Questionable Information

To be considered questionable, the information on the application must be inconsistent with statements made by the applicant, inconsistent with other information on the application or previous applications, or inconsistent with other information known or reported to the Department. When determining if information is questionable, the worker must review each household's individual circumstances. For example, if a household reports expenses that exceed income, the worker may determine that further verification is required. This circumstance is not, in and of itself, grounds for denial. Instead, the worker must explore with the household how it is managing its finances, whether the household has resources or excluded income and how long the household has managed under these circumstances. No group shall be required to provide more intensive verification of questionable information due to their race, religion, ethnic background, or national origin, such as, but not limited to, migrant farmworkers, American Indians or sponsored noncitizens.