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State of Wisconsin |
HISTORY |
The policy on this page is from a previous version of the handbook.
7 CFR 273.2(f)(1)(i)
Gross countable income, regardless of the amount, must be verified for all food unit members prior to certification. Verify income for all food unit members through documentary evidence or collateral contact.
Documentary evidence is written confirmation of a food unit member's circumstances; examples include wage statements or check stubs, rent receipts, utility bills, and employment verification forms. Although documentary evidence should be the primary source of verification, acceptable verification cannot be limited to only this type of source and may be obtained through the member or other sources. Other sources may include collateral contacts (see Section 1.2.2.2 Collateral Contacts) which are oral confirmations of a member's circumstances by a person outside of the food unit.
If all attempts to verify the income have been unsuccessful because the person or organization providing the income has failed to cooperate with the applicant or member and agency (for example, by charging a fee or refusing to complete a verification form), and all other sources of verification are unavailable, determine an amount to be used for certification purposes based on the best available information. Clearly document the attempts to obtain verification and the reasoning for the estimate that is used.
Pay stubs showing income received during the last 30 days should be used as an indicator of the income that is and will be available to the food unit during the certification period, unless that income does not accurately reflect changes that have occurred or are anticipated to occur.
IM workers can may use statements from employers to verify prospective income.
IM workers may also use the Employment Verification of Earnings (EVF-E) form (F-10146) to verify prospective income. However, this form is not mandatory for FoodShare. An EVF-E is considered a valid source of earned income verification only if the form is returned as complete and contains the employer's signature.
If income widely fluctuates over time and a 30-day period alone cannot provide an accurate indication of anticipated income, the agency and the applicant or member may use a longer period of past time. To average this type of income, use the anticipated income and include the anticipated fluctuations. Make every attempt to accurately verify prospective income and clearly document the reasoning for the prospective income estimate.
| Example 1 | Joan's IM worker receives an employment verification form completed by the employer that includes all necessary information to make a reasonable estimate of prospective income and the information is not questionable. The IM worker must not require Joan to submit check stubs or any other additional verification. |
| Example 2 | Joan submits all check stubs received in the most recent 30 days. The check stubs include enough information to make a reasonable estimate of prospective income, and the information is not questionable. The IM worker must not require Joan to submit an employment verification form completed by the employer or any other additional verification. |
If all attempts to verify the income have been unsuccessful because the person or organization providing the income has failed to cooperate with the applicant or member and agency (for example, by charging a fee or refusing to complete a verification form), and all other sources of verification are unavailable, workers should use best available information to determine an estimated income amount for certification purposes. Clearly document the attempts to obtain verification and the reasoning for the estimate that is used. Best available information may include but is not limited to:
A mix of paycheck stubs, from the same employer, from different time periods.
W2 or tax records can be used with income annualized.
An oral or written statement from the applicant or member.
Workers should instruct the applicant or member to keep all wage statements and check stubs for future verification purposes.
Operations Memo 08-09
Verifying Employment or Income Changes
If a member reports employment gained during their certification period, verify their income to determine eligibility and benefit amount (see Section 1.2.4.1 Gross Countable Income Verification, Section 1.2.4.2 Earned Income Verification, and Section 1.2.4.3 Self-Employment Income Verification).
If a member reports ended employment at application, renewal, or during their certification period, only require verification when necessary to determine eligibility and benefits. If employment or income ended in a month before the month of eligibility determination, do not require verification unless the information provided is questionable (that is, other information indicates the applicant is currently employed).
| Example 3 | Natalie applies for FoodShare in February and reports that they are not currently working. Their previous case information shows that they were working at Kathy’s Yarn Shop in July. During the FoodShare interview, Natalie reports that their last employment ended in October and their last check was in November. Unless there is a reason to deem their statement questionable, do not require verification that employment ended. |
| Example 4 | Josh applied for FoodShare in December and reports that he is currently working. In March, Josh informs his IM worker that he ended his employment, and his last check will be received in March. The IM worker finds no reason to question the member’s statement. Verification is not required. The employment is end dated and eligibility is redetermined for the next possible benefit month. |
| Example 5 | Camden submits her application on February 12. She reports her employment ended on January 30, but she will not receive her last paycheck until February 15. Her last paycheck is needed to determine eligibility and benefits for the application month of February. Verification is required for employment ending and the amount of income received in February. |
Self-employment income is earned directly from one's own business, not as an employee with specified salary or wages. Self-employment income is verified with Self-Employment Income Reporting Forms (SEIRFs) (F-00107 and F-00219, for farm businesses), IRS tax forms, or both.
7 CFR 273.2(f)(2) and 7 CFR 273.2(f )(3)
Assets are not considered in the FoodShare eligibility determination for broad-based categorically eligible FoodShare applicants and members since they are authorized to receive a TANF-funded service. Although the amount of available liquid assets must be reported at the point of initial application to determine eligibility for priority service and expedited issuance, the reported assets are not required to be verified (see Section 2.1.4 Expedited Service at Application).
However, EBD food units that have gross income that exceeds 200% of the FPL are not categorically eligible and are subject to the $4,250 asset limit. These food units must verify assets (see Section 4.4.1 Assets).
7 CFR 273.2(f)(3)
Workers must verify expenses that are required to be verified, expenses that are deemed questionable at application, or when a change in expenses is reported. At application, reported change, or renewal, workers must ensure that there is up-to-date documentation in the case record to support current CWW entries.
7 CFR 273.9(d)(4)
Dependent care expenses required for food unit members to keep or obtain employment, receive training or education preparatory for employment, or comply with employment and training requirements should be deducted from income. Convert expenses to monthly amounts.
Dependent care expenses do not require verification for use in the FoodShare benefit calculation, unless the applicant or member’s statement is deemed questionable. Examples of applicant or member statements that may be considered questionable include:
| Example 6 |
Vinny is a 10-year-old child who attends Prestigious Prep Childcare four days a week during the summer while his parents are working. His parents indicate that this care costs $1,000 per week. The cost of care seems unreasonably high compared to the cost of other care in the area. The IM worker should request verification of this dependent care expense. |
Reminder: Only deduct dependent care expenses that the food unit is responsible to pay for. When a member receives benefits through Wisconsin Shares, the child care subsidy program, the subsidy amount paid by the State is not an allowable dependent care expense.
Shelter and utility expenses do not require verification for FoodShare benefit calculation unless the applicant or member’s statement is deemed questionable. Examples of applicant or member statements that may be considered questionable include:
7 CFR 273.2(f)(1)(iv)
Verification at Application
Medical expenses totaling over $35 claimed by an EBD person must be verified at application for the expense to be used in the FoodShare benefit calculation.
7 CFR 273.2(f)(8)(ii) and 273.12(c)
Verification during the Certification Period
Verify changes in medical expenses reported by the food unit during the certification period if they are from a new source, the total amount of previously verified medical expenses has changed by more than $25, or the information is questionable.
Do not act on changes reported by a source other than the food unit, which require contacting the food unit for verification. Only act on changes in medical expenses that are reported by a source other than the food unit if those changes are verified upon receipt and do not require contact with the food unit.
| Example 7 | Edith, a disabled FoodShare member, provided proof of her $200 monthly prescription costs from her pharmacy at application. In the third month of her FoodShare certification period, she reports that she was hospitalized last month and now has a $1,300 obligation for a hospital bill. Edith and her IM worker agree that this bill will be averaged over the remaining months in Edith’s FoodShare certification. Edith’s IM worker explains that in order to receive the deduction for this new medical expense, verification is required. If verification is not provided, only the $200 deduction is allowed. |
| Example 8 | Mario, an elderly FoodShare member, reported and provided proof of his $90 monthly prescription costs at his most recent FoodShare renewal in December. In March, he reports that his prescription costs have increased to $114 per month. The IM worker updates his case and does not require verification of the increased medical expense because the total medical expenses did not change by more than $25. |
| Example 9 |
Violet, a disabled FoodShare member, is eligible for home and community-based waivers as a Group B participant. At application, Violet reports and provides proof of a recurring monthly medical expense for FoodShare. In the fifth month of her certification period, Violet’s IM worker receives notice from the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of a medical/remedial cost for her Group B Waiver cost share calculation. For FoodShare purposes, this change is not considered verified upon receipt. If the care manager had provided verification of the medical/remedial expense, the verification could be used as a FoodShare expense at the time the change was reported. The new FoodShare expense amount is allowed as a medical expense and is used in the benefit calculation. |
7 CFR 273.2(f)(8)(i)(A)
Verification at Renewal
Previously unreported medical expenses, changes in total recurring medical expenses by more than $25, and questionable information must be verified at renewal.
| Example 10 |
Sally reports and provides proof of a $150 recurring monthly prescription medical expense at her FoodShare application. At her renewal, she states that this monthly expense continues but that it has increased by $10. Sally’s IM worker updates her case and does not require verification. |
Examples of applicant or member statements that may be considered questionable include:
If questionable, workers must request verification, which may include date of service, billing date, amount owed, and date amount is due.
Medical expenses are budgeted prospectively, so do not require eligible EBD food unit members to verify recurring medical expenses monthly. Rely on estimates of recurring medical expenses during the certification period. Include changes that can be anticipated based on available information. Consider the food unit member's medical condition, public or private medical insurance coverage, and the current verified medical expenses incurred by the food unit member.
When converting medical expenses to monthly amounts, use the same calculation methods used for budgeting prospective income.
7 CFR 273.2(f)(1)(xii)
The legal obligation and actual payments made by a food unit member claiming to pay child support to non-food unit members must be verified.
This page last updated in Release Number: 23-01
Release Date: 04/17/2023
Effective Date: 04/17/2023
Notice: The content within this manual is the sole responsibility of the State of Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS). This site will link to sites outside of DHS where appropriate. DHS is in no way responsible for the content of sites outside of DHS.
Publication Number: P-16001