605 Verifying Income

Revised 09/27/2022

Policy

The customer’s income and income of financially responsible relatives must be verified for most AHCCCS Medical Assistance (MA) programs.

1) Reasonable Compatibility for Income

When verifying income, the reasonable compatibility standard is used before asking the customer for other proof. If the income reported by the customer is reasonably compatible with the income information found in the hub, the customer does not have to provide any further proof.

Income information is first collected from the Federal and State Data Services Hubs, if available, and compared to the income reported by the customer.

When the customer reports income that is over the income limits for AHCCCS Medical Assistance (MA), it is reasonably compatible. No further proof is needed.

When the customer reports income below the MA income limits, see the table below:

If the customer reports…	And…	Then...
Total income below the MA income limit	Information was available for each reported income source from the hubs; and The total is below the MA income limit	The information is reasonably compatible and considered verified. No further proof is needed.
	Information was not available for each reported income source from the hubs	The customer must provide proof of income.
	The hubs show total income above the MA income limit	The customer is asked clarifying questions to see if more proof is needed based on: The reason why the income is different, and How eligibility, premiums, or share of cost may be affected. When the answers do not account for the difference, the customer must provide proof of income.
No income	There is no information available from the hubs	The customer must provide a verbal or written statement about how living expenses are being met. The customer statement is enough proof unless it is questionable or inconsistent with other information. See Expenses Exceed Income Examples for when information is questionable or inconsistent.
No income	The hubs show current income information.	The customer must provide: Information about how living expenses are being met; and If not already verified, proof that the income shown in the hubs has ended.

See Using Reasonable Compatibility for Income for more details

See MA606CCC for specific information about how reasonable compatibility applies to self-employment income.

NOTE A customer may report the earned income does not belong to them. When it appears to be a case of identity theft, the customer may call the Identity Theft Complaints Hotline at 877-438-4338 or use the internet site identitytheft.gov to report the issue.

See Examples - Reasonable Compatibility

2) Other Methods of Proof

When the reasonable compatibility method cannot be used (or if the customer must provide proof), income may be verified using one of the following methods:

Method

Description

Physical Evidence

Physical evidence includes:

Electronic records;
Award letters
Check stubs;
Signed contracts;
Signed statements from the income source, including completed agency forms.

NOTE Always use the gross amount of USD when determining eligibility and entering amounts into the system. The gross amount of income paid in foreign money can be converted to USD using the online calculator at http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/.

Before asking the customer to provide proof of income or terminated income, check the case file and case notes to see if it was already provided. When it appears proof was provided to another agency and you do not have access, submit a policy clarification request (PCR) requesting help getting the proof.

Collateral contact

Verbal statements to the Benefits and Eligibility Specialist from an employer or income source providing details of the customer’s income. A collateral contact is generally made by phone. The details of the collateral contact must be documented and include:

The name, title and phone number of the person who provided the information; and
Date of the collateral contact.

The proof should include at least the following items:

Name of the income source (also address and phone number when possible);
Name of the person receiving the income;
The Date paid;
Gross amount of the income; and
How often the income is received.

When proof is needed, but physical evidence is not available and collateral contacts have not been successful, see Using the Customer’s Statement as Proof.

Definitions

Term	Definition
Federal Data Services Hub	A hub that connects to common federal data sources. These data sources are used to verify a customer’s application information such as income, benefits, citizenship, and immigration status.
State Data Services Hub	A hub that connects to common state data sources. These data sources are used to verify a customer’s application information.

Legal Authority

This requirement applies to the following programs:

Program

Legal Authorities

All programs

42 CFR 435.940

42 CFR 435.948

42 CFR 435.949

42 CFR 435.952

AAC R9-22-304