Pennsylvania Statutes Title 62 P.S. Poor Persons and Public Welfare § 432.19. Verification of eligibility

All conditions of eligibility for assistance shall be verified prior to authorization of assistance or during a redetermination of a recipient's eligibility unless the verification is pending from a third party and the applicant has cooperated in the verification attempt in accordance with department standards or unless certification of cooperation is pending with the domestic relations section pursuant to section 432.6.  1  Initial authorization of assistance shall not be delayed more than thirty days after application.  If the applicant establishes eligibility, assistance will be initially authorized effective with the date that all conditions of eligibility are verified.  Except when prohibited by Federal law, it shall be a condition of eligibility for assistance that an applicant or recipient consent to the disclosure of information about the age, residence, citizenship, employment, applications for employment, income and resources of the applicant or recipient which is in the possession of third parties.  Such consent shall be effective to empower any third party to release information requested by the department.  Except in cases of suspected fraud, the department shall attempt to notify the applicant or recipient prior to contacting a third party for information about that applicant or recipient.