Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases eligibility requirements for public assistance programs.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct an asset test on all members of the household of an applicant for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the DHS must access the following information prior to determining eligibility for public assistance (Sec. 2): 

• Federal and state records of earned incomes; 

• Supplemental Security Income;

• Unemployment insurance or payments;

• Child care assistance information;

• Death register information;

• Prisoner or Incarceration status information;

• Income and employment information; and 

• Retirement earnings and pensions.

• Requires the DHS to enter into a memorandum of understanding with any of the departments that hold this information to access that information (Sec. 2).

• Requires public assistance applicants to be cooperative with the child support recovery unit to receive SNAP benefits (Sec. 3).

• Requires the department to design or establish a new computerized income, asset, identity eligibility verification system by July 1, 2022, or or contract with a third-party vendor to provide for identity verification, identity authentication, asset verification, and dual enrollment prevention in order to deter waste, fraud, and abuse in each public assistance program administered by the department (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text