MR #11.28: Citizenship and Identity Documentation - SSA Match and Newborns

Summary:

Effective immediately, Social Security Administration (SSA) crossmatch information can be used to meet U.S. citizenship and identity documentation requirements for applicants and recipients of medical benefits who have a social security number (SSN).
At initial application or when a REDE is being completed on a case with medical benefits, complete an SSA citizenship inquiry for all persons in the medical case reporting to be U.S. citizens whose citizenship and identify has not yet been documented.
For SNAP, proof of citizenship for a person born in the U.S. is not needed. The identity of the person filing the application must be verified.
- When the SSA crossmatch verifies citizenship and identity for medical benefits consider the match as proof of identity for SNAP.
- For SNAP, SOLQ may also be used to verify identity. It is not necessary to verify the identity of each person listed on the SNAP application.
The SSA citizenship inquiry is completed from the Wire Third Party Query (WTPY) screen.
You must re-enter the SSN in the WTPY screen after 48 hours from the time the first query was completed to get SSA's response.
If the SSA response does not verify citizenship for a person reporting to be a US citizen, the person must provide proof of citizenship and identity within three months.
- For an applicant, you may approve the case and provide medical benefits during the 3 month period if otherwise eligible.
- You may process a cash or medical REDE while citizenship and identity documentation is pending during the 3 month period.
At a later date, an automated SSA citizenship inquiry process will be completed at initial approval and at REDE for persons reporting to be U.S. citizens. Staff will be informed when the automated process is in place.
If proof of citizenship and identity is not provided within the required time limit for an adult who lives in the community, the adult is to be deleted or canceled from medical assistance.
No negative action will be taken for children, or for an adult who received medical benefits AND lived in a CILA, SLF, or LTC facility continuously since 11/30/11 or earlier.
Babies born in the U.S. on or after July 1 2006 to mothers covered by HFS Medical benefits for the newborn's birth meet citizenship and identity documentation requirements.
This release also moves the policy about Asylum Applicants and Torture Victims from PM/WAG 03-01-02-l to PM/WAG 03-01-04-a.