Income Verification
Need help verifying your income?
When you apply for health coverage through HealthSource RI, your income information helps determine whether you qualify for financial help, such as tax credits or cost-sharing reductions. To ensure you receive the right amount of assistance, it’s important that this information is accurate and up to date.
If there’s a difference between the income you report and what we find from other sources, we may ask you to verify your income by submitting documents. This step helps confirm your eligibility and ensures your coverage and savings are based on the most accurate information available.
Below, you’ll find answers to common questions about the income verification process and a list of acceptable documents you can submit.
Why is it important that I respond to the notice to verify my income?
While you may have provided us with your estimated income, we may ask for additional documentation to support this statement. This helps ensure we have the most complete understanding of your income when we determine your eligibility for financial assistance.
Note: If your financial circumstances change throughout the year, you may be asked to verify your income again.
How do I know when I need to verify my income?
If there is a mismatch between your self-reported income and the income verified by external sources, you will be sent an Additional Documentation Required (ADR) notice. Your Benefits Decision Notice (BDN) may also indicate which benefits are pending/conditionally eligible while we wait for verification of your information. Your HealthyRhode Dashboard will also alert you of any open tasks that need to be completed.
How long do I have to verify my income?
The due date will be indicated on your Additional Documentation Required (ADR) notice and will vary based on the type of income required. If you do not timely verify your information, your benefits can change the 1st of the following month.
For Annual Income, you will initially have 150 days from when the ADR was sent to provide supporting information. For Current Monthly Income, you have 30 days from when the ADR was sent to provide supporting information. A copy of your ADR will be available in your HealthyRhode Dashboard in your Notices and Announcements tab.
How do I verify Current Monthly Income and/or Current Annual Income?
Your Current Monthly Income is what you gross each month (earnings before taxes or other deductions) from various income sources each month. Your Annual Income is the household’s projected annual household income for the tax year. To verify either type of income:
- Review the mismatched income in the ADR notice you received to make sure the income on your application is accurate. A digital copy of the notice is in your HealthyRhode Dashboard.
- Make any income changes that are needed and submit your application, even if you haven’t made any changes. As external sources only update income quarterly, this may resolve the mismatch.
- Check to see if resubmitting the application resolved the unverified information. If not, please submit a Reasonable Explanation.
What is a Reasonable Explanation?
When HSRI finds an applicant’s income attestation does not match available data sources, HealthSource RI may accept a reasonable explanation. You can choose from a list of potential explanations and your eligibility will be based on your attestation and no further verification steps will be required.
Reasonable Explanations for a Discrepancy in Income
| Loss of job | Fluctuating or inconsistent sources of income |
| Decrease in hours/wages earned | Income from capital gains |
| Self-employed | Income from dividends |
| Do not file taxes | Income from royalties |
| Have not filed taxes yet | Seasonal worker |
| Homelessness | Divorce or marriage |
| Victim of domestic violence | Death in family |
| Victim of natural disaster | Victim of identity theft |
How do I provide a Reasonable Explanation?
Click here to learn how you can provide a Reasonable Explanation.
Current Income Acceptable Documents
| Income Source | Preferred Documents to Submit for Verification |
|---|---|
| Current Income / Employment Income |
|
| Social Security Disability Income |
|
| Unemployment Income |
|
| Income Source | Preferred Documents to Submit for Verification |
|---|---|
| Annual Income |
|
| Self-Employment Income |
|
| Social Security Income |
|
| Unemployment Income |
|
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