Page 142

UPDATED: JUNE 2010

579

OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

IDENTITY

The DRA requires all states to obtain documentary evidence from citizen A/Rs and maintain this documentation in their case files, or risk losing federal matching funds. The federal government has stated that a U.S. passport book/card, or a Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570), or a Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (N-560 or N-561) issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security is considered a “primary” document. A New York State Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Native American Tribal Document is also considered a primary document. If an individual states they do not have one of these documents, LDSS may and should continue to accept birth certificates as proof of U.S. citizenship, however, an additional identity document is required from the identity section in the attached desk aid.

Documentation: An A/R who uses a primary document, such as a U.S. passport book/card, to establish citizenship is not required to submit a second document to prove identity. All other A/R’s must establish their identity by providing a document from the following list or as otherwise specified below:

• Driver’s license issued by a State or Territory either with a photograph of the individual or other identifying information such as name, age, sex, race, height, weight or eye color. Canadian driver’s licenses may not be used.

• School identification card with a photograph of the individual.

• U.S. military card or draft record.

• Identification card issued by the Federal, State or local government with the same information included on a driver’s license.

• Military dependent’s identification card.

• Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood or other United States Native American/Alaska Native Tribal document with a photograph or other personal identifying information relating to the individual, such as age, weight, height, race, sex and eye color.

• U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner card.

(MRG)