5. PROCESSING PROCEDURES

(ii) For noncitizens—

a) an immigration related A-Number,

b) an I-94 number,

c) a card/receipt number from a DHS document,

d) a passport number from a foreign passport and the name of the issuing country,

e) a U.S. Visa number, or

f) a Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) number; and

g) Any documentation that would serve as acceptable or supplemental verification of the declared citizenship, noncitizen status or special conditions as defined in Sections 3 and 4 above for the respective declaration of status or special conditions.

(3) At initial application or a reported change in citizenship, noncitizen status or special conditions the Department shall verify that the individual has provided the items detailed in 2 above.

If the individual states that they are a citizen or national of the United States, the following processes apply:

(i) If their status was previously verified with OFI, it is verified;

(ii) If they provide Acceptable Verification, their status is verified;

(iii) If they were not previously known to OFI and they do not provide Acceptable Verification the following processes apply:

If they do not provide their full name, the date they became a citizen or national, and a social security number:

1) their status is not verified and

2) the Department shall request this information and documentation in writing.

a. If they provide documentation, their status is verified.

b. If they provide their full name, the date they became a citizen or national, and a social security number or naturalization/citizenship number the steps outlined in Subclause a(iii)(b) below apply.

c. If they do not timely provide documentation or their full name, the date they became a citizen or national, and a social security number or naturalization/citizenship number, they are ineligible for failure to provide required documentation.

If they provide their full name, the date they became a citizen or national, and a social security number or naturalization/citizenship number—

their attested status is honored until determined to be questionable, as defined in Section 999-1.

the Department shall attempt a data match to verify their status.

If the data match is successful, their status is verified.

If the data match is not successful, the Department shall request documentation from the individual in writing.

If documentation is provided, the status is verified.

If documentation is not provided timely, the individual is ineligible for failure to provide the required documentation.

c. If they were previously known to OFI and had declared citizenship, but it had not been verified and they do not provide documentation, the Department shall request documentation from the individual in writing.

i. If documentation is provided, the status is verified.

ii. If documentation is not provided timely, the individual is ineligible for failure to provide required documentation.

(b) If the individual states that they are an eligible noncitizen other than a noncitizen national, the following processes apply:

(i) If the individual has not provided their name, date of birth, and at least one enumerator listed in Clause 2(c) above, the Department shall request them and any related Verification in writing.

a) If the individual provides at least their name, date of birth and an enumerator, the appropriate steps per Subclause b(ii) below apply.

b) If the individual does not provide at least their name, date of birth, and an enumerator timely, they are ineligible for failure to provide mandatory verifications.

(ii) If the individual provides their name, date of birth, and at least one enumerator listed in Clause 2(c) above, the Department shall attempt a data match to verify their status and special conditions.

a) If the data match supports the declaration(s) of status and special conditions they are verified until a change is reported.

b) If the data match with DHS does not support the declared noncitizen status or special conditions, the Department shall request documentary verification from the individual in writing (if it has not yet been provided or requested) and attempt subsequent data matches.

1) If at any point the data match supports declaration(s) of status and special conditions they are verified until a change is reported.

2) If the data match reflects the attested status and conditions but shows a subsequent change of status and/or conditions, the most recent status and conditions reflected in the data match are verified until a change is reported.

3) If the household refuses or fails to provide verification timely, the individual is ineligible for failure to provide required documentation.

4) If documentary verification has been provided, the Department shall attempt a data match in a period not to exceed 7 calendar days from the date the documentary verification is received by the Department. The attested status or special conditions are honored until such time that the data match provides the Department with a response based on the documentary verification provided by the applicant. If otherwise eligible, benefits will be granted until the data match response is received.

(iii) If the individual declares a status or special consideration that cannot be verified through a data match, the following processes apply:

a) If the Department has Acceptable Verification, the declarations are verified.

b) If the Department does not have Acceptable Verification, the Department shall request them from the individual in writing.

1) If Acceptable Verification is provided, the declaration is verified.

2) If Acceptable Verification is not provided timely, the individual is ineligible for failure to provide required verification.

NOTE: this process applies to types that are never reflected in the DHS system, not instances that a particular individual’s status cannot be verified through the DHS system at a particular time.

(iv) Special process for declarations that must or can be verified through means other than a data match or documentation (e.g. Individuals who have been subject to severe forms of trafficking)

a) The Department shall attempt to secure Acceptable Verifications via phone, fax, or other methods prescribed by the verifying agency.

b) If Acceptable Verification is provided, the declaration is verified.

If the agency verifies that the declaration is not applicable, the lack of status or special consideration is verified.

If additional information is needed to secure verification, the Department shall request it and any related documentation from the individual in writing.

If the necessary information is provided, the Department will attempt to secure the verification again.

2) If the necessary information is not provided timely, the individual is ineligible for failure to provide mandatory verification.

C. Mix-Funded Households

Some households include a mix of individuals eligible for Federal SNAP and individuals eligible for State Funded SNAP. In such cases, different funding sources may pay for benefits received by different parts of the household. See Section 444-11 for budgeting considerations.

D. Reporting Individuals with Deportation Orders.

If a Department staff member has seen a deportation notice for an applicant or household member, the Department shall report their name, address and other identifying information to DHS.