Bill > H640

This bill enhances verification procedures for public assistance programs in North Carolina by establishing more rigorous eligibility monitoring and data-sharing requirements. The bill expands the scope of verification from just medical assistance to a broader range of public assistance programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, and public housing. It requires governmental public assistance entities to conduct monthly and quarterly checks of various state and federal databases to identify changes in recipients' circumstances that might affect their eligibility, such as income, employment status, residency, lottery winnings, and incarceration status. The bill introduces a precise definition of "homeless" that requires either 30 days of documented public shelter residence or certification of no available indoor shelter. It mandates that agencies cannot accept self-attestation without verification and must provide quarterly public reports on program compliance, investigations, and improper payments. For public housing authorities, the bill introduces additional reporting requirements and potential charter revocation for non-compliance. Recipients will be given 12 calendar days to respond to eligibility discrepancy notices, and agencies must reinvestigate and potentially redetermine benefits based on the information received. The bill becomes effective on January 1, 2026, and aims to reduce fraud and ensure more accurate distribution of public assistance benefits.

Health and Social Services, Justice

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H640