Pennsylvania Code
Title 55 - HUMAN SERVICES
Part II - Public Assistance Manual
Subpart E - Verification Process
Chapter 201 - GENERAL VERIFICATION PROVISIONS
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 201.4 - Procedures

(i) If the client is unable to obtain the necessary evidence to verify eligibility, the CAO will obtain it from public records, collateral sources and the like. When the collateral contact requires the written consent of the client for release of the desired information, a copy of the authorization to release information form will be used. The authorization to release information form may be used to obtain information from more than one collateral source as required to establish eligibility for assistance and to verify information any time after initial eligibility is established. The written consent of the client, secured on an authorization to release information form, shall be effective to empower any third party to release information requested by the CAO. However, banks and employers are required by section 487 of the Public Welfare Code to provide certain information without client consent upon the request of the CAO.

(ii) The authorization to release information form will only be used in those specific instances when the client is unable to provide the evidence to establish eligibility. The client must consent to the disclosure of information as a condition of eligibility.

(iii) In certain situations, it may be impossible to secure valid substantiation beyond the statement of the applicant on certain eligibility factors. The worker will then make a reasonable decision based on the worker's judgment of the available evidence, that is, the credibility of the person, and the validity of other supporting or conflicting evidence. Initial authorization of assistance will not be delayed more than 15-calendar days from the date of receipt of the application for purposes of verification of eligibility, if the applicant has cooperated in the verification attempt.

(iv) When the evidence a client supplies is inadequate, or is incomplete, inconsistent, or indeterminate in view of other evidence, the worker will inform the client that additional evidence will be required. Together, the worker and client will determine acceptable sources for further evidence. If the evidence provided by the client is still unacceptable, the worker will consult a collateral source of information using a copy of the authorization to release information form when required.

(i) Public records, that is, courthouse records, vital statistics, motor vehicle registration and the like and employers and banks for certain information specified in section 487 of the Public Welfare Code may be consulted without requesting or receiving the consent of the client.

(ii) To consult other sources of information, the agency will need the blanket consent of the client (a copy of the authorization to release information form when the collateral contact requires it), whether with social agencies, doctors, hospitals and similar resources, or with relatives or other individuals. It shall be a condition of eligibility for assistance that an applicant or recipient sign an authorization to release information form consenting to the disclosure of information about the age, residence, citizenship, employment, applications for employment, income and resources of the applicant or recipient which is in the possession of third parties as follows:

(iii) Except in cases of suspected fraud, the CAO shall attempt to notify the applicant or recipient prior to contacting a third party for information about that applicant or recipient.