218 R.I. Code R. 218-RICR-10-00-1.3

Current through December 3, 2024

Section 218-RICR-10-00-1.3 - Eligibility

A. The Department of Human Services (DHS) matches various databases, including those provided through the Federal Data Hub to verify eligibility for, and the amount of, benefits due to a household or individual for Medicaid (MA), the Rhode Island Works Program (RIW), General Public Assistance (GPA), Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through the state's electronic eligibility system, known as RIBridges. The RIBridges system compares benefit information and other data with the DHS applicant or recipient by social security number (SSN) for purposes of identifying unreported information. The process of matching databases is considered an interface; an interface match occurs when an applicant's or recipient's SSN exists in both databases.

B. The current interfaces utilized by the DHS are as follows:

1. New Hires Interface - provides information from the State Directory of New Hires about individuals who have been newly hired and their place of employment. Individuals' SSNs on the New Hire file are matched against the state's electronic eligibility system.

2. IRS Match Summary - provides information about unearned income, specifically, interest and dividend income. Information provided by the IRS interface includes the amount of interest and/or dividends received for each account for a specific tax year.

3. Unemployment Insurance (UI) Interface - matches applicants or recipients in the DHS assistance programs to the Unemployment Insurance active claimants through the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT). The files are processed against the state's electronic eligibility system database to determine whether the correct UI amount is reflected in the case with a matched SSN of an applicant or recipient or case member in the DHS whose income and/or resources is used in eligibility determination.

4. Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) Interface - matches applicants or recipients in the DHS assistance programs to the Unemployment Insurance active claimants through the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT). The files are processed against the state's electronic eligibility system database to determine whether the correct TDI amount is reflected in the case with a matched SSN of an applicant or recipient or case member in the DHS whose income and/or resources is used in eligibility determination.

5. Prisoner Inquiry Interface - provides information about the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) concerning prison inmates. The DOC and the SSA send files to the DHS of individuals' SSNs whose incarceration has been reported for comparison of applicants and recipients of all the DHS assistance programs.

6. Beneficiary Data Exchange Interface (Bendex) - provides information from the Social Security Administration about an individual's Social Security and Medicare benefits.

7. Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) Inquiry - an interface that provides information about benefits active individuals may be receiving from other states.

8. DCYF Interface - provides information for transitioning cases between the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) for family members that are placed into Foster Care by the DCYF and for those family members who are returned to the household via reunification.

9. State Data Exchange (SDX) Individual Inquiry Interface - provides information of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for an individual from the Social Security Administration.

10. 40 Quarters Information Interface - provides information for a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) who can be credited with forty (40) qualifying quarters of work under the Social Security System (credits may be earned individually, in combination with a spouse and in some circumstances a parent), may be eligible for benefits without having to meet the five-year bar.

11. Electronic Disqualified Recipient System (EDRS) Inquiry - an interface that accesses the most up-to-date comprehensive data on disqualified applicants or recipients receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

12. The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE) interface - provides a fast, secure and efficient verification service for federal, state and local benefit-granting agencies to verify an applicant's immigration status or naturalization/derived citizenship. SAVE is administered by the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a component of the Department of Homeland Security. The SAVE Program enables agencies to obtain immigration status information to determine a non-citizen applicant's eligibility for benefits.

218 R.I. Code R. 218-RICR-10-00-1.3