Hawaii Administrative Rules › Title 17 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES › Department of Human Services › Chapter 647 - APPLICATION PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS › Subchapter 4 - SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR FOOD STAMPS › Section 17-647-32 - Verification

Current through June, 2024
(a) The branch shall verify the following
				  information prior to certification for households which are initially applying
				  for the food stamp program:
(1) Gross
				  nonexempt income for all households except for social security and supplemental
				  security income benefits. If documentary evidence is not readily available, the
				  amount of social security and SSI benefits reported on the application shall be
				  used pending receipt of verification from the BENDEX or SDX;
(2) Whether household members identified as
				  aliens on the application form are eligible aliens by requiring that the
				  household present verification for each alien member;
(3) A household's utility expenses.
				  Households that wish to claim shelter costs for a home that is unoccupied
				  because of employment or training away from the home, illness, or abandonment
				  caused by a natural disaster or casualty loss shall provide verification of
				  actual utility costs if the costs would result in a deduction. Other shelter
				  costs of the unoccupied home shall be verified if it would result in a
				  deduction;
(4) The amount of any
				  medical expenses which are deductible;
(5) The social security numbers (SSNs) of all
				  household members in accordance with chapter 17-655;
(6) Residency of all households:
(A) Verification of residency shall be
				  accomplished to the extent possible in conjunction with other information such
				  as, but not limited to, rent and mortgage payments, utility expenses, and
				  identity;
(B) If verification
				  cannot be accomplished in conjunction with the verification of other
				  information, then the branch shall use a collateral contact or other readily
				  available documentary evidence;
(C)
				  No durational residency requirement shall be established;
(D) In situations where verification of
				  residency may be impossible to obtain, such as households newly arrived in an
				  area or households living at a campsite or in cars and the applicant and the
				  branch have made reasonable efforts to verify residence, the branch shall
				  proceed with certification and not deny the household; and
(E) Any documents or collateral contact which
				  reasonably establish the applicant's residency shall be accepted and no
				  requirement for a specific type of verification may be imposed;
(7) The applicant's identity or
				  the identity of both the authorized representative and the head of the
				  household where an authorized representative applies on behalf of a household.
				  Identity may be verified through readily available documentary evidence or, if
				  this is unavailable, through a collateral contact. Acceptable documentary
				  evidence includes, but is not limited to:
(A)
				  Driver's license;
(B) Work or
				  school identification (ID);
(C) ID
				  for health benefits;
(D) ID for
				  another assistance or social services program;
(E) Voter registration card;
(F) Wage stubs; or
(G) Birth certificate.
Any documents which reasonably establish the document may
					 be imposed; applicant's identity shall be accepted and no requirement for a
					 specific type of
(8) Liquid resources for all
				  households;
(9) Continuing shelter
				  charges, including utilities, if billed separately, if allowing the expense
				  would result in a deduction. Homeless households claiming shelter expenses
				  greater than the homeless standard estimate as stated in section 17-676-72(5)
				  are required to provide verification of their shelter expense;
(10) For households claiming dependent care
				  costs, whether the household actually incurs the costs and the actual amount of
				  the costs, if allowing the expense would result in a deduction; and
(11) Disability as defined in section
				  17-663-1 as follows:
(A) For individuals to
				  be considered disabled under paragraphs (1), (6), and (7) of the definition,
				  the household shall provide proof that the disabled individual is receiving
				  benefits under Titles I, II, X, XIV or XVI of the Social Security
				  Act;
(B) For individuals to be
				  considered disabled under paragraph (2) of the definition, the household shall
				  present a statement from the Veterans Administration (VA) which clearly
				  indicates that the disabled individual is receiving VA disability benefits for
				  a service-connected disability and that the disability is rated as total or
				  paid at the total rate by VA;
(C)
				  For individuals to be considered disabled under paragraphs (3) and (4) of the
				  definition, proof by the household that the disabled individual is receiving VA
				  disability benefits shall be sufficient verification of disability;
(D) For individuals to be considered disabled
				  under paragraphs (5) and (8) of the definition, the state agency shall use the
				  Social Security Administration's (SSA) most current list of disabilities
				  considered permanent under the Social Security Act for verifying disability. If
				  it is obvious that the individual has one of the listed disabilities, the
				  household shall be considered to have verified disability. If disability is not
				  obvious, the household shall provide a statement from a physician or licensed
				  or certified psychologist certifying that the individual has one of the
				  nonobvious disabilities listed as the means for verifying disability under
				  paragraphs (5) and (8) of the definition; or
(E) For individuals to be considered disabled
				  under paragraph (9) of the definition, the household shall provide proof that
				  the individual receives a railroad retirement disability annuity from the
				  Railroad Retirement Board and has been determined to qualify for
				  medicare;
(12) If a
				  household's composition is questionable, the branch shall verify factors
				  affecting the composition of the household. Individuals who claim to be a
				  separate household from those with whom they reside shall be responsible for
				  proving a claim that they are a separate household to the satisfaction of the
				  branch. Elderly, disabled individuals, who claim to be separate household shall
				  also be responsible for:
(A) Obtaining the
				  cooperation of the individuals with whom they reside in providing necessary
				  income information to the branch;
(B) Providing the branch with a statement
				  from a physician or licensed or certified psychologist that they cannot
				  purchase and prepare their own meals; and
(C) Providing the branch a statement of
				  permanent disability from a physician or licensed or certified psychologist if
				  the disability is not readily apparent; and
(13) The household's legal obligation to pay
				  child support, the amount of the obligation, and the monthly amount of child
				  support the household actually pays. The household is responsible for providing
				  verification of the legal obligation, the obligated amount, and the amount
				  paid.
(A) The branch shall accept any
				  document that verifies the household's legal obligation to pay child support,
				  such as a court or administrative order, or legally enforceable separation
				  agreement. Documents that are accepted as verification of the household's legal
				  obligation to pay child support shall not be accepted as verification of the
				  household's actual monthly child support payments;
(B) The branch shall accept documentation
				  verifying a household's actual payment of child support including, but not
				  limited to canceled checks, wage withholding statements, verification of
				  withholding from unemployment compensation, and statements from the custodial
				  parent regarding direct payments or third party payments the food stamp member
				  pays or expects to pay on behalf of the custodial parent. In addition to
				  requiring verification from the household, the branch shall be responsible for
				  obtaining verification of the household's child support payments if the
				  payments are made to the Child Support Enforcement Agency.