megabyte, etc.)

 

References: He-W 742.01; He-W 742.02; He-W 766.01; RSA 161:2,XIII; RSA 167:4,I(a); 7 CFR 273.2(f); 7 CFR 273.9(d); 7 USC 2014(e)

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