DHS; require to employ commercial wage verification services to get information for eligibility determination for benefits.

HB 1640 requires Mississippi's Department of Human Services (DHS) to use automated commercial wage verification services - regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act - to obtain current job and income information for determining eligibility and ongoing monitoring for public benefit programs. It directly affects DHS and individuals applying for or receiving benefits like SNAP (food stamps) and TANF (cash assistance). The bill mandates DHS to employ these third-party services instead of manual verification methods to verify employment and income data. This change aims to standardize and streamline eligibility checks for state benefit programs starting July 1, 2026.