Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 363.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility Standards › Section 363.210 - Verification of Income

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Initial Application
. All gross nonexempt income shall
			 be verified prior to certifying a household as eligible to participate in SNAP.
			 However, when all attempts to verify the income have been unsuccessful because
			 the third party providing the income has failed to cooperate, and all other
			 sources of verification are unavailable, the Department shall determine an
			 amount to be used for certification purposes based on the best available
			 information. If the household has no income, a statement from the household
			 that it has no income shall be acceptable verification.
(B)
Recertification
.
			 Verification of income at recertification will be the same as at initial
			 application with the exception of TAFDC cases. These cases shall not be
			 required to submit verification of income at redetermination.
(C)
Reported
			 Changes
. The verification requirements of a reported change are
			 discussed in
			 106
			 CMR 366.120:
Department
			 Responsibility to Take Timely Action
.
(D)
Verification of Excluded
			 Income
. Excluded income may be verified if the information given
			 by the household is questionable, as defined by
			 106
			 CMR 361.620:
Questionable
			 Information
.
(E)
Unreported Income
. When an applicant states that he or
			 she has no source of income during the interview, and the applicant is
			 employable, or appears eligible for other benefits such as Social Security,
			 Unemployment Compensation, or public assistance, it may be necessary to verify
			 that he or she is not receiving income from such sources. Additional situations
			 when the possibility of unreported income should be investigated include, but
			 are not limited to, difficulty finding the head of the household at home,
			 seasonal employment in an area that is at its peak season, or shelter costs
			 higher than reported income, provided that nothing in
			 106
			 CMR 363.210(E)  shall limit
			 the ability of the Department to verify information from other government
			 agencies.
(F)
Expenses
			 Exceeding Income
. A household's report of expenses that exceed its
			 income may be grounds for a determination that further verification is
			 required. However, this circumstance alone shall not be grounds for a denial.
			 The Department shall explore with the household how it is managing its
			 finances, whether the household receives excluded income or has assets, and how
			 long the household has managed under these circumstances.
(G)
Methods of Verifying
			 Income
. Documentary evidence is the primary source of income
			 verification as defined in
			 106
			 CMR 361.640(A):
Documentary Evidence
. If other types of verification are used,
			 the case manager shall document in the case record why an alternate source was
			 needed. If all attempts to verify income have been unsuccessful because the
			 person or organization that is responsible for providing documentation of the
			 income has failed to cooperate with the household and the case manager, and all
			 other sources of verification are unavailable, the case manager shall determine
			 an amount to be used for certification purposes based on the best available
			 information.
When verifying that income is exempt as a loan, a legally
				binding agreement is not required. A statement signed by both parties that
				indicates that the payment is a loan and must be repaid is sufficient
				verification. However, if the household receives payments on a recurrent or
				regular basis from the same source but claims the payments are loans, the case
				manager may also require that the provider of the loan sign an affidavit that
				states that repayments are being made or that payments will be made in
				accordance with an established repayment schedule.
(1)
Earned Income
.
			 Earned income shall be verified by pay stubs, pay envelopes or a written
			 statement signed by an employer. The verification must show gross wages
			 (including tips, if applicable) and the number of hours worked.
Self-employment income, in accordance with
				106
				CMR 365.900 through
				365.970, shall be verified by
				business records, tax returns and other appropriate documents showing gross
				income and the total business expenses associated with the gross income
				earned.
(2)
Unearned Income
. Unearned income may be verified using
			 the following types of documents, including, but not limited to Social Security
			 award letters, unemployment compensation award letters, records from the
			 Department of Unemployment Assistance, pension award notices, Veterans
			 Administration award notices, correspondence on benefits, Income Tax records,
			 Railroad Retirement award letters, Railroad Retirement Board records, Workers
			 Compensation records, support and alimony payments evidenced by court order,
			 divorce or separation papers, and contribution checks.
(3)
Best Evidence
			 Available
. If all attempts to verify gross income are unsuccessful
			 because the person or organization providing the income has failed to cooperate
			 with the household and the Department, and all other sources of verification
			 are unavailable, the Department shall determine the amount to be used for
			 certification purposes based on the best available information.