Good Cause Given for Failure to Verify Social Security Number Extended through August 2020

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08/12/2020

Policy Memo

Summary

  • This policy memo provides for an additional extension to claim Good Cause for failing to verify a social security number (SSN) through 08/31/2020.
  • Under authorization of section 2302 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127), Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) granted the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) waiver approval to adjust the Good Cause timeframe for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households who are unable to comply with providing a social security number (SSN) due to COVID-19 related issues, such as Social Security Administration (SSA) office closures and other SSA offices providing limited services. The timeframe was approved under the initial FNS waiver from March 01, 2020 through June 30, 2020 and then an extension was granted through July 31, 2020. Because COVID-19, continues to impact many areas of the State, Illinois' Emergency Declaration continues to be in effect. Due to the emergency declaration, FNS has granted an additional extension to allow SNAP households to claim Good Cause for not providing a social security number through 08/31/2020.
  • Good Cause can be given for TANF, AABD cash and RRP cash when the SSA office in their area is closed or is providing limited services.

SSN Good Cause SNAP Applications

  • Under authorization of section 2302 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127), FNS granted IDHS waiver approval to adjust the Good Cause time-frame for SNAP households who are unable to comply with providing a SSN due to COVID-19 related issues, such as SSA office closures and other SSA offices providing limited services.
  • Federal regulations provide for an individual to participate in the SNAP Program for the application month and one additional month. In order to allow an individual who has Good Cause for failing to provide an SSN to participate for longer than the application month and one additional month, the FNS approved a waiver adjustment that extended the timeframe for participation, after having established Good Cause, to an additional three months. This allowed for a total of five months (the month of application plus one month already under current policy, and three additional months as provided for by the waiver adjustment). This adjustment was for actions taken on ongoing SNAP households and households with an initial SNAP application date of March 01, 2020 through July 31, 2020.
  • Because COVID-19 continues to impact many areas of the State, Illinois' Emergency Declaration is still in effect. As a result, FNS granted an extension to allow SNAP households to claim Good Cause through 07/31/2020. The extension has now been granted through 08/31/2020. Workers should continue to allow Good Cause when an individual has made every effort to complete an application for an SSN but is unable to because of reasons beyond their control, such as the SSA office in their area is closed or is providing limited services. This now applies to actions taken on ongoing SNAP households and households with an initial SNAP application date of March 01, 2020 through August 31, 2020.

SSN Good Cause Cash Applications

Good Cause can be given for TANF, AABD cash and RRP cash when the SSA office in their area is closed or is providing limited services. Workers should continue to allow Good Cause when the applicant provides proof of their inability to apply for an SSN or it is known to the worker that the SSA office in the area is closed or is providing limited services.

IES

In order to avoid pending the ongoing month for verification of the SSN, IES should be coded as follows:

  • Individual Demographics-SSN/Armed Services
  • Does individual have an SSN? - No
  • If no SSN, has SSN been applied for? - Yes
  • SSN Application Date - Enter current date
  • SSN Application Verification - SS-5 Application for a Social Security Card

FCRC

Workers should create a manual task 7 months from the month of application to request proof of applying for or receipt of the SSN.

[signed copy on file]

Grace B. Hou

Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services

Forms Referenced:

SS-5