Worker Responsibilities

Applications from survivors of certain crimes should be handled the same as all other applications for cash or food assistance, with the exception of the verification policy below.

What kind of documents are not required for eligibility determination?

Passport

Regular or non-work SSN

Alien Registration number

Any USCIS documentation

Absence of these documents does not affect an applicant’s eligibility for benefits. Don’t run applicants’ information through SAVE because the majority of applicants don’t have an immigration status, or may have an expired immigration status.

What are the documentation requirements for staff? When verifying an individual is a survivor or a qualifying family member, workers should document the following in the ACES case narrative:

The applicant verbally self-attested to being a survivor of certain crimes, or what form of alternative proof was provided; and

Date information was provided

The following ACES coding is used to issue benefits to survivors of certain crimes: Only use this coding when an applicant qualified for assistance as a survivor of certain crimes is preparing to file an application with USCIS. If they have already filed an application for status with USCIS, they may be eligible for benefits as a non-qualified or qualified alien. Assess based on verification provided and proceed based on that information.

Citizen Status - Undocumented Alien (U) This coding bypasses SAVE requirements.

Citizenship Verification Code – Preparing to File/Survivor of Certain Crimes (PF)

SSA/SSN Referral – Undocumented Alien This coding bypasses entering a SSN. The worker should still enter an SSN if the applicant has one to work under.

Other Federally Qualifying Status as "NQ" (No Federal Qualified Status) This coding bypasses entering a SSN. The worker should still enter an SSN if the applicant has one to work under.

At eligibility review, are survivors of certain crimes required to provide verification they have applied for visa/status in order to continue receiving benefits?

No, the only verification that is required in order to continue benefits is verbal self-attestation that the recipient is a survivor and is continuing to prepare to file, per WAC 388-424-0035.

If the recipient states that they applied for asylum, a T visa, or a U visa with USCIS, staff are to request e verification (a copy of receipt). The survivor may also provide their USCIS receipt number verbally, allowing staff to check the USCIS website directly to verify an application has been filed. In a scenario where verification was requested and the individual failed to provide the receipt and/or the worker cannot verify via the USCIS website that an application was filed, the individual would still be eligible for continued benefits, based solely on their self-attestation that they are continuing to prepare to file.

What happens when a survivor of certain crimes's immigration status changes?

Once new verification is received from the recipient, workers should:

Update the client’s Citizenship status information in ACES; and

Establish eligibility for benefits.