HB 640

Broadens the scope of GS 108A-55.5 to include eligibility monitoring for public assistance, including food stamps (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Children (TANF), and Medicaid (currently, just pertains to verification for medical assistance). Defines five terms, including homeless individual (an individual who (1) has resided in a public shelter for a period of at least 30 days or (2) has no indoor shelter available and is on the waiting list of a public housing authority for benefits) and public assistance (health and medical assistance and public housing assistance provided by a public housing authority). Prevents any individual from claiming a homelessness exemption from a work requirement unless and until the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) verifies they are a homeless individual through documentation. On at least a monthly basis unless otherwise specified, requires DHHS and governmental public housing entities to review lottery data, household information from the NC Office of Vital Records (quarterly), out-of-state EBT card transactions, tax records (quarterly), information from the Department of Adult Corrections (DAC), income and other asset information from the Department of Commerce (DOC) (semimonthly), and federal tax, employment, and criminal history information, as described, to verify the program participant’s continued eligibility for (1) SNAP, TANF, and/or Medicaid (DHHS) and/or (2) public housing (public housing agencies). (Currently, reviews take place on a quarterly basis of nine specified matters including, employment status, death records, lottery winnings, and earned and unearned income).