1.2.7 Unclear Information

Unclear information may be partially verified (verified but requires additional information to act on the change appropriately), unverified, or questionable.

Additional verification is requested when unclear information is something the household is required to report and is current, which is defined as occurring within the last two calendar months.

Additional verification is requested when the unclear information is deemed to be significantly conflicting. Unclear information may be significantly conflicting when it was required at application or renewal but was omitted by the applicant, member, or by worker error. Significantly conflicting unclear information includes information that was mis-reported or misrepresented.

Agencies must continue to follow the existing policy and process for acting on information from the Nationwide Prisoner Match, Date of Death Matches, and matches from the National Accuracy Clearinghouse (NAC).

A courtesy letter may be sent when held unclear information would increase the member’s FoodShare benefits. The letter encourages the household to provide information to resolve and verify the held unclear information.

Adverse action is not taken if the household does not respond, or if the response is unclear. When this happens, the information continues to be held and the unclear change is addressed at the next application, SMRF, or renewal.

Example 1

A FoodShare household reports a decrease in child support income but does not specify by how much or when the change happened. This information is considered unclear and is held. The unclear information could increase benefits.

A courtesy letter is sent to the household. The letter states that they can voluntarily provide additional information to verify that change, and if clear, this information may increase their FoodShare benefit.

The household responds to the courtesy letter with the clear, current information to verify the decrease in child support income. The information received from the member is applied to the case and used for eligibility and certification.

If the household responds, but the information supplied is still unclear or incomplete, the unclear child support information continues to be held, and it is not used for eligibility. It is resolved and verified, as needed, at the next application, SMRF or renewal.

This page last updated in Release Number: 26-01
Release Date: 04/15/2026
Effective Date: 04/15/2026