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Title 7: SNAP Page 7 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter I: Specific Households and Participants Households with Alien Members Revised February 13, 2026 Alien Status Verification Requirements Until acceptable documentation is provided, a non-citizen is ineligible for SNAP benefits unless:  SAVE verification has been requested, but the response has been delayed because SAVE has requested additional verification. While waiting for the SAVE response, an individual’s SNAP eligibility cannot be denied, delayed, reduced or terminated due to immigration status; or  The applicant provides documentation that SSA is conducting an investigation to determine if more quarters of work coverage can be credited. In this situation, you must certify the individual pending the results of the investigation for up to six months from the date of original determination of insufficient quarters; or  The applicant or HHS submitted a request to a Federal agency (other than USCIS) for verification of information applicable to their immigration status. In this situation, you must certify the individual pending the results of the investigation for up to six months from the date of original request for verification. When an individual claims an “eligible alien” status but does not have documentation, tell them to contact the local USCIS office for help getting the documents. They are considered an ineligible alien for SNAP benefits until the documentation is provided. See Ineligible Aliens for more information. Note: Eligible household members cannot be denied SNAP benefits because another member claims to be present in the United States illegally or claims not to have documentation. See the policy Ineligible Household Members for information on how to consider the relationship of ineligible aliens to other members of their household. Also, see 7-C, Ineligible Members. Types of Acceptable Documentation of Eligible Alien Status Non-citizens who are lawfully present in the U.S. typically have documents issued by USCIS which contain information about their immigration status and the date they entered the country or adjusted to the status shown on the card. However, acceptable documentation may also be issued by other federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of State, ORR, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or a court. Some eligible applicants may not have documents issued by USCIS, and in some cases the date of entry or adjustment may not be necessary or required. Most non- citizens will provide documentation from USCIS.