Responsibility for Verifying Continued Eligibility

The client is responsible to provide verification of eligibility factors that have not previously been verified as well as those that are subject to change in accordance with 106 CMR 702.330. The client is responsible for cooperating with the worker in obtaining verification of continued eligibility, or for providing an acceptable reason for the unavailability of the verification within 20 calendar days of the worker’s request. The following are acceptable reasons for unavailability: (A) the verification is dependent on a third party and the client has taken all necessary steps on his or her part to obtain it; (B) illness or incapacity of the client or other family member has delayed providing the required verification; (C) the client was not adequately informed of his or her responsibility to provide the required verification; (D) the client was not informed of the specific documents, including alternative verification, required to verify the eligibility factor; or (E) other circumstances beyond the control of the client prevented him or her from obtaining the verification. If one of these situations exists, the client shall be informed of alternative verification methods, including self-declaration, (See 106 CMR 702.340), and allowed an additional ten calendar days to meet his or her verification responsibility. The worker shall also offer assistance in obtaining any requested documents and/or shall use collateral contact as a means of verification in accordance with 106 CMR 702.340. If the benefits of any member of the assistance unit are terminated or reduced due to lack of verification, the client must be sent a notice of adverse action. (See 106 CMR 702.500). The notice must contain a statement informing the client that a second eligibility determination will be made if the absent verification and any verification required by changes in circumstances that have occurred in the interim are provided in the 30 calendar days following the termination/reduction date. If the client is subsequently determined eligible, assistance is authorized retroactive to the date of termination/reduction provided the verification demonstrate continuous eligibility or retroactive to the date all eligibility factors are met, whichever is later.