Revision 24-4; Effective Oct. 1, 2024

All Programs

Verification used for SNAP or TANF is acceptable for:

  • the other program unless it is inconsistent with other information or is questionable; and
  • medical programs unless policy for a specific type of verification specifically says otherwise.

Verification used for medical programs is acceptable for SNAP or TANF unless policy for a specific type of verification says otherwise.

Verification of earned and unearned income is not required for any pay amount older than 60 days before the interview date.

Verify:

  • if a child meets the earned income exemption criteria;
  • tip income, if not included on a person’s wage statement;
  • any breaks in pay periods;
  • all loans or contributions, including cash or vendor payments;
  • vacation pay before or after a job ended;
  • if paid vacation after the job ended, verify if the person got a lump sum or multiple checks;
  • the death of an alien's sponsor;
  • for people who are striking:
    • the probable length of the strike;
    • the striker’s wages from that company; and
    • the striker's benefits or any help the striker is getting from the union.

At redetermination, verify interest income by:

  • using the household’s statement if the amount has not changed by more than $50 and the income source has not changed; or
  • requesting additional verification if the amount changed by more than $50 or there is new or different source of interest income.

If all attempts to verify income are unsuccessful because the payer fails or refuses to give information and no other proof can be found, use the best available information to determine the budget amount.

Related Policy

Prudent Person Principle, A-137
Children's Earned Income, A-1323.1
Strikers, A-1367
Verification Sources, A-1641
Verification and Documentation, C-900

TANF and SNAP

Verify all countable income at initial application, redetermination and when a household reports a change, even if the amount reported makes the household ineligible.

Use earned income and employment information from third-party income databases such as The Work Number (TWN) when the information is reasonably consistent. Information from a third-party income database is considered reasonably consistent if the income difference is equal to or less than $125 of the monthly pay amount reported by the household. Request additional verification when the third-party income database information is not reasonably consistent with monthly pay amount reported by the household.

Use the following steps to get income information when adding a new member, for employable household members who have no prior certification history or who have had a month or more break in certification.

StepIf yes,If no,
1. For the month of application or two months before, did any household member have any earned or unearned income that ended?

Verify and document the:

  • source;
  • final gross amount and date received;
  • reason the income ended; and
  • end date.

Go to Step 2.

Go to Step 2.
2. Is the household claiming no income?

If the claim is questionable:

  • follow policy in A-1700, Management; or
  • verify per C-920, Questionable Information.
STOP.

Related Policy

Management, A-1700
Questionable Information, C-920

TANF

Verify the date of marriage between a TANF recipient and the new spouse to determine the six-month period that the new spouse's earnings can be excluded as income.

TP 08

Verify the following to establish eligibility for TP 07:

  • increase in gross earnings; and
  • date the earnings or hours increased.

If verification is not available, use the person’s statement, unless questionable.

If the household gives earnings information sufficient to determine ineligibility for TP 08, but does not give proof of the earnings, the household members should be transferred to TP 07 if they meet the eligibility requirements.

Related Policy

TP 07 Transitional Medical Programs, A-842

TANF and Medical Programs

If at application a person claims to have a disability or is caring for a child with disabilities, verify at the first redetermination that the person has applied with the Social Security Administration (SSA) for RSDI or SSI.

SNAP

Verify:

  • A change based on best available information if:
    • an increase in earnings results in a decrease in benefits;
    • the person fails to give information; and
    • staff can compute benefits based on the information provided.
  • the alien sponsor’s status. If questionable, the household must:
    • contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for verification of sponsor status; or
    • participate without the alien member.
  • a disqualified person's income the same as any other member.
  • combat pay included in any income made available to the household by an absent military person, including the combat zone where the person is deployed.
  • migrant income. If the household states the migrant workers work for various growers or crew chiefs, the household should be given a calendar form with space to record each day's income and hours worked. The household should get the grower or crew chief's signature for validation and present the form at the next interview.
  • earned income and employment information using TWN data provided through the Federal Data Services Hub (FDSH).
  • Note: no additional verification of income is required when reactivating a SNAP EDG at redetermination that was denied for failure to provide information. Use the income verification the household provided at the interview date, unless the household reported a change in income after the interview date.

Related Policy

How to File an Overpayment Referral, B-730
Required Verification for SNAP, C-912

Medical Programs

Verify all countable income at initial application, redetermination and when a household reports a change, unless the amount reported makes the household ineligible.

Request additional verification only if:

  • acceptable verification is not available through electronic data sources; or
  • information obtained electronically is not reasonably compatible with the person’s statement of income provided on the application or at redetermination.

Income from electronic data sources is considered reasonably compatible with income reported by a person when both the income reported by the person and electronic data are at or below the applicable income limit.

The system determines if a person's income is reasonably compatible with available electronic data sources. If the person's statement of income is not determined to be reasonably compatible with electronic data, verify income using other acceptable verification sources.

A person’s statement of income is not reasonably compatible with electronic data if:

  • their statement of income is above the applicable FPL;
  • their statement of income is below the applicable FPL, but electronic data indicate that income may be above the applicable FPL;
  • the person has unverified countable expenses that need to be verified for the person to be determined income-eligible;
  • sufficient information such as income type, income frequency, and income amount is not provided by the person to calculate a monthly income;
  • income sources are provided that are not available from electronic data;
  • the person has unverified countable income other than earned income, RSDI or unemployment; or
  • TIERS is unable to access a third-party system to get electronic data, or electronic data was insufficient to complete reasonable compatibility.

When determining ongoing eligibility, the person is not required to provide verification of earned or unearned income of any pay amount older than 60 days before the interview date or the date the action is initiated when an interview is not required.

Do not request additional verification if:

  • verification is available through TWC inquiry or other automated systems considered acceptable verification sources and accessible to staff; or
  • the person confirms the information obtained through data sources is accurate and representative; and
  • the information is sufficient to establish current eligibility.

Note: A Data Broker Combined Report cannot be requested for children under 16. Request additional verification if earned income is reported for a child under 16 who does not meet an exception explained in A-1341, Income Limits and Eligibility Tests, for Medical Programs, Step 3, and other electronic data sources are unavailable.

If the person reports that someone living at that physical address receives American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) income and includes an amount but does not provide the name of the person receiving the AI/AN income, pend for missing information. If the person:

  • Fails to provide the missing information by the final due date, then the EDG will be denied for failure to provide information.
  • Provides the name of the person receiving the AI/AN income but does not provide verification for the income type, then the income will be counted instead of being exempt. However, the EDG will not be denied for failure to provide information. The person will still be eligible for exemptions from cost-sharing if they are eligible for CHIP.

If the person indicates someone is eligible to receive services from Tribal or Indian Health Services, but they did not include the name of the person receiving services, then pend for the name. If the name is not provided by the final due date, then the EDG will not be denied, but the exemption will not be allowed for cost-sharing if the applicant is eligible for CHIP.

TP 40

After certification, a TP 40 EDG must not be denied for failure to provide proof of income unless income verification was postponed at certification.

A-1371 Verification Sources

Revision 24-4; Effective Oct. 1, 2024

All Programs

Verify the income budgeting requirements using the following verification sources.

Alien Sponsor's Death

The Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics (BVS) is the primary verification source for death. If BVS is available, but the date of death (DOD) does not match reported information, accept BVS as verification. No additional verification is required.

If BVS verification is not available, verify the DOD using two of the following sources:

  • Social Security Administration (SSA);
  • statement from guardian or authorized representative;
  • copy of death certificate;
  • statement from a doctor;
  • newspaper death notice (obituary);
  • statement from a relative or household member;
  • statement from funeral director; or
  • records from the hospital or other institution where the person died.

Alien Sponsor's Status

Written or verbal statement from the household, unless questionable.

Application for SSI or RSDI

  • WTPY/SOLQ; or
  • receipt from the SSA.

Contributions

  • written statement from the person or agency giving the money to or making the payment for the household member;
  • copy of the contribution check;
  • copy of the canceled check from the person making the contribution; or
  • proof of payment records for MyGoals cash payments.

Earned Income

  • Form H1028, Employment Verification (PDF). Make sure the employer completed all items, and the information is consistent with reported information. If information is not consistent, resolve any discrepancies.
  • Written letter from the employer that provides current income and frequency of payment(s).
  • Signed and dated statement from client for tip income not included on the wage statement.
  • Two pay amounts from the period starting 45 days before the file date through the interview date or the date the EDG is being processed if an interview is not required. Consider any information the person reports between the application file date and the decision date when determining eligibility.
  • Do not use pay stubs as the only source of verification if the person:
    • began employment in the application or interview month;
    • reported new employment after certification;
    • ended employment in the application month; or
    • ended employment in the two months before application (TANF and SNAP only).
  • written or verbal statement from the employer, union or company officials by mail, fax or phone.
  • TWC wage records.
  • Form H2583, Choices Information Transmittal, if the form is complete and shows the employer verified the information.

Related Policy

Information Reported During Application Processing, B-116
How to Use Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Quarterly Wage Information to Budget Earned Income, A-1355.2

Migrant Farm Income

  • Employment Services;
  • Farm Labor bureaus;
  • Rural Manpower Development;
  • Farmer's Cooperative Service;
  • growers' associations;
  • migrants' service organizations;
  • county agents; or
  • individual growers and crew chiefs.

Military Deployment and Combat Pay

  • the military person’s leave and earning statement (LES);
  • the military person’s issued orders; or
  • contact the financial office at the local base.

Note: The military person’s leave and earning statement (LES) is often sent directly to the family, or the deployed military person can mail it to the family back home. The military person’s LES is acceptable verification of any combat pay being received and of deployment to a designated combat zone.

Other Income

  • check or copy of check;
  • statement from the bank paying dividends and interest and accept the person’s statement on periodic reviews and timely recertifications;
  • statement from the company or union providing pensions or union benefits; or
  • Form H1050, Check Verification (PDF).

Other Government Benefits

  • current award notice, letter or official statement;
  • check or copy of check;
  • agency contract or record; or
  • statement from a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services advisor or representative.

RSDI

  • WTPY/SOLQ;
  • State Data Exchange (SDX) file, a source that also provides sufficient proof of SSI income available for an RSDI recipient;
  • current award notice, check, letter or statement from the SSA;
  • direct deposit slip from a financial institution; or
  • Form H1050.

Railroad Retirement Benefits

Self-employment

  • IRS Schedule C, Form 1040 – Profit or Loss from Business;
  • previous year’s IRS tax return or business records for self-employment income received less often than monthly;
  • most recent business records and receipts;
  • Form H1049, Client's Statement of Self-Employment Income (PDF); or
  • written client statement of estimated earnings or receipts for goods and services provided.

    Note: If collateral contacts or documented information does not verify the income and expenses, use Form H1049.

Strikers

Union and company officials

Texas Lottery Commission

Data Broker System

Unemployment Compensation

  • check or copy of check;
  • current award notice, letter or statement from TWC;
  • former employer;
  • TWC inquiry; or
  • statement from TWC verifying the primary wage earner's application for unemployment insurance benefits.

TANF and SNAP

In addition to the verification sources listed for All Programs, verify income using the following verification sources.

Child Support

  • Texas Child Support Enforcement System (TXCSES) inquiry;
  • Office of the Attorney General (OAG) child support data;
  • check or copy of check;
  • county clerk records;
  • canceled checks with three months if possible;
  • wage withholding statements;
  • withholding statements from unemployment compensation;
  • written statement from the parent providing support; or
  • current court records such as court order, court support agreement, or divorce or separation papers.

Related Policy

Data Broker, C-820
OAG Child Support Data, C-825.14.1
Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Inquiry, C-832
TXCSES Web Child Support Portal Inquiry, C-833

Earned Income

Third-party income databases such as The Work Number (TWN) when the information is reasonably consistent.

Educational Grants, Scholarships or Loans

  • Statement, letter, or records from:
    • schools;
    • organizations, clubs, or agencies providing benefits; or
    • Veteran’s Administration (VA) for veteran's educational benefits.

SSI

  • WTPY/SOLQ;
  • State Data Exchange (SDX) interface;
  • check or copy of check;
  • current award notice, letter, or written statement from the SSA; or
  • direct deposit slip from a financial institution.

Veterans and Department of Defense (DoD) Benefits

Workers’ Compensation

  • current award notice, letter or statement from:
    • a claims adjuster;
    • an attorney; or
    • an insurance company; or
  • check or copy of check.

TANF

Verify the marriage date to determine the income budgeting requirements for the new spouse using the following verification sources.

Ceremonial Marriage

  • marriage license or certificate;
  • church records;
  • statement from clergy; or
  • family Bible records.

Common Law Marriage

Medical Programs

Electronic data sources with reasonable compatibility are the preferred method of wage verification for Medical Programs. If unverifiable by ELDS, verify income and employment information using the following sources.

Earned Income

TWN.

Related Policy

Verification Requirements, Medical Programs, A-1370

TP 33, TP 34, TP 35, TP 43, TP 44 and TP 48

In addition to the verification sources listed for All Programs, verify income using the following verification sources.

Earned and Unearned Income

  • pay stub issued in the last 60 days; or
  • most recent tax return.

Related Policy

Questionable Information, C-920
Providing Verification, C-930