<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".20" citation="COMAR 07.03.17.20" title_num="07" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="17" heading="Verification.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Verification is the use of third-party information or documentation to establish the accuracy of statements on the application.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The local department shall assist the household to obtain the necessary verification.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>At initial application, and before certification, the household shall provide verification of the following:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Identity of the applicant, or, when an authorized representative applies, the identity of the applicant and authorized representative;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Gross nonexcludable income as described in Regulation .30 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Immigrant status for an immigrant in the household in accordance with Regulation .09 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Medical expenses as described in Regulation .33 of this chapter, if the household claims allowable medical expenses above $35 per month;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Residency as described in Regulation .08 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Social Security number as described in Regulation .11 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Amount of included resources as described in Regulation .26 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Legal obligation to make child support payments to or for an individual living outside the household and the amount of actual payments as described in Regulation .35 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Household composition, if questionable as described in §G of this regulation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Shelter costs for homeless households claiming shelter expenses that would result in a shelter deduction greater than the homeless allowance;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>Hours worked for individuals subject to the work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents as described in Regulation .23 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>Disability if the disability determination affects the household's eligibility or benefit level; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>All other factors of eligibility that are questionable as described in §G of this regulation and affect the household's eligibility and benefit level.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Optional Verification.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Department may require verification of any other factor that affects eligibility or benefit level.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The verification:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>May be required Statewide or in a local department area; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>May not be imposed on a selective case-by-case basis.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If a local department area chooses to verify a deductible expense and the expense cannot be verified within 30 days of the date of application, the eligibility and benefit level shall be determined without a deduction for the unverified expense.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Verification at Recertification.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>At recertification the local department shall verify:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A change in income if the source has changed or the amount has changed by more than $50;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Previously unreported medical expenses;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Actual utility expenses and total recurring medical expenses that have changed by more than $50;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A change in the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Legal obligation to pay child support;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Obligated amount of child support received; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Amount of legally obligated child support a household member pays;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Newly obtained Social Security numbers;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Hours worked for individuals subject to the work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents as described in Regulation .23 of this chapter; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Any other change if the information provided is questionable as described in §G of this regulation, incomplete, or outdated.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Unless a change is questionable as described in §G of this regulation, incomplete, or outdated, at recertification the local department may not verify:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Income, if the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Source has not changed; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Amount is unchanged or the amount has changed by $50 or less; or</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Total medical expenses or actual utility expenses that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Are unchanged; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Have changed by $50 or less.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Verification of Changes Reported during a Certification Period.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as described in §F(2) of this regulation, changes reported during the certification period are subject to the same verification procedures that apply at initial application.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Unless a change is questionable as described in §G of this regulation, incomplete, or outdated, the local department may not verify:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Income, if the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Source has not changed; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Amount is unchanged or the amount has changed by $50 or less; or</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Total medical expenses or actual utility expenses that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Are unchanged; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Have changed by $50 or less.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Questionable Information. A factor of eligibility is questionable when information provided by the household is inconsistent with:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Statements made by the applicant;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Information on the application or on a previous application; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Information received by the local department.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Documentary Evidence.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A household may supply documentary evidence:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>In person;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Through the mail;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>By facsimile or other electronic device; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Through an authorized representative.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The local department:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Shall accept any reasonable documentary evidence provided by the individual;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Shall be primarily concerned with how adequately the verification proves the statements on the application; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>May not require the individual to present verification in person at the local department.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>