Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes an income and identity verification system for public assistance recipients in order to detect cases of fraud.

Highlights:

• Establishes a procedure to identify, investigate, and resolve cases of fraud prior to determining an applicant’s eligibility for public assistance (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to match the name, date of birth, and social security number of each applicant against certain records including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 1):
• Unearned income;
• Earned income;
• Immigrations status;
• Death registry;
• Prison; and
• Public housing and Section 8 Housing Assistance payment history.

• Establishes the following procedure in the case of a discrepancy between an applicant or recipient’s social security number and one or more of the records (Sec. 1):
• An opportunity for the applicant or recipient to explain the discrepancy after being notified by the department of the finding;
• A denial of assistance if the applicant or recipient does not respond to the notice of identification discrepancy;
• A reinvestigation of the records if an applicant or recipient disagrees with the department’s findings;
• A determination of further action via written notice to the applicant or recipient from the department if he or she agrees with the department’s findings;or An opportunity for a fair hearing.

• Authorizes the department to contract with a third party to perform or facilitate reviews of the identification verification process (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text