Page 13

applicant’s behalf by an adult living in the same household or an authorized representative in instances in which the applicant is a minor or incapacitated. An attestation of immigration status may also be accepted when provided by a responsible person with first-hand knowledge of the immigration status of the applicant, but only if the attestation is verified by an authorized electronic data source or approved form of documentation. Special provisions apply in certain circumstance as follows: a. Veterans. For purposes of determining whether the exemption from the five (5) year bar for qualified non-citizen veterans and their families applies, the State must verify that the veteran is in honorably discharged or active military duty status, or is the spouse or unmarried dependent child of such person. If the State is unable to verify this information through electronic means, self-attestation with paper documentation providing proof of the veteran’s status and/or relationship to the veteran is accepted. b. Participants in other Federal means-tested programs – The State does not re-verify the citizenship or immigration status of an applicant for Medicaid/CHIP funded coverage who is currently participating in a State administered means-tested Federal program, providing verification of citizenship and immigration status is a condition of eligibility, has been successfully completed, and record of such is maintained and can be accessed through the IES. 4. Verification sources – The primary electronic data sources for verifying citizenship and immigration status used by the State is the Federal State Verification and Exchange System (SVES) which operates through the Verify Lawful Presence (VLP) interface with the Federal data hub (MACC group members subject to MAGI determinations); and, an electronic data exchange with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). As indicated in § 3.7(C) of this Part below, if verification through these sources does not succeed, the State may use alternative electronic or paper forms of verification. 5. Record of verification – The State maintains a record of having verified citizenship and immigration status for each applicant in the IES in accordance with the requirements in 42 C.F.R. § 431.17(c). 6. Agency assistance – A State agency eligibility specialist is available to provide assistance to an applicant who is unable to provide a declaration or attestation, correct errors or inconsistences, or obtain any required documents as a result of a disability, homelessness, and/or the absence of someone who can act as authorized representative on his/her behalf.