FSTL 216 (Mandatory Verification of Expenses for Food Stamp Deductions)
Food Stamp Transmittal Letter No. 216
May 5, 1998
TO: Food Stamp Certification Handbook Holders
FROM: Arnold R. Tompkins, Director
SUBJECT: Mandatory Verification of Expenses for Food Stamp Deductions

Verification of Expenses

With the issuance of Food Assistance Change Transmittal (FACT) Number 10, effective March 1, 1998, counties were given the option to mandate verification of the deductible expenses for shelter, utility, and dependent care costs. This option, which was to be applied for the interim period of 3/1/98 through 5/31/98, was based on a recommendation by the Ohio Human Services Directors Association (OHSDA) that Food Stamp Program policy be changed to require households to provide verification of these expenses before a deduction could be allowed. Effective June 1, 1998, verification of all expenses for food stamp deductions is mandatory on a statewide basis.

Language has been added to rules 5101:4-2-09, 5101:4-4-23, and 5101:4-4-25 of the Administrative Code to mandate the verification of expenses for food stamp deductions. Notes which allowed county agencies not to apply the option during the interim period have been removed.

Procedure 1 (Procedures for Application Processing), step number 16, has been updated with instructions to explain to applicants that failure to report or verify deductible expenses within the time frames allowed will result in the assistance group's eligibility and benefit level being determined without providing a deduction for a claimed but unverified expense. Similar language has been added to the second page of the Food Stamp Verification Checklist, also included in Procedure 1. The verification request lists on CRIS-E notices CS01-C2 (application appointment) and CS02-03 (reapplication appointment) will be revised accordingly. Procedures 3 (Processing Reported Changes in NA Households) and 4 (Processing Reported Changes in PA Households) have been updated to reference the mandatory verification requirement for food stamp deductions. Chart 3 (Verification Requirements) has been revised to reflect these changes.

A statement has been added to the ODHS 7200 (APPL) and ODHS 7501 (Your Rights and Responsibilities) to inform applicants/recipients of the verification requirement and that failure to report or verify any deductible expense will be seen as a statement that the household does not want to receive a deduction. These revisions will be included in Food Stamp Transmittal Letter (FSTL) #217 and Manual Transmittal Letter (MTL) #393. The CRIS-E automated application and rights and responsibilities language will be updated to mirror these forms.

Implementation

All policy changes in this Food Stamp Transmittal Letter (FSTL) are effective June 1, 1998, and are to be applied to all new applications, reapplications, and ongoing case changes on or after this date. No desk review is required. This FSTL obsoletes FACT No. 10.