Social Security Number (SSN)
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This subject contains information about Social Security number (SSN) eligibility requirements.
Policy
All household members applying for NA or CA are required to provide a Social Security number (SSN) or apply for an SSN. Providing the SSN of each participant is voluntary. However, participants who do not comply with SSN requirements are not eligible for benefits.
The collection of the SSN for each budgetary unit member is authorized under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2011-2036. FAA uses the SSN to determine whether the budgetary unit is eligible or continues to be eligible to participate in the NA or CA programs. FAA is authorized to use a participant's SSN in determining eligibility for NA and CA. This information may be verified through interfaces and computer matching programs.
Some Cuban and Haitian entrants (CHEs) may not have an SSN when applying for FAA benefits. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) issues SSNs to noncitizens, without employment authorization, when federal law requires an SSN to get certain benefits or services. To apply for a “Not Valid For Employment” SSN, participants need to prove their identity, immigration status, and a letter from the benefit issuing agency requesting the SSN. To prove identity and immigration status, participants can show their current United States (U.S.) immigration documents and unexpired foreign passports. Acceptable immigration documents include, and are not limited to, any of the following:
●United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Form I-551 - Permanent Resident Card, or Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa.
●Admission stamp showing a class of admission permitting work.
●Form I-94 - Arrival Departure Record.
●USCIS Form I-766 - Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with category code “C11” when they have applied for and received one.
●U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-862 – Notice to Appear
●Form I-385 – Alien Booking Record issued by one of the following agencies:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
●Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) Certification Letter
●Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Certification Letter
●Interim Notice Authorizing Parole
When a qualified noncitizen without employment authorization requests assistance with applying for an SSN, the Verification of SSN Application for Noncitizens letter is completed by an FAA staff member and provided to the participant for submission to SSA.
A participant's SSN is a condition of eligibility and is used for all of the following purposes:
●Monitoring compliance with program regulations and program management
●Accessing records of wages and benefits
●Determining the amount of NA and CA benefits participants receive
●Establishing and enforcing child support and medical support orders
●Pursuing collection of any NA or CA overpayments resulting from receipt of benefits to which the budgetary unit was not entitled
●Preventing duplicate participation in a program
NOTE Social Security enumeration is not required when the participant is a nonqualified noncitizen or an undocumented noncitizen.
SSN information may be disclosed to other federal and state agencies, including law enforcement officials, for the purpose of apprehending persons fleeing to avoid the law. Any SSN provided is used and disclosed whether the participant is part of the budgetary unit.
SSN Requirements
Participants are required to provide a Social Security number (SSN) or to apply for an SSN for each person applying for benefits.
FAA refers the participant to the Social Security Administration (SSA) when any of the following conditions exist for anyone in the budgetary unit:
●They do not have an SSN
●They do not know whether they have an SSN
●They do not know their SSN
●System interfaces, indicate the SSN is invalid or not verified
●They do not have a verified SSN in the case file(g)
●They are applying for an original or replacement Social Security card
●They are suspected of fraud
●They request a second (multiple) SSN
●Questionable identity exists
●Reports or uses more than one SSN
●Needs to change their name on the Social Security card
(For SSA office locations see, Arizona SSA Offices)
SSN requirements are considered met for a newborn when proof is provided from the hospital or SSA that an SSN has been requested. A budgetary unit with a newborn may have until the next renewal or up to six months following the month the baby was born to supply an SSN or proof of an application for an SSN for the newborn.
When the participant fails to or refuses to comply with SSN requirements, the participant is not eligible for NA or CA benefits.
NA budgetary units entitled to expedited services are required to comply with SSN requirements before the second full month of participation. When unable to provide an SSN before the second full month of participation, the participant may have good cause for noncompliance. NA participants meeting good cause requirements may continue to participate.
NA Good Cause for SSN Noncompliance
An NA participant may claim good cause for failure to comply timely with Social Security number (SSN) requirements. For good cause to exist, the participant is required to have made every effort to provide the necessary information by the information due date.
When a participant in the budgetary unit can show good cause, that participant is allowed to participate for one month in addition to the first full month after application. When the budgetary unit member has been unable to obtain the documents required for an SSN, the participant has to continue to show good cause.
Good cause for failure to apply timely has to be shown monthly for a participant to continue to participate. The participant continues to be eligible as long as good cause exists. Once an application has been filed with the SSA, the participant may continue to participate pending notification of the SSN.
Verification
The participant has the primary responsibility for providing verification. (See Participant Responsibilities – Providing Verification for additional policy.)
The Social Security enumeration requirements are considered met when the participant provides any of the following:
●A valid Social Security number (SSN)
Most SSNs are validated by a system interface. When this occurs, additional documented verification is not needed.
●A valid Social Security Card (SSA‑3000)
●Receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
●Receipt from the Application for a Social Security Number (SSA‑5028) form
●Notice to Third Party of Social Security Number Assignment (SSA‑7028) form
●The Message from the Social Security (SSA‑2853) form
The SSA‑2853 is provided as proof of participation in the Enumeration at Birth Project, which allows a parent to apply for a baby's SSN while the baby is still in the hospital. The SSA‑2853 must be signed and dated by a hospital official or a licensed midwife.
●Hospital Record of Birth form and Proof of Birth form
NOTE These forms are acceptable when the birth information is transmitted electronically to Vital Statistics. The forms must be signed and dated by the Birth Registrar. The form must include all of the following information:
●The child's name
●The child's date of birth
●A parent's name
●A statement that an application for an SSN has been filed for the child
●Refugees who have a Social Security card marked with "Valid for Work Only with INS Authorization”.
●Qualified Noncitizens who have a Social Security card marked with “Not Valid for Work”
●Verification of SSN Application for Noncitizens (FAA-1854A) letter completed by an SSA worker and returned to FAA by the participant
Legal Authorities
7 CFR 273.2(b)(4)(i)
7 CFR 273.2(f)(1)(v)
7 CFR 273.2(f)(7)
7 CFR 273.2(f)(8)(i)(B)
7 CFR 273.2(i)(4)(i)(B)
7 CFR 273.6
7 CFR 273.6(b)(4)
7 CFR 273.6(d)
AAC R6-12-307
last revised 07/01/2024