Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs except TP 33, TP 34, TP 35, TP 43, TP 44, TP 45 and TP 48

Advisors must verify the actual physical address of a household at each application and redetermination.

Exceptions:

  • Residence verification is not a requirement for SNAP categorically eligible TANF/Supplemental Security Income (SSI) households.
  • Self-declaration is acceptable as verification of residence when certifying a child for TP 56, MA-Medically Needy with Spend Down.

Note: Residence verification is a requirement for TANF and categorically eligible TANF-Non-Cash (NC) households. Refer to B-472, Special Treatment for Households Meeting Categorical Eligibility Criteria.

When an applicant recently received benefits in another state, the advisor must verify the last month the benefits were issued.

When the advisor cannot verify residence with readily available evidence, the advisor must:

  • contact the landlord, neighbors or other sources of reliable information; or
  • observe personal effects and living arrangements.

When residence is difficult to verify because of unusual circumstances, the advisor must document all efforts to verify and certify the EDG.

Note: If residence for any household is questionable, the advisor may require the household to provide a source of verification that is more reliable, such as one of the primary sources of verification listed in A-761, Verification Sources. The advisor cannot restrict verification to a specific source from that list.

TANF and Medical Programs

Advisors must determine that the household intends to remain in Texas at each application and redetermination.

SNAP and TP 40

Advisors must postpone residence verification if trying to meet expedited service time frames.

TP 33, TP 34, TP 35, TP 43, TP 44, TP 45 and TP 48

Self-declaration is acceptable as verification of residence. 

A—761 Verification Sources

Revision 22-2; Effective April 1, 2022

All Programs except Children’s Medicaid

The following are acceptable sources to verify the household's current address:

  • utility bills or utility company records;
  • rent receipt or statement from non-relative landlord;
  • mortgage receipt or statement from mortgage company;
  • valid Texas driver license or Department of Public Safety (DPS) identification card;
  • Data Broker residence reported on the DPS data field;
  • Department of Motor Vehicles record;
  • school records;
  • voter registration card;
  • statement from child care provider;
  • employment records or statement from employer;
  • official records confirming ownership of property;
  • home visit;
  • SOLQ for Social Security benefit recipients, including those receiving Medicare;
  • item of mail with household name and address;
  • other HHSC correspondence the applicant can provide showing the household received it at the applicant's current Texas address;
  • inquiry into Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) or another entity’s automated system, outside of HHSC, showing the same Texas address currently reported by the household;
  • a local landline number the applicant provides (not a cell phone number) that is either listed in the phone book or an online directory with the same Texas address the household currently reports, or the household can be contacted at that local phone number when conducting a phone interview;
  • searches resulting in a match between the address and the phone number provided by the applicant using the Data Broker Search Options Menu, Telephone Number Search;
  • post office records;
  • city or crisscross directory;
  • church records; or
  • statement from non-relative.

Exception: Self-declaration of residence is acceptable when certifying a child for TP 56, MA - Medically Needy with Spend Down.

TANF and Medical Programs

The applicant's statement of intent to remain in Texas is acceptable.

Children's Medicaid

Self-declaration.

Related Policy

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