Social Security Number Requirements
A Social Security Number (SSN) must be provided either orally or in writing for each household member applying for SNAP, TAFDC, or EAEDC benefits before approving their application, unless good cause exists.
Note: When a Social Security Number is entered into BEACON, the Department verifies this information through the State Verification and Exchange System (SVES). If the SSN is verified, the Identity requirement for all DTA programs has been met.
If an SSN cannot be provided either orally or in writing for any household member applying for benefits that claims to have one, the applicant or client must provide written verification from SSA that the household member for whom the SSN cannot be provided has applied for an SSN or has requested that an already-existing SSN be validated.
This information must be entered on the Assessed Person page. If a household member does not have an SSN and has not applied for one, no written verification is needed.
DTA benefits may not be denied, delayed, or decreased pending the issuance or verification of an SSN if the client has applied for or requested a validated SSN.
A household eligible for expedited SNAP benefits must meet the SSN requirement before the first full month of participation, which is the first month after the month in which the expedited benefits have been issued.
Each household member applying for DTA benefits who does not meet the SSN requirements must be considered a disqualified household member, unless good cause exists. An otherwise eligible household member disqualified for not meeting the SSN requirements becomes eligible upon meeting the requirements.
Determining Good Cause
Good cause for failure to comply with the SSN requirements exists when there is documentary evidence or collateral information that the household member has made every effort to supply SSA with the information necessary to apply for an SSN or to apply to have an already-existing number validated.
Good cause must be verified each month until the SSN is provided and verified by computer match with SSA.
Note: Some groups of applicants, such as Cuban/Haitian Entrants, are eligible for benefits but are ineligible for an SSN because they do not have a work permit. To get DTA benefits they must apply with SSA for a Non-Work SSN. For more information on applying Good Cause in these instances see: Cuban-Haitian Entrant: Good Cause for Not Providing a Social Security Number
Verification
The Department will verify the SSN provided for each household member applying for SNAP benefits by computer match with SSA. The State Verification and Exchange System (SVES) is an automated matching process that runs nightly to verify SSN and SSA benefits. Only once a SVES inquiry returns a verified status, indicated by a “V” in the Verification Code field, can an AU member be approved for ongoing benefits.
For each household member for whom no SSN is provided, an SSN cannot be verified by SSA computer match, or more than one SSN is verified by SSA computer match, the client must provide written verification from SSA verifying that the household member has applied for an SSN, made every effort to supply SSA with the information necessary to apply for an SSN, or has applied to have an already-existing number validated. Submit a VC-1 for “Social Security Number or Proof of Application” for the household member(s).
Once the SSN has been issued or validated, the Department will verify the SSN by computer match with SVES. An SSN is not verified until SVES returns a “V” for the verification code.
See: Verifying Social Security Numbers
See: Verification Chart
Right to Know Uses of Social Security Numbers
The client has the right to know how the Department will use their SSN and the SSNs of all members of the household. At application and recertification, clients are provided with written information on how the DTA uses Social Security Numbers via the Your Right to Know brochure explaining the purposes for which the Social Security Numbers are sought.
- The Department will use the SSN to:
- Prevent duplicate participation,
- Facilitate mass changes in benefits; and
- Determine the accuracy of the information given by the household member.
- The SSN(s) will be computer cross-checked with SSNs appearing in other personal data files.
- The Department will regularly use the SSN to obtain and use wage and benefit information from other sources for purposes of verifying eligibility for SNAP and the amount of SNAP benefits. These sources include, but are not limited to:
- Any federal or state agency,
- Providers under contract with the Department,
- Welfare departments in other states; and
- Banks and other financial institutions.
- The household member who does not meet the requirements above must have SNAP benefits denied or terminated, unless good cause exists.
Note: The Department does not need to obtain the client’s prior approval to acquire and use the information from the above sources.