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Division of Welfare and Supportive Services A-1300 Eligibility and Payments Manual SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER Nov 13 MTL 13/05 1310 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Social Security Number

1310

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT

As a condition of eligibility each applicant for or recipient of aid is required to furnish a Social Security account number (SSN) prior to approval, unless religious beliefs prohibit enumeration. Applicants and recipients of aid include individuals seeking or receiving assistance and any other individuals whose needs/income are considered in determining the amount of assistance.

Once proof of application has been provided, do not deny delay or discontinue benefits pending receipt of the SSN.

Exceptions:

• Good cause – Individuals who cannot provide the verifications required by Social Security to apply for an SSN may receive assistance for each month they have good cause. Good cause exists when circumstances beyond the household’s control prevent them from security proof required to obtain an SSN. The household must report what actions have been taken to obtain the required verifications to apply for an SSN at redetermination/recertification. The SSN application must be completed as soon as the verifications are received.

Expedited service – Applicants eligible for expedited service may participate the first month without providing or applying for an SSN.

Excluded Persons:

Non-qualified non-citizens are not required to provide or apply for an SSN. If the non-qualified non- citizen’s income and resources are countable to the individuals seeking or receiving benefits, other methods of income verification must be pursued.

All individual SNAP household members who are not requesting assistance for themselves are not required to provide their SSN or apply for an SSN if they do not wish to do so.

These individuals are treated like non-applicants, excluded from participation in the SNAP program and only their needs and request for assistance are denied.

However, the reason they do not wish to provide an SSN should be evaluated for “good cause”. if the excluded individual’s income and resources are countable to the individuals seeing or receiving benefits, this information must be verified.