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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FNS 227 NON-CITIZEN REQUIREMENTS

35 Section 227 Change #1-2026 February 1, 2026 and/or W-2c, employer prepared wage statements, or an IRS copy of the individual’s tax return and credit Qualified Quarters to the applicant. Assume the earnings are covered if the proof submitted indicates FICA taxes were withheld. b. If the query was requested after August 31st, the earnings are not lag and should be determined following the instructions in 2. below. 2. Covered Employment Whenever the non-citizen individual or any other FSU member does not agree with the response provided by the TPQY, reconcile the discrepancy. When the individual believes that the work, he/she performed was in Covered Employment and the earnings do not fall within the lag period, SSA is responsible for investigating the discrepancy and correcting the record. a. Refer all covered employment cases to SSA as follows. i. If the individual indicates that he/she used more than one SSN or allowed others to use his/her SSN, the individual must contact the local Social Security Office. He must take a copy of the QC History and identifying information to the office with him. ii. If the individual indicates there are missing quarters, have the noncitizen individual, if he/she is the number holder of the SSN, complete the SSA-7008. Proof of earnings such as W-2’s, pay slip/stub, tax return, or statement from the employer should be provided. On top of the SSA-7008, write “Welfare Reform.” If the non- citizen individual is not the number holder, advise the non-citizen individual that the number holder must complete the SSA-7008 and provide proof of earnings as shown above. iii. All SSA-7008’s, along with the documentation, should be mailed to:

SSA, OCRO Post Office Box 17752 Baltimore, MD. 21235-0001

b. If the non-citizen individual has no documentation, he/she should contact their local Social Security Office to arrange an appointment. If the non-citizen states that the wages were earned but not reported, refer him/her to the Social Security Office for an investigation and attempt to credit these earnings. If Social Security must research files for determination of quarters, and the non-citizen individual provides a document from SSA indicating that the case is under review, the