63-404 SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS 63-404

.1 Applicant or recipient households shall provide the CWD with the social security number (SSN) of each household member or shall provide verification of application for an SSN prior to certification. If individuals have more than one number, all numbers shall be required.

.11 The CWD shall explain to applicants and recipients that refusal or failure without good cause to provide or apply for an SSN shall result in disqualification of the individual for whom the SSN is not obtained. The CWD shall send the household a notice of action explaining the effect of the disqualification on the eligibility and allotment of the remaining household members.

.12 For those individuals who provide SSNs prior to certification, recertification, or at any office contact, the CWD shall record the SSN and verify in accordance with Section 63-404.6.

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.13 Household members who do not have an SSN and who apply for an SSN or provide good cause for failure to apply shall be allowed to participate in accordance with Section 63-404.3.

.2 Exemption for Expedited Processing Applicants

.21 Households entitled to expedited service shall not be required to furnish or apply for an SSN until after they have received their first allotment. However, these households shall be required to furnish or apply for an SSN before their next issuance in accordance with 63-301.543 and .544.

.3 Obtaining the Social Security Number

.31 Whenever an individual indicates he/she does not have an SSN, or is otherwise unable to provide one, the household member shall complete the application for SSNs provided by the CWD, and apply directly to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

.32 The CWD shall inform the household member where to apply and what information will be needed.

.33 The CWD shall inform the household member that proof of application from the SSA will be required prior to certification.

.34 Once the household member has filed an application for an SSN and continue to meet all other eligibility requirements, that member shall be permitted to continue to participate pending notification of the CWD through IEVS of the household member’s verified SSN.

.4 Failure to Comply

.41 If the CWD determines that a household member has failed without good cause to provide or apply for an SSN that individual shall be ineligible to participate until he/she complies. This disqualification will apply only to the individual for which the SSN is not provided and not to the entire household.

.42 Income of the disqualified individual shall be treated as outlined in Section 63-502.14. Resources of the disqualified individual shall be treated as outlined in Section 63-501.9.

.5 Good Cause Determination

.51 In determining if good cause existed for failure to comply with the SSN requirement to apply for or provide the CWD with an SSN, the CWD shall consider information provided by the household member and SSA. Documentary evidence or collateral information that the household member has applied for an SSN or made every effort to supply SSA with the necessary information to complete and application for an SSN shall be considered good cause for not complying timely with this requirement.

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.511 Good cause does not include delays due to illness, lack of transportation, or temporary absences.

.52 If the household member(s) can show good cause why an application for an SSN has not been completed in a timely manner, that household member shall be allowed to participate for one month in addition to the month of application. Thereafter, for a household member to continue to participate, good cause shall be shown monthly.

.53 If the household member applying for an SSN has been unable to obtain the documents required by SSA, the CWD should make every effort to assist the individual in obtaining these documents.

.6 Verification

.61 The CWDs shall submit SSNs through IEVS to SSA for verification.

.62 The application for a SSN shall be verified by obtaining the CDSS approved documentation of application from SSA. Approved documentation includes, but is not limited to, the MC-194, the SSA 5028 or the hospital issued SSA-2853-OP4.

.63 Certification for or issuance of benefits shall not be delayed to an otherwise eligible household solely because an SSN has not been verified.

.64 Once an SSN has been verified through IEVS, the EW shall annotate the casefile accordingly to prevent the need for future reverification.

.7 Ending Disqualification

The disqualified household member may become eligible upon providing the CWD with his/her SSN, providing verification of application for an SSN, or showing good cause why an application for an SSN cannot be completed

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 10554 and 18904, Welfare and Institutions Code. Reference: 7 CFR 273.2(j)(3) and (4), 7 CFR 273.10(b), 7 CFR 273.6, and Sections 10554 and 18904, Welfare and Institutions Code.

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