Opinion ID: 519240
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Third Party Verification Claim

Text: 32 The Food Stamp Act provides that a household's application for food stamps will be subject to verification by Federal, State, and local officials to determine if such information is factual. 7 U.S.C. Sec. 2020(e)(2). Households seeking eligibility for food stamps must cooperate with the State agency, and certain information provided in the food stamp application must be verified through, inter alia the use of third-party information or documentation to establish the accuracy of statements on the application. 7 C.F.R. 273.2(f). Pennsylvania's regulations conform substantially with the federal regulations. See 55 Pa.Code Sec. 505.4 (1986). Although federal regulations for AFDC and MA benefits do not specify eligibility verification requirements in the same detail as the federal and state food stamp regulations, common applications for all three types of benefits are contemplated. Compare 42 U.S.C. Secs. 602(a)(10), 604, 1396a(a)(8), 1396c with 7 U.S.C. Sec. 2020(e)(2). 33 The core of plaintiffs' third party verification claim is set forth in their amended complaint: 34 When applicants and recipients appear at application, redetermination, or recertification interviews without verification [that DPW] consider[s] adequate, [DPW will] deny or delay assistance to these applicants and recipients whether or not the nature of the verification demanded was clearly identified on the PA 253 or other notice given to the applicant or recipient, whether or not alternative verification would be available on a particular issue, and whether or not the applicant or recipient was unable to produce the verification because of the refusal or failure of a third party to cooperate. Amended Complaint p 47 at 14. 8 35 Plaintiffs' claim regarding third party verification can be thus encapsulated into two broad allegations: (1) DPW engages in a pattern and practice of repeatedly demanding from applicants and recipients information not clearly specified in the benefit application; and (2) DPW denies plaintiffs benefits without offering them alternative means of proving their eligibility when a third party refuses to cooperate, violating the Due Process Clause, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983, and other federal statutes and regulations. 36 On appeal, defendants have not responded directly to plaintiffs' claim of DPW's pattern and practices regarding third party verification. Instead, the defendants assert: (1) that plaintiff Robinson does not present a case or controversy because she has left Pennsylvania and because she never suffered an injury as a result of the third party verification requirements; and (2) that proposed plaintiffs Alvin and Pope lack standing. We address these contentions in the margin. 9