Noncitizen Opt-Out - SNAP

Noncitizen Opt-Out Overview

Any noncitizen may choose to opt-out of receiving SNAP benefits, regardless of whether they have a legal noncitizen status, a qualified noncitizen status, or no status.

Although a noncitizen can choose to opt-out of receiving SNAP benefits, the noncitizen must be included in the SNAP household, if mandatory inclusion rules apply (i.e., Spouse, Parent/Child, Parental Control, or Purchase and Prepare). This means, if the household member is subject to mandatory inclusion rules, they will be recorded as “Present” on the Household page in BEACON.

Note: Noncitizens cannot choose to opt out of one program and not the other. Even though the Public Charge rule does not apply to SNAP benefits, it does apply to EA benefits. When a client chooses to opt-out, they are opting out of all DTA benefits. 
BEACON does not allow noncitizens to opt-out of one program and not the other.

Impact of Opting Out and Benefit Calculation Discussion with Clients

When a client chooses to opt-out of applying for SNAP, although they will not be a SNAP recipient, all of their income will be counted in the benefit calculation. For this reason, it is important that you explain to the client that the Public Charge rule does not apply to SNAP benefits. This means that getting SNAP benefits for themselves and their family will not hurt their future immigration status.

You must also explain that with their choosing not to include the noncitizen in the household, the remaining eligible household members may receive less in SNAP because the income of the noncitizen opting out will be counted in the benefit calculation, while the noncitizen will not be included as a SNAP recipient in the calculation.

How to Address Noncitizens Opting Out of SNAP

New Application

If a noncitizen opts out of applying for SNAP benefits, you must not run a SAVE and not request verification of this client’s noncitizen status. At application the applicant must provide documentation of immigration status only for household members applying for benefits. Once provided, the information must be verified through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, only for those noncitizens applying for benefits.

If a noncitizen is not applying for benefits, they are not required to provide a Social Security Number (SSN). Social Security Number (or proof of application for an SSN) is only required for the household members who are applying for SNAP benefits. You must not pursue verification of Noncitizen Status or SSN or Proof of application for an SSN when a noncitizen chooses to opt-out of applying for SNAP.

If the client provides immigration documentation, but the client decides to opt-out of applying for SNAP, you must not enter their immigration status on the Noncitizen Designation page. See BEACON Coding for Noncitizens Opting Out of SNAP Benefits section below. You must also write a detailed narrative explaining that the noncitizen has chosen to opt-out of receiving SNAP benefits.

Verification of income and expenses for noncitizens opting out of applying, but who are mandatory to be included in the household, is still required.

Reapplication

If a noncitizen previously known to BEACON reapplies for SNAP benefits, DTA likely has the client’s SSN and immigration status on file. If the noncitizen now chooses to opt-out of applying, they may do so.

For clients with a known SSN, the SSN must remain in BEACON.

If a noncitizen has a known immigration status on the Noncitizen Designation page, but they are choosing to opt-out of SNAP benefits, you must:

You must not run a SAVE and not request verification of the client’s noncitizen status. Verification of income and expenses for noncitizens opting out of applying for SNAP is still required.

At Case Maintenance

Noncitizens may choose to opt out of SNAP benefits after they have applied and provided their immigration information and/or SSN to the Department.

For clients with a known SSN, the SSN must remain in BEACON.

If a noncitizen has a known immigration status on the Noncitizen Designation page, but they are choosing to opt-out of SNAP benefits, you must:

At Interim Report or Recertification

At IR or Recert, a noncitizen may choose to opt-out of SNAP benefits even though they were previously included in SNAP case. In these instances, DTA likely has the client’s SSN and immigration status on file.

For clients with a known SSN, the SSN must remain in BEACON.

If a noncitizen has a known immigration status on the Noncitizen Designation page, but they are choosing to opt-out of SNAP benefits, you must:

You must not run a SAVE and not request verification of the client’s noncitizen status. Verification of income and expenses for noncitizens opting out of SNAP benefits is still required.

BEACON Coding for Noncitizens Opting Out of SNAP Benefits

Noncitizens opting out of SNAP benefits, regardless of whether they have a legal noncitizen status, a qualified noncitizen status, or no status must be coded as “Undetermined/Opt-Out” on the Noncitizen Designation page.

AU Mandatory/Responsible Page

When a noncitizen is opting out of receiving SNAP benefits, it is important that you accurately code the AU Mandatory/Responsible page. To exclude the individual from the Assistance Unit (AU), you must:

  1. go to the AU Mandatory/Responsible page
  2. select the client who needs to be excluded from the SNAP AU. This action will populate the client’s information on the AU Mandatory Responsible tab
  3. select “No” in the Applying field
  4. select “Yes” in the Mandatory inclusion field
  5. select the appropriate mandatory inclusion reason for SNAP from the Inclusion reason drop-down list

Important: “Deemor” is not a mandatory inclusion reason for SNAP. This must not be selected for noncitizens that are being excluded from a SNAP AU (this includes those that are opting out).
You must select the appropriate mandatory inclusion reason (i.e., Spouse, Parent/Child, Parental Control, or Purchase and Prepare).

  1. the Responsibility field will default to “Recipient”. This cannot be changed as the individual must be included in the SNAP household due to mandatory inclusion rules; and
  2. click the Save button.

AU Composition Results Page

You must deny each noncitizen opting out of SNAP benefits on the AU Composition Results page. To deny the individual, you must: 

  1. go to the AU Composition Results page
  2. select the client who needs to be denied. This action will populate the AU tab and AU Member tab on the bottom half of the page
  3. select the “Program Rules” from the drop-down list in the Reason category field on the AU Member tab
  4. select “Ineligible Noncitizen” as the denial reason from the drop-down list in the Reason field on the AU Member tab; and
  5. click the Save button.

Noncitizen Designation Page

If a client has a known immigration status on the Noncitizen Designation page, but they are choosing to opt-out of SNAP benefits, you must end the existing Noncitizen Designation record as outlined on the Changing Noncitizen Designation Data OLG page.

To properly code all noncitizens that have opted out of SNAP benefits on the Noncitizen Designation page, you must:

  1. go to the Noncitizen Designation page
  2. select “Undetermined/Opt-Out” from the drop-down selection in the Noncitizen designation field. “Undetermined/Opt-Out” is the only Noncitizen designation to be used for individuals opting-out of benefits.
  3. the Legal SNAP disqualified indicator will default to “No”. This cannot be changed as Undetermined/Opt-Out does not qualify for the special combination calculation for mixed noncitizen households.
  4. do not enter the clients A# in the Alien registration field
  5. select “Active” from the drop-down list in the Status field
  6. enter the start date in the Start field
  7. enter the date of entry into the US in the Initial date of entry field
  8. select “None” from the drop-down list in the Section reference field; and
  9. click the Save button.

Noncitizen Opt-out Notice

Noncitizen clients who previously applied for SNAP benefits, but they were determined to be ineligible household members based on not meeting the five-year noncitizen eligibility requirement, may opt-in or opt-out of being added as an eligible member to the household once they meet the five-year requirement. For SNAP, this applies to Legal Permanent Residents and Battered Noncitizens (who have obtained LPR status) as these statuses have a 5-year eligibility requirement for noncitizens 18 years or older.

Important: Regarding Battered Noncitizens, you must review the client’s case to ensure that the client has satisfied the eligibility criteria of a Battered Noncitizen and by extension now qualifies based on reaching the 5-year requirement (e.g. ensuring the 5-year count is based on the prima facie date, if applicable).

When a noncitizen client meets the five-year requirement which would allow them to be included as recipients of DTA benefits, the grantee of the household will be sent a notice informing them that one or more members of their household may be eligible for DTA benefits. The notice further advises that the client has the right to opt-out of receiving benefits. This notice will be mailed out 30 days prior to the household member(s) reaching the 5-year requirement.

Important: No action will be taken on the potentially eligible household member(s) noncitizen status if they do not respond to the notice. These clients will be required to update their status at their next recertification.

Noncitizen Chooses to Opt-In

The notice advises the client to contact the Department if they wish to add the member(s) to the household. If the client calls the Department or submits a statement reporting that they would like to add the member(s) to the household, you must:

  • run a SAVE request and save it to the client’s ECF
  • update the Legal SNAP disqualified indicator to “No” on the Noncitizen Designation page, because the noncitizen wants to be a part of the SNAP household and they are eligible for benefits
  • clear the ineligibility Reason category field on the AU Composition Results page on the AU Member tab of the applicable noncitizen
  • verify the member(s) noncitizen status on the immigration tab; and
  • authorize the change.

After adding the member to the household, you must review the case to determine if a related benefit is owed. For more information on issuing related benefits, see Adding a New Person as a SNAP Household Member.

If a client submits a written statement through EDMC or calls the DTA Assistance Line and the call becomes disconnected and based on the statement or the call that was disconnected, the worker cannot determine if the client wishes to add the noncitizen member(s) to the household, you must follow the instructions outlined in the Cold Calls on Cases with Outstanding Verifications or Matches section of the Conducting Cold Calls OLG page.

Noncitizen Chooses to Opt-Out

If the client calls the Department, reports in person in a TAO, or submits a statement reporting that they do not want to add the member(s) to the household, you must end the existing Noncitizen Designation record as outlined on the Changing Noncitizen Designation Data OLG page, and you must:

You must not run a SAVE and not request verification of the client’s noncitizen status.

Important: If the client reports that they are now a naturalized citizen, you must run a SAVE to confirm the client’s status and add the client to the AU.
Only noncitizens can opt-out of receiving SNAP benefits.

 Last update: March 10, 2026