C-920, Questionable Information

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs

Consider the individual's statements on the application or during the interview questionable if they:

• are contradictory;

  (Example: The individual states he has had no income for several months, but his application shows $30 cash on hand.)

• do not agree with information in the case record;

  (Example: The individual states he has no resources. An earlier application was denied because bank accounts and property were over the resource limits.)

• do not agree with other information the advisor has;

  (Example: The individual provides paycheck stubs showing a 40-hour week in an industry such as construction that has frequent overtime.)

• do not adequately explain the household's circumstances; or

  (Example: The individual states he has not paid rent or utilities for several months, but he has not been evicted or had his utilities cut off.)

• do not agree with information obtained from precertification activity, such as information retrieved from the Data Broker System's Employer New Hire Report (ENHR) or another automated source.

Note: The ENHR and other sources in Data Broker may list the corporate name and address instead of the local business name and address. Before denying an EDG, consider that the commonly known name of a business may be different from the corporate name.

Before taking adverse action, allow the individual an opportunity to resolve any discrepancy by providing documentary proof or designating a suitable collateral source.

After the initial application or redetermination interview, if the advisor obtains unverified information from a source other than the individual which contradicts the individual's statement, then the advisor may:

• allow the applicant an opportunity to resolve the discrepancy, or
• verify the information by directly contacting a collateral source.
  
  Example: The individual states on the application and at the interview that the household has no income from wages. The advisor contacts the landlord to verify residence, and the landlord reports the applicant is working. The advisor may either contact the individual or the employer to verify the information.

Sources of verification are listed at the end of each applicable section in the Texas Works Handbook.