What does technical verification mean for food stamps

As part of the SNAP application process, you need to verify information about you and your household. The more verifications you submit with your application, the sooner we can decide if you are eligible.

Below are the most common examples of verifications.

If there is other information that we need you to verify, we will send you a list of what you need to provide us after your interview. The list will tell you when you need to submit the documents by. You can send us your documents in many ways.

If you are having trouble, let us know.

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You must show us the following information, if they apply to you or your household, to complete the SNAP application process:

Identity and Social Security Number (SSN) if applying We can generally verify this for you if you give us your SSN
Massachusetts residency
- Rent receipt, lease, or utility bill or
- Deed or mortgage statement
Earnings and number of hours worked
- Pay stubs or
- Letter from employer showing gross income and number of hours worked
Other income
If you get workers’ compensation, Veterans’ benefits, pension, child support, alimony, etc.
- Benefit or award letter or
- Check or record of payment
  If you receive income from Social Security Administration (SSA), unemployment income through DUA, or child support through the Department of Revenue (DOR), let us know.
Noncitizen status
- Permanent Resident Card (“green card”)
- Employment Authorization Card or
- Other documents showing current or pending immigration status

Ready to submit verifications? See how to submit documents to DTA.

Things you may show us that may make you eligible for more SNAP benefits:

Housing costs *
- Rent receipt, lease, or letter from your landlord or roommate
- Mortgage statement, property tax, condo fees, home insurance bill or
- Other document showing how much you need to pay
Utility costs *
- Bill for heat, air conditioning, electricity, gas or phone
- Lease showing you pay for utilities or
- Letter from your landlord or roommate
Dependent care costs (child or adult day care costs) *
- Statement or letter from provider and/or
- Statement about car mileage or other transportation costs to and from the provider

Medical costs
If you or anyone in your household is age 60 or older or has a certified disability,
- Bills or receipts for medical costs not covered by insurance such as: co-payments, prescription medication, dental care, eyeglasses, over-the-counter medical items
- Payments for homemakers, home health aides or other care you need, and/or
- Statement about care mileage or transportation costs to and from health appointments or pharmacy *

SNAP Medical Expense Outreach Materials: learn more about eligible medical costs, examples of eligible expenses and how to tell DTA about these costs.

Child support payments
Documents showing a legal obligation to pay child support like a court order to someone outside of your household and verification of payment

* If you listed this cost on your application, we will not need more verification unless we have questions.

Ready to submit verifications? See how to submit documents to DTA.

I recently applied for food stamps and I got a notice saying that I may be approved for expedited assistance pending an interview. I had the interview maybe 20 minutes ago? And the part where it says “food assistance status” it says verification needed. Where it says Group Member Information it says PROCESSING TECHNICAL_QUESTION TECHNICAL_VERIFICATION.

Can anyone explain this to me? Also, when I go to upload income verification it will not allow me to do so. It says it only accepts .jpg,.tiff, .png files. I converted the photo of my paystub to a .jpeg file, nothing. Converted it into a .jpg file, again gives me the same error message. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated!

Our technical verification service is designed to ensure that products meet the technical regulations and standards set by regulatory authorities for imported goods. The service helps to facilitate trade and protect the interests of traders. Importers benefit from a faster customs clearance process because verification activities have been completed prior to shipment, and exporters do not risk having their goods rejected at the country of destination because of non compliance with its requirements.

Technical verification prevents the importation of unsafe, substandard or counterfeit goods; it supports government authorities to enforce the implementation of obligatory legislations established for the protection of consumers’ health and safety and the environment.

Find out more about how SGS technical verification services can support your business.

Each program has some technical eligibility requirements. People who do not meet a program's requirements are ineligible for that program. The following sections identify people who are ineligible based on:

To determine whether the income and assets of people ineligible due to technical ineligibility must be counted for other people, see 0015.48 (Whose Assets to Consider), 0016 (Income From People Not in the Unit).

MFIP:

People are ineligible due to the 60-month lifetime limit unless they meet a hardship extension past the 60-month lifetime limit. See 0011.30 (60-Month Lifetime Limit), 0011.33 (MFIP Hardship Extensions).
DWP, MSA, GA, GRH:

Follow general provisions.
SNAP:

People may also be ineligible due to able-bodied adult status. See 0011.24 (Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents).