Verified Upon Receipt (VUR)

Verified upon receipt (VUR) is a term given to a state-prescribed list of specific information that comes directly from the source of information and is free from question. When information is received about a household’s circumstances that is considered VUR, the information requires mid-period action with no further verification, regardless of the impact on benefits. Action may include sending the household a No-Change NOA and not acting until the household’s next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.

Information cannot become VUR just because additional verification has been provided.

ExampleExample 

Household reports an income increase (under IRT) over the telephone and then sends the county their paystubs, the information does not become VUR. In this case, a No-Change NOA would be sent to the household and follow-up at the household’s next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.

Note: Information considered VUR may become known to the county through a voluntary report, mandatory report, electronic source, or any other means. 

Information Considered VUR

Information that is considered VUR is limited to the following:

  • A voluntary report made by the household of a household composition change.
  • A voluntary report made by the household of a change of address.
  • A Payment Verification System (PVS) report.
  • Social Security and Supplemental Security Income and/or California State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) benefit information obtained from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
  • Unemployment insurance benefit (UIB) and State Disability Insurance benefit information that is reported through IEVS and obtained from the California EDD.
  • Worker’s compensation benefits obtained from the California Worker’s Compensation agency.
  • A California Intentional Program Violation (IPV) report.
  • PA benefit amount information, not limited to CalWORKs, obtained directly from the county. 
  • Information regarding non-citizen status obtained from the Systemic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system.
  • Information regarding In-Home Supportive Services provider wages obtained from the Case Management Information and Payrolling System.
  • Information regarding the removal of a child from a CalFresh household obtained from Child Protective Services and/or the county Foster Care system.
  • Information that a household member received substantial lottery or gambling winnings obtained from a gaming entity data match.

VUR Criteria

  1. Obtained from the Primary Source:
    1. A primary source is a first-hand direct source that has complete and accurate information regarding the circumstances in question.
  2. Complete:
    1. The information has all the components necessary to take action.
  3. Not Questionable:
    1. There are no contradicting or discrepant elements to the information that would cast doubt on its timeliness, completeness, or accuracy.
  4. Requires no Further Verification:
    1. Action can be taken without further verification

Changes that cannot be verified by the client statement alone are:

  • Income;
  • Medical costs for a deduction;
  • Legal obligations to pay child support and the amount paid.

Important: Income information verified for Medi-Cal, using the Federal Verification Hub is considered verified. However, it cannot be used for CalFresh because the income information that is verified is not relevant to CalFresh eligibility determination due to the age of the information.

Household Composition Changes

A voluntary report of household composition change by the head of household or responsible adult household member is considered VUR, and must be acted on PACF and NACF cases. For reports of household composition change by another source, the county must contact the household to verify eligibility.

ExampleExample

A mom calls and reports one of her children has left the home. The report is considered VUR, the EW must take action to reduce the household size and send out a timely notice of action (NOA).

ExampleExample

Same situation as above, but the report of the child leaving the home comes from a neighbor, a third party. This is not VUR since it was not reported by a primary source (i.e, the head of household). No action is taken until verified with the household.

 

  • If the new member’s income combined with the current HH’s income is exceed the IRT limit for the new HH size, then the EW
    • Terminates CF
    • Sends a10-day discontinuance NOA and
    • Documents case actions in the Maintain Case Comments window in CalSAWS.
  • If the new member's income combined with the current HH's income is below the IRT limit for the new HH size, then the EW
    • Adds new HH member to the case
    • Issues appropriate NOA to the HH and
    • Documents case actions in the Maintain Case Comments window in CalSAWS.

Note: If CF benefits decrease due to changes in HH composition, a 10-day NOA must be sent to the HH

Household Composition Changes

A voluntary report of household composition change by the head of household or a responsible adult household member is considered VUR, and must be acted on in PACF and NACF cases. For reports of household composition change by another source, the county must contact the household to verify eligibility.

ExampleExample

A mom calls and reports that one of her children has left the home. The report is considered VUR

ExampleExample

Same situation as above, but the report of the child leaving the home comes from a neighbor, a third party. This is not VUR since it was not reported by a primary source (i.e, the head of household). No action is taken until verified with the household.

 

If  Then
The household voluntarily reports a change in household composition, and the information is clear

Results in an increase of benefits:

  • Update the case record with the reported changes,
  • Issue an adequate notice and
  • Document actions in Journal Detail page.

Results in a decrease of benefits:

  • Send the household a No-Change NOA, 
  • Document actions in Journal Detail page and follow-up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first. 
The household voluntarily reports a change in household composition, and the information is unclear 
  • Send the household a CW 2200 requesting necessary information and/or verification to evaluate the impact on the household’s benefits. 
    • If the household provides the required verification:
      • Results in a decrease in benefits:
        • Send the household a NoChange NOA,
        • Document actions in Journal Detail page and follow-up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first. 
      • Results in an increase in benefits
        • Update the case record with the reported changes,
        • Issue an adequate notice and
        • Document actions in Journal Detail page.
    • If the household does not provide the required verification: 
      • Send the household a No Change NOA,
      • Document actions in Journal Detail page and follow-up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first. 
The household voluntarily reports the removal of a household member
 		 Unless questionable, the EW must act on removing the existing household member from the case, regardless of the impact on the household’s benefits.
 

Income under 130% of FPL

When a voluntary mid-period report of income less than the IRT that is not verified, the county must document the report of the change in the case record to be reviewed at the time of the next SAR 7 or recertification. Send out a No Change NOA.

ExampleExample

January through June SAR period. On March 15, mom reports she is eligible for Social Security and the first payment of $300 will be received April 3. This information is not VUR because the county needs further information in order to verify the change. If additional verification is not received, no action is taken. Send out a No Change NOA and note in the case record for the next SAR 7 or RC application.

If a household provides undisputed verification that requires no further inquiry and is VUR, then the county must act to reduce benefits.

ExampleExample

Same scenario as above. On April 7, mom reports she is eligible for Social Security and sends in a copy of the first payment of $300 that was received April 3. This information is considered verified because the county needs no further information in order to verify the change. If the change would result in a decrease in benefits, send the household a No-Change NOA, and document actions in Journal Detail page and follow-up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first. 

Related Topics

Semi-Annual Reporting (SAR) Households