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State of Wisconsin Release 09-02 June 26, 2009 |
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State of Wisconsin Release 09-02 June 26, 2009 |
1.2.4.1 Gross Non-exempt Income Verification
1.2.4.2 Earned Income Verification
1.2.4.3 Self-Employment Income Verification
1.2.4.6 Dependent Care Expense Verification
1.2.4.7 Shelter and Utility Expense Verification
1.2.4.8 Medical Expense Verification
1.2.4.9 Child Support Payments Verification
7 CFR Code of Federal Regulations 273.2(f)(1)(i)
Gross non-exempt income must be verified for all food unit members prior to certification. Verify income for all households through documentary evidence or collateral contact.
Documentary evidence is written confirmation of a household'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 household or other sources. "Other sources" may include collateral contacts (1.2.2.2) which are oral confirmations of a household's circumstances by a person outside of the household.
You may use income received during the last 30 days as an indicator of the income that is and will be available to the household during the certification period unless that income does not accurately reflect changes in income that have occurred or are anticipated to occur.
You may use statements from employers to verify prospective income.
You may also use the Employer Verification Form- Earnings (EVF-E) to verify prospective income. However, this form is not mandatory for FS FoodShare. An EVF-E is considered a valid source of earned income verification only if the form is returned as complete, and contains the employers’ signature.
If income fluctuates to the extent that a 30-day period alone cannot provide an accurate indication of anticipated income, the agency and the household may use a longer period of past time if it will provide a more accurate indication of anticipated fluctuations in future income. To average widely fluctuating income, use the household’s anticipated income including fluctuations anticipated over the certification period. In any case, make every attempt to accurately verify prospective income and clearly document the reasoning for the prospective income estimate.
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Example 1: If Joan 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, she must not also require the client to submit check stubs.
The opposite also holds true. If the client submits all check stubs received in the most recent 30 days that include enough information to make a reasonable estimate of prospective income, and the information is not questionable, the ESS Economic Support Specialist must not also require the client to submit a form completed by the employer. |
If all attempts to verify the income have been unsuccessful because the person or organization providing the income has failed to cooperate with the household 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. Best available information may include but is not limited to:
One or more check stubs from past pay periods (i.e. more than 30 days ago.
Customer statement (oral or written).
As in all cases, instruct the client to keep all statements and check stubs for future verification purposes.
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) and/or IRS tax forms.
7 CFR 273.2(f)(2) and 7 CFR 273.2(f )(3)
Assets are not included as part of the FS eligibility determination and are not required to be verified since all FS applicants and recipients are authorized to receive a TANF-funded service. The amount of available liquid assets must be reported at the point of initial application to determine eligibility for priority service and expedited issuance (2.1.4) however the reported assets are not required to be verified.
7 CFR 273.2(f)(3)
Verify expenses at application and when a change in the expense is reported. At review ensure that there is up-to-date documentation in the file to support current CARES Client Assistance for Reemployment and Economic Support entries.
Verify reported dependent care expenses required for food unit members to keep or obtain employment, get training or education preparatory for employment, or comply with employment and training requirements. Convert verified expenses to monthly amounts.
At application verify monthly expenses for food unit members to maintain occupancy of the current residence. At review verify monthly expenses if a change is reported or if the verification in the case file is questionable; be sure to document clearly why the verification is questionable. Some examples of these expenses are rent, mortgage, condo and association fees, property taxes, assessments, and homeowner's insurance and current rent statement, mortgage statement, lease agreement, etc. Current means the lease/rental agreement/mortgage etc. period includes the review month.
Homeless individuals can claim shelter and receive the HSUA deductions for temporary living situations, if the shelter expense is verified, and the household reasonably anticipates receiving an energy assistance payment.
7 CFR 273.2(f)(1)(iv)
Out of pocket medical expenses claimed by an elderly or disabled applicant for FS must be verified prior to initial certification in order for the expense to be allowed as a deduction. Do not allow a deduction if the expense is not verified. However, anytime a medical expense is reported and verified, the deduction must be allowed. The following items must be verified: date of service, billing date, amount owed, and date amount is due.
Medical expenses are budgeted prospectively, so do not require eligible elderly, disabled, or blind household members to verify recurrent 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 group member's medical condition, public or private medical insurance coverage, and the current verified medical expenses incurred by the FS group 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 of a food unit member claiming to pay child support to non-food unit members must be verified. . A child support deduction can also be claimed without a court order if the payments are made on a regular basis and can be verified.
This page last updated in Release Number: 09-01
Release Date: 05/01/09
Effective Date: 05/01/09