16 Del. Admin. Code § 9000-9012
[273.6]
Require that a household participating or applying for participation in the Food Stamp Program provide the SSN of each household member or apply for one before certification. Explain to applicants and participants that refusal or failure without good cause to provide a SSN will result in disqualification of the individual for whom a SSN is not obtained.
If individuals have more than one number, all numbers will be required.
For those individuals who provide SSN's prior to certification, recertification or at any office contact, record the SSN and verify it in accordance with DSSM 9032.5.
For those individuals who do not have a SSN, issue an Form 122 including the system-generated unique identifier (Client ID#) for each individual listed on the form. (Inclusion of the unique identifier will enable automatic transmittal of the SSN to the DCIS database.) Inform the household where to apply and what information will be needed. Advise the household member that proof of application from SSA will be required prior to certification (SSA normally uses the Receipt of Application for a Social Security Number, Form SSA- 5028, as evidence that an individual has applied for a SSN). Follow this same procedure for individuals who do not know if they have a SSN, or are unable to find their SSN.
If the household is unable to provide proof of application for a SSN for a newborn, the household must provide the SSN or proof of application at its next recertification or within 6 months following the month the baby is born, whichever is later. If the household is unable to provide a SSN or proof of application at its next recertification within 6 months following the baby's birth, DSS shall determine if the good cause provisions of DSSM 9012.4 apply.
If DSS determines that a household member has refused or failed without good cause to apply for a SSN, that individual is ineligible to participate in the Food Stamp Program. The disqualification applies to the individual for whom the SSN is not provided and not to the entire household. The earned or unearned income and resources of an individual disqualified from the household for failure to comply with this requirement will be counted as household income and resources to the extent specified in DSSM 9076.2.
In determining if good cause exists for failure to comply with the requirement to apply for or provide DSS with a SSN, consider information from the household member, SSA and DSS. Documentary evidence or collateral information that the household member has applied for a SSN or made every effort to supply SSA with the necessary information to complete an application for a SSN will be considered good cause for not complying timely with this requirement. Good cause does not include delays due to illness, lack of transportation or temporary absences, because SSA makes provisions for mailing applications in lieu of applying in person. If the household member can show good cause why an application for a SSN has not been completed in a timely manner, allow the person to participate for one month in addition to the month of application. If the household member applying for a SSN has been unable to obtain the documents required by SSA, make every effort to assist the individual in obtaining these documents. Good cause for failure to apply must be shown monthly in order for such a household member to continue to participate. Once an application has been filed, permit the member to continue to participate pending notification to DSS of the household member SSN.
Workers should establish short-term controls to check the status of the SSN application monthly. If DSS has requested the necessary documents for the clients (birth certificates, etc.), check monthly to see if the documents have been received. Refer the client back to SSA when documents arrive.
If the client was responsible for obtaining the necessary documents, check with the client by phone or by mail to determine what progress has been made. Inform the client that continued eligibility is dependent upon their continued efforts to obtain documents needed to apply for a SSN.
The household member(s) disqualified may become eligible upon providing the Division with a Social Security Number.
The Division is authorized to use Social Security Numbers in the administration of the Food Stamp Program. To the extent determined necessary by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, State agencies are given access to information regarding individual Food Stamp Program applicants and participants who receive benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act (SSI) to determine such a household's eligibility to receive assistance and the amount of assistance, or to verify information related to the benefit of the households. Use the State Data Exchange (SDX) to the maximum extent possible. Use SSN's to prevent duplicate participation, to facilitate mass changes in Federal benefits and to determine the accuracy and/or reliability of information given by households. In particular, DSS will use SSN's to request and exchange information on individuals through IEVS (see DSSM 2013.1).
Enter all Social Security Numbers obtained in accordance with this section into the automated food stamp data base (DCIS).
16 Del. Admin. Code § 9000-9012