Revision 24-4; Effective Dec. 1, 2024

The Data Broker system is an online portal. It provides financial and other information about people applying for or receiving Texas Works and MEPD types of assistance.

The system collects and combines information from multiple data sources into one report, called the Data Broker Combined Report. The report includes information such as residential address, people living at the address, vehicle ownership, employment status, income verification, financial account balances and other information.

The Data Broker Combined Report includes information from multiple data sources including:

  • Department of Public Safety (DPS)
  • United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)
  • Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
  • Office of the Attorney General (OAG)
  • Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
  • Texas Lottery Commission
  • Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
  • SNAP Electronic Disqualified Recipient System (EDRS)
  • Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)
  • Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)
  • Federal Data Services Hub (FDSH)

These agencies provide information on:

  • people search, including name, address, driver license or ID and neighbor information;
  • alien verification through USCIS SAVE;
  • vehicle search, including owner name, address, license plate, vehicle identification number and vehicle valuation;
  • income search, including new hire reports, TWC quarterly wages and unemployment insurance benefits, child support, current earned income and Texas lottery winnings;
  • marriage and divorce records; and
  • The Work Number (TWN) data, including earned income and employment information.

In the TIERS Regular or Customized Redetermination Driver Flow (CRDF), submit a Data Broker request for each individual household member 16 and older, including members without a Social Security Number (SSN). Request the Data Broker Combined Report in the Individual Household logical unit of work (LUW) in any mode other than Ongoing.

Although the Data Broker Combined Report includes the option to request a credit report on the person, federal law limits the use of credit reports.

Note: Do not request credit reports for MEPD programs.

Data Broker information can also be requested in the stand-alone Data Broker Portal system. The Combined Report and individual data searches, such as TWC and OAG are accessible through the Data Broker Portal. Use the Data Broker Portal to pull specific data element searches and when TIERS is experiencing technical issues.

The combined report and individual data searches are accessible through the Data Broker Portal. They ensure accurate eligibility determinations and resolve any discrepancies between the information in Data Broker and information provided by the person before disposition. Failure to review report may result eligibility errors.

If the information available through Data Broker is inconsistent with information provided by the person, but the information does not affect eligibility, do not request additional documentation from the person.

Resolve all discrepancies between the information in Data Broker and information provided by the person, if the new or inconsistent information potentially makes the person ineligible. To clear discrepant information:

  • Attempt to contact the person by phone to allow them the opportunity to explain the discrepancy, and document their statement in the case record; or
  • If phone contact is unsuccessful, send Form H1020, Request for Information or Action, requesting necessary information to resolve the discrepancy.

Before beginning denial procedures based on information obtained in a Data Broker report, always give the person the opportunity to rebut and provide clarification or more verification.

Refer to the Data Broker Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and the Data Broker User Guide located under the Training section on the left navigation menu within the Data Broker Portal for more information. These documents provide answers to frequently asked questions about Data Broker and include instructions and sample screens on the different types of reports available in the Data Broker system.

Related Policy

Documentation and Verification Guide, MEPD Appendix XVI
Data Broker, TWH C-820

R-3810 Data Broker Combined Report Sources

Revision 24-4; Effective Dec. 1, 2024

This section describes the various data sources available in Data Broker.

R-3811 Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements

Revision 24-4; Effective Dec. 1, 2024

Although the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system can be accessed through Data Broker, it can also be accessed through its own web application. Refer to D-8800, Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, for more information about SAVE and how to use it to verify alien status.

R-3812 Driver License Information

Revision 24-4; Effective Dec. 1, 2024

Data Broker matches information from the Combined Report Search screen against the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) data. When a match is found, DPS data is pulled into the report. Information in this report may identify discrepancies in the person’s identity and residence address. This report includes a person’s sex, race, height, hair color, eye color, name, date of birth (DOB), address, and any previous names or addresses. Because DPS re-issues driver’s licenses and ID numbers approximately two years after the driver license and ID number expires, previous names and addresses associated with that number may be listed in this section.

The Validated field displays the date DPS last updated the driver’s license or ID information.

Note: DPS updates information on this report only when the person with a Texas driver license (TDL) or DPS ID provides updated information to DPS.

R-3813 People at Entered Address

Revision 24-4; Effective Dec. 1, 2024

Data Broker searches the DPS database and pulls records for all people listed at the address entered on the Combined Report Search screen. The information pulled includes each person's name, address and DOB. Previous residents may appear if they have not changed their address with DPS.

Information on this report is useful to provide case clues about household composition and exploring potential support and maintenance (S&M).

Related Policy

Support and Maintenance, E-8000

R-3814 Texas Vehicle

Revision 24-4; Effective Dec. 1, 2024

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) database gives information for all vehicles registered at the person’s address as entered on the Combined Report Search screen. The information obtained on each vehicle includes the:

  • owner(s) name(s)of each vehicle;
  • Texas vehicle license tag number(s);
  • year, make and model of each vehicle;
  • average wholesale value of the vehicle(s); and
  • lien holder of the vehicle(s), when available on DMV records.

This information can be used to verify vehicle ownership and value, as well as provide case clues on household composition. Staff must explore and clear discrepancies.

The value provided is the average wholesale value of the vehicle and can be used as verification to determine the countable equity value of the vehicle.

Vehicles not owned by the household may appear on the Data Broker Combined Report when a person does not complete a title transfer or does not update an address with the DMV.

Vehicles registered at an address other than where the person lives do not appear on this report. When a person has a vehicle not shown on the report, use the owner's name, vehicle license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN) to get information through the Vehicle Search option in the left navigation menu of the Data Broker Portal.

Related Policy

Automobile, F-4221
Business Property, F-4330

R-3815 Texas Marriage and Divorce

Revision 24-4; Effective Dec. 1, 2024

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Texas Vital Statistics Unit provides the dates and names of people married and divorced in Texas. This information is only available by an interactive inquiry in the Data Broker Portal. Information from this report is not included on the Combined Report.

The marriage and divorce reports reflect the names provided to DSHS on marriage and divorce documents recorded in Texas. If a person has changed their name, staff may need to search using the prior name to find records.

Although the report is updated annually, data may be delayed and may not contain recent marriage and divorce information.

Related Policy

Companion and Couple Budgets, E-8300

R-3816 Employer New Hire Report and National Directory of New Hire Report

Revision 24-4; Effective Dec. 1, 2024

The Employer New Hire Report (ENHR) and National Directory of New Hire Report (NDNH) reports provide employment information such as hire date, employer name and address, and employee name, DOB and address.

  • The ENHR has employer information for people whose employers are based in Texas.
  • The NDNH has employer information from all 50 states, four territories and all federal agencies.

Data Broker displays new hire data from 180 days before the date the report was requested up to the current date. This information may be an indicator of unreported earned income.

The ENHR and NDNH reports may list the corporate name and address of the employer instead of the local business name and address. The commonly known name of a business provided by the person may be different than the corporate name.

Related Policy

General Income, Chapter E

R-3817 Texas Workforce Commission Wages and Benefits

Revision 24-4; Effective Dec. 1, 2024

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Wages and Benefits report provides information on wages, claimants and unemployment benefit records in Texas. Claimant and unemployment benefit payments will display only if the person has applied for, is receiving, or has received unemployment benefits from TWC.

The TWC information can be obtained through the Standard Combined Data Broker report option or the interactive search by using the TWC Quarterly Wages and Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB) link in the Data Broker Portal left navigation menu.

The Standard Combined Report includes the TWC information and all other available reports.

TWC information returned on the Standard Combined Report defaults to the last two years of data available for wage detail, claimant and benefit payments. If the user needs more than two years of data, the interactive search in the Data Broker Portal can be used.

If no information is available for a person, a message with "No records found" displays.

R-3818 Office of the Attorney General Child Support

Revision 24-4; Effective Dec.1, 2024

The Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Child Support database provides child support data. Data Broker searches the OAG database and pulls records for the person entered on the Combined Report Search screen and displays all people receiving and paying support payments associated with that person.

The OAG information available through Data Broker allows staff to get child support income. Additionally, Data Broker offers case clues on household composition by listing an address for each member, if available, on the Combined Report associated to a particular OAG case.

This report is also available by an interactive inquiry in the Data Broker Search Options menu:

  • A member search is used when the case name or adult household member's SSN is not available.
  • A financial search can be done when specific financial information for a period is not available on the Combined Report Search.

Note: When the OAG information is requested and unavailable, a feature in the table of contents of the Standard Combined Report will display the following message:

Request timed out. Please click here to retry again.

By clicking on this link, staff can re-request the report without reentering all the person's information. Staff should continue to retry until the information becomes available.

Related Policy

Child Support Payments, E-2350
Child Support Payments, E-3321
Accessing Texas Child Support Enforcement System (TXCSES), TWH C-832.1

R-3819 Inmate or Parolee Match

Revision 24-4; Effective Dec. 1, 2024

The Inmate or Parolee Match displays prisoner information for people who are incarcerated.

The following identifying information is displayed, if applicable, for the incarcerated person:

  • name;
  • SSN;
  • DOB;
  • last known address;
  • incarceration sentence date, first day of incarceration;
  • earliest release date;
  • prison unit;
  • offense; and
  • date of offense.

Prisoner match information displayed on the Data Broker Combined Report is considered a case clue, and must be addressed before denying, reducing or terminating benefits. For applications, redeterminations and changes, attempt a phone contact to address the information found in the Data Broker Combined Report.

If the person is incarcerated or no longer living with the household, remove the person from the case and retest eligibility.

Send Form H1020, Request for Information or Action, to request verification if:

  • the household states that the person is not incarcerated and lives in the home; or
  • phone contact cannot be made.

If a response is not received, terminate benefits for failure to provide.

R-3820 Texas Lottery Commission

Revision 24-4; Effective Dec. 1, 2024

The Texas Lottery Commission report provides verification of lottery winnings and is included in the Data Broker Combined Report.

The report contains the following information:

  • winner’s full name, DOB and SSN;
  • date paid;
  • gross winnings, net payment and taxes withheld;
  • check ID number, claim number and date claim created;
  • debt offset, also known as recoupment:
    • reason for the offset;
    • the agency name the offset is for;
    • amount withheld;
    • withholding number;
    • withholding sequence number; and
    • check ID and agency ID; and
  • void date:
    • only provided when the Texas Lottery Commission voids a check.
    • if voided, do not count the winnings as income.