(a) Each applicant who is not a recipient of aid under the provisions of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) shall be required to file an affirmation setting forth facts about their annual income and other resources and qualifications for eligibility as may be required by the department. Those statements shall be on forms prescribed by the department.

(b) To the extent permitted by federal law, eligibility for medical assistance for applicants shall not be granted until the applicant or designated representative provides independent documentation verifying statements of gross income by type and source; income amounts withheld for taxes, health care benefits available through employment, retirement, military service, work related injuries or settlements from prior injuries, employee retirement contributions, and other employee benefit contributions, deductible expenses for maintenance or improvement of income-producing property and status and value of property owned, other than property exempt under Section 14006. The director may prescribe those items of exempt property that the director deems should be verified as to status and value in order to reasonably assure a correct designation of those items as exempt.

(c) The verification requirements of subdivision (b) apply to income, income deductions and property both of applicants for medical assistance (other than applicants for public assistance) and to persons whose income, income deductions, expenses or property holdings must be considered in determining the applicant’s eligibility and spend down of excess income.

(d) A determination of eligibility and spend down of excess income may be extended beyond otherwise prescribed timeframes if, in the county department’s judgment, and subject to standards of the director, the applicant or designated representative has good cause for failure to provide the required verification and continues to make a good faith effort to provide such verification.

(e) To the extent permitted by federal law, in addition to the other verification requirements of this section, a county department may require verification of any other applicant statements, or conduct a full and complete investigation of the statements, whenever a verification or investigation is warranted in the judgment of the county department.

(f) If documentation is unavailable, as defined in regulations promulgated by the department, the applicant’s signed statement as to the value or amount shall be deemed to constitute verification.

(g) This section shall become inoperative on the later of either January 1, 2024, or the date on which the determination of the Director of Health Care Services is communicated in writing to the Department of Finance pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62, and subject to implementation of Section 14005.62 pursuant to subdivision (d) of that section, and shall remain inoperative for time periods in which the department has obtained the necessary federal approvals to implement paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62 for the applicable population.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 42, Sec. 108. (AB 118) Effective July 10, 2023. Conditionally inoperative on or after January 1, 2024, by its own provisions. See later operative version added by Sec. 109 of Stats. 2023, Ch. 42.)