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UPDATED: NOVEMBER 2009 627

OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS CITZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION STATUS QUALIFIED ALIENS

BATTERED QUALIFIED ALIENS

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS (SSNs) FOR BATTERED QUALIFIED ALIENS: The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not routinely assign new SSNs. However, SSA will do so when evidence shows the immigrant is being harassed, a victim of family violence, abused or their life is endangered.

Qualified aliens must provide a social security number. If they do not have a SSN, they must apply for one. An exception applied to pregnant women. Pregnant women are not required to provide or apply for a SSN for the duration of the pregnancy and the sixty-day period that begins on the last day of the pregnancy and including, but not exceeding, the last day of the month in which the sixty-day post-partum period ends.

If a qualified alien applies for a SSN, but is denied a SSN based on immigration status, the alien is not required to reapply for a SSN until his or her status changes. In these situations districts are to use WMS Social Security Code N, “State Benefits Eligible Alien”.

ALIEN NUMBER (A#) REQUIREMENT FOR BATTERED QUALIFIED ALIENS: Providing an alien registration number is no longer an eligibility requirement for Public Assistance, Medical Assistance or Food Stamp Assistance for battered aliens (ACI Code "B"). This change is a result of MKB litigation.

Although not required, if an alien number is presented by the applicant/recipient, the alien number should be entered into the Welfare Management System (WMS).

(MRG)