10 CCR 2506-1-4.302 - SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER REQUIREMENT

A. General Requirements

1. As a condition of SNAP eligibility, each member of a household participating in or applying for participation in SNAP shall provide a Social Security Number (SSN), or proof that an application for an SSN has been submitted to the SSA. The local office shall not require any household member to submit a Social Security card or other official documents as a means of verifying an SSN. Household members who provide an SSN shall not be denied benefits for failure or inability to present a Social Security card or other official documentation. If individuals have more than one SSN, all numbers shall be required.

2. The local office shall explain that a member is not required to provide an SSN, but the failure to provide one shall result in disqualification of the individual(s) for whom the number is not provided. The member who does not provide an SSN shall still be required to provide other eligibility information such as income and resources that will affect eligibility of other members. The local office shall advise individuals that any SSN that is provided voluntarily will be used in the same manner as SSNs of eligible household members. The SSNs will be matched against federal and state databases to verify information. SSNs will be used for the initial application matching for duplicate participation.

3. If the household member required to provide an SSN either refuses to supply their SSN at the time of application or fails to provide the local office with a form or letter as proof of application for a SSN without good cause, they shall be ineligible to participate in SNAP. The disqualification applies to the individual(s) who refused to cooperate with the application process to obtain the SSN and not the entire household. The household member(s) disqualified may become eligible by providing the local office with an SSN, or by providing verification that an application for an SSN has been submitted to the SSA.

B. Individuals and Newborns Without an SSN

1. Those household members who do not have the required SSN shall obtain proof of application for an SSN prior to being certified as a member of the household unless the member is a newborn child. The applicant/recipient shall be instructed to obtain from the SSA proof that they have completed an application for an SSN and that the SSA has received that application. A specifically addressed letter from the SSA verifying that application for an SSN has been made is also acceptable proof of application for an SSN. The applicant/recipient shall be instructed to return the completed form as soon as possible to the eligibility technician. A copy of the form shall be maintained in the case record.

a. If the household is unable to provide proof of application for an SSN for a newborn, the household shall provide the SSN or proof of application at its next recertification within six (6) months following the baby's birth. The local office shall determine if the good cause provisions are applicable at the recertification.

b. If a participating household's benefits are reduced or terminated within the certification period because one or more of its members are required to provide a SSN is disqualified for failure to meet the SSN requirement, the local office shall issue a Notice of Adverse Action form. The notice shall inform the household that the non-cooperating individual(s) without an SSN is being disqualified and show the current eligibility and benefit level of the remaining members, as well as a statement that the disqualified member(s) may end disqualification by providing an SSN.

2. Household members who provide the eligibility technician with a copy of a form or a letter from SSA, or who demonstrate good cause for not providing the proof from SSA (e.g., difficulty in obtaining birth certificates) shall be allowed to continue to participate in SNAP as follows:

a. When an SSA form or letter is received by the local office or good cause for not providing proof is demonstrated, the household member in need of a SSN shall be allowed to participate so long as the household is not at fault for not providing proof of application with the SSA.

b. If the required SSNs are provided by the household, or it is demonstrated that good cause exists for not having applied for a SSN, the household member(s) without an SSN(s) shall remain eligible to participate. If the local office determines that the household is at fault for not having proof of application for the SSN(s), the member(s) without proof of application shall be disqualified and income shall be handled in accordance with Section 4.411.1.

C. Determining Good Cause for Not Providing an SSN

1. In determining good cause, the local office shall consider information received from the household member and/or the SSA. Documentary evidence or collateral information that the household has applied for the number or made every effort to supply the SSA with the necessary information shall be considered good cause. If the household member can show good cause why an application has not been completed in a timely manner, that person shall be allowed to participate until good cause is no longer applicable or until the household's next recertification. If the household member(s) applying for an SSN has been unable to obtain the documents required by the SSA, the eligibility technician should assist the individual(s) in obtaining these documents.

2. If an individual refuses to provide an SSN based on a sincere religious objection, all members of the household may participate in SNAP, if otherwise eligible. In these situations, the local office may check with the SSA to see if the household members already have SSNs and may use any existing SSNs for verification and matching purposes without further notice to the household.

Notes

10 CCR 2506-1-4.302

37 CR 15, August 10, 2014, effective 9/1/2014 37 CR 21, November 10,2014, effective 12/1/2014 38 CR 23, December 10, 2015, effective 1/1/2016 39 CR 01, January 10, 2016, effective 2/1/2016 39 CR 05, March 10, 2016, effective 4/1/2016 39 CR 07, April 10, 2016, effective 5/1/2016 39 CR 15, August 10, 2016, effective 9/1/2016 39 CR 17, September 10, 2016, effective 10/1/2016 39 CR 19, October 10, 2016, effective 11/1/2016 39 CR 23, December 10, 2016, effective 1/1/2017 40 CR 11, June 10, 2017, effective 7/1/2017 40 CR 17, September 10, 2017, effective 10/1/2017 41 CR 15, August 10, 2018, effective 9/1/2018 40 CR 23, December 10, 2017, effective 12/30/2018 42 CR 01, January 10, 2019, effective 2/1/2019 42 CR 03, February 10, 2019, effective 3/15/2019 42 CR 17, September 10, 2019, effective 10/1/2019 42 CR 18, October 10, 2019, effective 10/1/2019 42 CR 23, December 10, 2019, effective 12/30/2019 43 CR 01, January 10, 2020, effective 1/30/2020 43 CR 05, March 10, 2020, effective 2/7/2020 43 CR 07, April 10, 2020, effective 4/30/2020 43 CR 21, November 10, 2020, effective 11/30/2020 44 CR 21, November 10, 2021, effective 11/30/2021 45 CR 05, March 10, 2022, effective 3/30/2022 45 CR 19, October 10, 2022, effective 10/1/2022 45 CR 19, October 10, 2022, effective 11/1/2022 45 CR 21, November 10, 2022, effective 11/30/2022 46 CR 17, September 10, 2023, effective 9/30/2023