Process for Securing Verifications

Counties must assist households that do not submit the required verifications by using available electronic sources or accepting a client statement when allowable before requesting additional verification. For optional information, counties must not seek and form of verification unless the information is questionable.

For mandatory verification, EWs must not send a request for missing verification or deny a case based on missing verifications unless they have first checked all available electronic sources or determined whether a client statement is an allowable option without any other form of proof (e.g. homelessness). If the verification cannot be found via any available electronic sources, and a client statement is not accepted as the first option, EWs must request for missing verification using the Request for Verification (CW 2200) form.

Available Electronic Sources

The term “available electronic sources” refers to sources that can be reasonably inferred to contain verification of information provided by a household, and that can be checked without substantially delaying the application process. Electronic sources include, but are not limited to, the Applicant and Recipient IEVS, MEDS, verification with the SSA, the CMIPS for information regarding the IHSS Program, or any other source available to counties. 

Counties also have access to electronic sources like The Work Number® that can only be used for verification purposes when confirmed by a household to be accurate. Data matching efforts must take place prior to sending a household a request for missing verification.

Process for Securing Mandatory Verifications

  1. Check all available electronic data to verify the missing information.
  2. Accept a client’s verbal or written statement for certain circumstances where the household cannot provide the necessary verifications through documentary evidence or collateral contact such as residency for homeless and migrant farmworkers.
  3. For all other mandatory verifications that cannot be obtained through step 1 and 2, send a CW 2200 to the client to request missing verification.
  4. 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 the County, and all other sources of verification are unavailable, the EW must determine an amount to be used for certification purposes based on the best available information. Best available information may include a client verbal or written statement by the client.

    1. Note: A client statement is a statement made either verbally or in writing that certifies the accuracy of statements made by the household signed under penalty of perjury (State’s PI for ACL 20-135).

  5. If the client does not respond to the CW 2200 or refuses to cooperate with the request for all other mandatory verification, deny the application or discontinue the case.

Related Topics

Verification