Colorado WIC Policies and Procedures Section 8: Certification, Eligibility and Coordination Revised: 10/01/2023 Page 1 of 3

Proof of Residence

Policy: Endorsers/Participants must provide documentation of physical Colorado residence (address) at all certification, recertification, and all in-state (Colorado local agency to local agency) and out-of-state transfer visits. Electronic or paper versions of proof of residence are acceptable. A PO Box is not an acceptable proof of residence.

Regulation: 7 CFR 246.7 (c)(2)(i)

Procedure/Additional Guidance: WIC Staff must view and document in Compass one of the following acceptable proofs of residency:

Acceptable Proof of Documentation of Residence Includes:  Driver’s license.  Rent or mortgage receipts.  Government ID/Document (including Colorado Identification Card and Colorado Address Confidentiality Program authorization card).  Rental agreement.  Government mail (including eligibility notices from Medicaid/SNAP/TANF -postmarked envelope or card showing current address).  Bank or credit card statement/personal check or pay stub with printed address.  Utility or other bill (including electric, gas, phone, cable, water).  Written statement from landlord including the parent’s, endorser’s, or participant’s name. In the event that the parent, participant, or endorser’s name is not stated on any of the above types (for example, a pregnant woman may live with a friend and all utility and rent bills may be in the friend’s name), the applicant may present a letter from the person with whom they live. Written statements from landlords must include name of the parent, endorser or participant, address of the residence, landlord’s or primary renter’s name, signature, and date. The letter may be from the actual landlord or from the primary renter of the residence.  Car Registration/Title/Insurance.  Pay stub/W2 form.  Matricula/Consular Card  Medicaid Portal  CIIS (Colorado Immunization Information System)  Hospital/Medical Facility documentation  Affidavit. In the event a person lacks documentation of residence, an affidavit may be used attesting to the place of their current residence. Note: If a participant has documentation of residence but has not brought it to the WIC appointment and provided proof of ID and income, , complete a Provisional Certification, issue one month of food benefits, and schedule a return visit or inform to participant submit their proof of residence electronically within 30 days .  Other. When “Other” is selected, WIC staff must include a description of that proof in the Comments/Alerts panel for that visit day. “Display as Alert” and “Expiration Date” should not be completed. Prior approval from State Office is not required to use “Other” for proof of residence.

Note:  Rental agreements, rent or mortgage receipts, SNAP Eligibility Letters and landlord letters must indicate a time frame that includes the WIC certification or recertification date. Utility bills, bank statements and WIC/Public Assistance letters should be for a period within 30 days or be postmarked within 30 days of the WIC certification/recertification date.  Length of residency cannot be a prerequisite to receiving WIC benefits. Documentation of residence establishes where a person currently lives. It does not necessarily represent legal residence or legal residency status. While participants must live in Colorado, they do not need to be legal residents or citizens of Colorado or the United States.

Colorado WIC Policies and Procedures Section 8: Certification, Eligibility and Coordination Revised: 10/01/2023 Page 2 of 3

Residence Eligibility Complaints Any time a Local WIC program receives a complaint against a participant about questionable residence eligibility, either verbally or in writing, local staff shall determine if any further investigation or action is needed to address the reported complaint.

Change of Address When active participants notify WIC of a change of address, enter their new address into the Contact/Address panel to ensure they continue to receive notices mailed from WIC. When a participant moves and prefers to receive WIC from the same local agency, proof of the new residence is not required until the next certification visit.

When a Client Does Not Have An Address (e.g. Homeless Applicant) When a participant/applicant does not have an address (e.g. homeless applicant) and does not want to use a friend or family member’s address, document “No Address” as the physical address. Since the zip code is a required field, enter the zip code of choice (likely the clinic).

Documentation of Confidential Addresses If a participant is in the Colorado Address Confidentiality Program (ACP), the ACP mailing address should be entered in Compass as the participant’s mailing address. For participants who need their physical address protected and have a mailing address (PO Box number), but are not enrolled in the ACP, document in the physical address “client address is protected. PO Box only.” Document any additional information in the participant’s Care Plan.

(See examples with screenshots on the next page)

Colorado WIC Policies and Procedures Section 8: Certification, Eligibility and Coordination Revised: 10/01/2023 Page 3 of 3

Example #1: Client does not participate in ACP.

Example #2: Client participates in ACP.