Views of Responding Officials: The Department does not agree with this finding. According to 45 CFR section 205.55, it states, “…the State agency will request through the IEVS…”. However, the policy does not specify the State agency must “properly use IEVS information to evaluate benefit amounts…” as notated in this finding under “Effect.”
Unless IEVS provides the necessary information for the applicable benefit month(s) used to determine a TANF applicant’s or recipient’s (“client”) eligibility, information obtained will only validate whether a household received an income source, after the fact, but will not verify the dollar amount. Hard-copy verification is obtained from the client to verify income source and dollar amount, for the applicable benefit months, to determine eligibility in accordance with §17 676 51, Hawaii Administrative Rules. For example, if a client applied for TANF on January 31, 2024, and the Department processes the application on February 29, 2024 (current month), verification of the household’s income received in January 2024 and received thus far in February 2024, must be obtained to determine eligibility for the month of application (January 2024) and subsequent months (based on projected income). Data obtained from IEVS are not current. For example, wage information through SWICA becomes available on a quarterly basis. The most current SWICA information available would have been for quarter ending December 31, 2023, for an application that was processed on February 29, 2024. Eligibility determination would have been improperly made if SWICA information was applied.
Corrective Action Taken or Planned: The Department will continue to conduct IEVS check and utilize information obtained to determine eligibility if the information is applicable, otherwise, IEVS information will continue to be used to validate any source of income.
Expected Completion Date: Ongoing
Responding Officials: Catherine Scardino, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program Administrator