(A)What is the requirement related to social security numbers?

(A)(1)As a condition of eligibility for OWF, each assistance group member shall furnish or apply for a social security number.

(B)(2)The county department of job and family services (CDJFS) agency is required to refer the individual who does not possess a social security number to the local social security office to apply for a social security number and is prohibited from denying, delaying, or terminating benefits pending the issuance or verification of the social security number if the assistance group has complied with the requirement of furnishing or submitting verification of making an application for a social security number.

(3)For each assistance group member who physically possesses a social security card, the county agency shall retain a copy of the social security card in the assistance group record.

(B)What happens if an assistance group does not cooperate with providing or applying for a social security number?

(C)Specific penalties apply to assistance groups who do not cooperate with providing or applying for a social security number.

(1)The assistance group member who refuses to furnish a social security number, or to apply for one for himself will be excluded from the payment. The assistance group member may be the payee for those children for whom a social security number has been applied for or furnished.

(2)The assistance group member who supplies his or her own number or cooperates in applying for one but refuses to furnish or apply for a social security number for his or her child/children will remain in the assistance group, but the child/children will be removed. In some cases, the only remaining member of the assistance group may be the parent/ or specified relative. In these cases, assistance shall be denied.

(D)For each assistance group member who physically possesses a social security card, the CDJFS shall retain a copy of the social security card in the assistance group record. If copying the card is an impossibility, the individual must be requested to present the social security card at the next reapplication for copying.

(E)(C) The social security number shall be verified in one of the following ways:H How is a social security number verified?

(1)Matching the reported social security number with information supplied by the social security administration (SSA) such as BENDEX or SDX computer tapes or printouts: or

(2)Observing the assistance group member's social security card or any official document containing the social security number.

An "official document" is defined as a W-2 form, a railroad retirement, retirement, survivors, disability, and health insurance (RSDI) or supplemental security income (SSI) award letter, or another document containing the social security number that by law or regulation was required to be verified by the social security administration.

(F)(3)If the assistance group member does not possess a social security card, or any "official document" containing the social security number or if the social security number appears questionable, the CDJFS county agency shall either verify the number by matching it with SSA records or by completing the top portion of the JFS 07355 "Notice of Application for Social Security Number" (rev. 4/2001). The assistance group member shall take the JFS 07355 to the local social security district office. The local social security district office will complete the bottom portion of the JFS 07355 and return the form to the CDJFS county agency by mail.

(D)When is the social security number requirement considered met?

(G)(1)For the purposes of the beginning date of aid, the social security number eligibility requirement will be considered met the date the social security administration employee certifies that the individual applied for a social security number.

(H)(2)For newborns, if the social security number is applied for no later than the first day of the second month following birth or the mother's discharge from the hospital, the social security requirement is considered met on the child's date of birth.