Page 36

201.8 TANF MANUAL 7/19 Page 1

201.8 SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBER (SSN) - As a condition of eligibility, each applicant is required to provide an SSN or show proof of application for a Social Security number for each person for whom assistance is requested. An applicant must meet this condition prior to approval of the case. Only those members of the assistance unit who have met this condition are to be approved for TANF. The agency must refer each applicant/recipient who does not have an SSN or cannot provide proof of application for an SSN to the Social Security Administration (SSA) District Office. The agency must also discuss with the applicant the types of evidence of age, identity, and U.S. citizenship or alien status documents which the SSA will require prior to issuing an SSN.

A. Obtaining a Social Security Number - For those individuals who provide SSNs prior to approval or at any other time the agency shall record the SSN in VaCMS and attempt to verify the SSN according to 201.8 E. As soon as all other steps necessary to approve an application are completed except for verification of the social security number the agency shall approve the application.

For those individuals who do not have an SSN, who do not know if they have a number, are unable to find a number and therefore cannot provide a number, or whose number appears to be questionable, the agency will direct the assistance unit to submit form SS-5, Application for Social Security Number to the Social Security Administration (SSA). The agency must advise the assistance unit where to file the application for an SSN and discuss what evidence the assistance unit will need to obtain a SSN.

Evidence needed to secure a Social Security number includes a U.S. public record of birth established before age five or other verification of birth, such as religious records whose validity is not questionable, or hospital records, if they can be verified by the SSA. While religious and hospital records will entitle the individual to an SSN, further proof of birth is required by the SSA to establish eligibility for Social Security benefits.

The agency shall advise the assistance unit that proof of the application for an SSN from SSA will be required prior to approval and suggest that the assistance unit member asks the SSA for proof of the application for an SSN. SSA has a form SSA-5028, Receipt for Application for a Social Security Number for this purpose. Local agencies may also devise their own form for this purpose; however, these must receive the approval of the Regional TANF Specialist.

B. Assistance to Newborns - An electronic application for a social security number for the newborn will be made by the hospital before the mother is discharged. The parent should be able to provide the agency with verification that the social security number was applied for when requesting assistance for the child. If for some reason the parent cannot provide this information, the child can be added to the assistance unit, but the parent must provide the child’s social security number or proof of application for the number, at the next case renewal, or within six months, whichever is later. Note: For this provision, a newborn is defined as a child less than 8 weeks old at the time the request for assistance is made.

TANF Transmittal 66