Page 112

SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTION 2000 2300 Failure to Comply 2310 Good Cause for Failure to Comply

2300 Failure to Comply

SNAP Manual 05/01/08 Any household member for whom the household declines to provide a social security number will be disqualified as instructed in SNAP 1623.1. The county office worker will explain to the applicant when an SSN is being requested that refusal or failure to apply for an SSN without good cause will result in disqualification of the noncompliant member. If a DHS county office worker determines that a household has refused or failed without good cause to declare an SSN, to apply for an SSN, or to provide the documents needed to complete and submit an application for an SSN (SS-5) for a household member, a sanction must be imposed. The sanction will be the disqualification of the individual for whom the SSN has not been provided. The earned or unearned income and resources of an individual disqualified from the household for failure to comply with the SSN requirement will be counted as household income and resources to the extent specified in SNAP 1623.1. 2310 Good Cause for Failure to Comply SNAP Manual 05/01/08 If, at application, the household can show good cause why an otherwise eligible household member failed to declare or to apply for an SSN in a timely manner, the member will be allowed to participate for one month in addition to the month of application. Good cause must be shown on a monthly basis in order for the household member to continue to participate until the SSN requirement is met. Good cause applies when the Division of County Operations (DCO) or the Social Security Administration (SSA) fails to take action or takes an improper action. Good cause does not include delays due to illness, lack of transportation, or temporary absences. Good cause does include: • Failure of DCO or SSA to complete an SS-5 even though all needed documentation has been supplied. • Improper completion of an SS-5 by DCO. • Loss of the SS-5 by DCO. • Failure of DCO to submit the SS-5 to SSA. When determining if good cause exists, the DHS county office worker must consider information from the household, DCO and SSA.