PERMANENT RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Date of Adoption: April 5, 2000.
Purpose: This rule explains that clients must verify certain information before they can receive benefits. It describes when the department requires verification, what kind of verification is acceptable, and what will happen if the department does not receive the verification.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-490-0005.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 00-04-092 on February 2, 2000.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Subsection (2) has been changed to add subsection (c). This subsection allows the department to request verification if the client's situation seems questionable, even if their circumstances have not changed.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
April 5, 2000
Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
2705.2
((The department requires clients to provide documents or
information to establish the accuracy of a client's circumstances
or statements. This is called mandatory verification and varies
by program. The following requirements are for cash, food
assistance and medical unless otherwise specified.
(1) A client has primary responsibility for providing information and verification.
(2) Time frames and notice requirements for requested information are stated in:
(a) WAC 388-406-0030 and 388-406-0035 for applicants; and
(b) WAC 388-418-0010 for recipients.
(3) The department requests verification from clients when it is needed to determine eligibility.
(4) The department accepts readily available verification that reasonably supports the client's statement or circumstances. Readily available means verification that can be obtained by the client within three working days.
(5) A client's signature on the application, eligibility review, or change of circumstance form gives the department consent to obtain supporting evidence from the following sources:
(a) A collateral contact. A collateral contact is an oral or written statement from someone outside of the assistance unit that confirms a client's circumstances; or
(b) A home visit.
(6) When a client is required to provide a document that requires a fee, the department will pay the fee.
(7) A client's benefits are not denied, terminated or delayed because of a failure to provide a specific type or form of verification.
(8) If all requested verification is not received, a client's eligibility is determined based on all available evidence.
(9) If eligibility cannot be determined from the available evidence that was provided, the client's benefits are denied or terminated.
(10) When verification was previously provided before and the document is not subject to change, a client is not required to provide the verification again. This applies when the department determines eligibility at:
(a) The next application;
(b) Reinstatement of a program; or
(c) Redetermination of eligibility)) This rule applies to cash, medical, and food assistance.
(1) When you first apply for benefits, the department may require you to provide proof of things that help us decide your eligibility. This is also called "verification." The types of things that need to be proven are different for each program.
(2) After that, we will ask you to give us proof when:
(a) You report a change;
(b) We find out that your circumstances have changed; or
(c) The information we have is questionable or confusing.
(3) Whenever we ask for proof, we will give you a notice as described in WAC 388-458-0001.
(4) You must give us the proof within the time limits described in:
(a) WAC 388-406-0030 and 388-406-0035 if you are applying for benefits; and
(b) WAC 388-458-0001 if you currently receive benefits.
(5) We will accept any proof that you can easily get when it reasonably supports your statement or circumstances. The proof you give to us must:
(a) Clearly relate to what you are trying to prove;
(b) Be from a reliable source; and
(c) Be accurate, complete, and consistent.
(6) We cannot make you give us a specific type or form of proof.
(7) If the only type of proof that you can get costs money, we will pay for it.
(8) If the proof that you give to us is questionable or confusing, we may:
(a) Ask you to give us more proof or provide a collateral contact (a "collateral contact" is a statement from someone outside of your residence that knows your situation);
(b) Schedule a visit to come to your home and verify your circumstances; or
(c) Send an investigator from the division of fraud investigations (DFI) to make an unannounced visit to your home to verify your circumstances.
(9) By signing the application, eligibility review, or change of circumstances form, you give us permission to contact other people, agencies, or institutions.
(10) If you do not give us all of the proof that we have asked for, we will determine if you are eligible based on the information that we already have. If we cannot determine that you are eligible based on this information, we will deny or stop your benefits.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-490-0005, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-504-0460.]