Many field offices (FO) have requested clarification on what evidence is acceptable
when the recipient had died, an underpayment is due and IAR is involved. For the "current
eligibility period," develop acceptable evidence of income, etc. following the general
guidelines in SI 00601.100, SI 00820.130, SI 00830.005, SI 00835.005, etc. In general, these guidelines require developing as convincing evidence as possible.
Where the recipient is deceased and evidence must be obtained from other sources,
accept the evidence from reliable sources if it is convincing and does not conflict
with other evidence in the file. Where the evidence source is the State (which has
an interest in obtaining maximum reimbursement) and there are no other sources for
corroboration, we can accept income and resources information from the State PROVIDED
it is creditable and does not conflict with other evidence in file. In developing
income and resources, have the State provide as much detail about the information
it is supplying as possible. Obtain an explanation of the State's developmental guidelines:
what is its source for the information, how does it verify, what types of evidence
does it consider. Also, check our files, and all systems records, to see what allegations
were made and for any evidence previously submitted. If there is no conflict between
the information provided by the State and the information we have in files, and the
information the State provides seems plausible, accept the evidence and use it in
the eligibility/benefit computation. For periods before the "current eligibility period,"
accept the allegations of the State (in lieu of accepting those allegations from the
deceased recipient).