A household participating or applying for participation in the Food Assistance Program must do one of the following for each household member:

1. 1. Provide the member’s Social Security Number (SSN). To provide the number the household may state the number, present a document with the number on it, or show the social security card. See How SSN's are verified?

2. 2. Apply for an SSN before certification if the member does not have a number or the household is unable to provide the number.

   1. 1. Review the Form DHR-PAD-1542, SS-5 Referral, with the applicant or household member(s), emphasizing in particular what items of proof will need to be taken to the SSA office. These include:

      1. a. Birth certificates.
      2. b. Proof of citizenship/alien status (as applicable).
      3. c. Proof of identity such as driver’s license, draft card, report card, etc.
   2. 2. Explain to the applicant that individuals 18 years or older must go in person to the SSA office with the above proofs.
   3. 3. Advise the client of the hours of operation of the SSA office, the address of the office and where applicable the hours and dates SSA representatives will be available to provide the SS-5 processing procedures.

   4. 4. Inform the client that the DHR-PAD-1542 must be taken to the SSA office when the household member goes to apply for an SSN.

      See Forms Manual for what information the county department is required to complete on the DHR-PAD-1542 prior to giving it to the household.

      The county department shall advise the household that proof of application from SSA will be required prior to certification. Proof of application shall consist of either the return of the DHR-PAD-1542, marked complete; the SSA-5028, Receipt of Application for a SSN; the SSA-2853, Hospital Enumeration at birth; or the copy of a birth certificate or other documentary evidence which indicates an application for a Social Security Number for the child has been submitted.

   If individuals have more than one number, all numbers are required. Explain to applicants and participants that refusal or failure without good cause to provide an SSN will result in disqualification of the individual for whom an SSN is not obtained.

   For those individuals who provide SSN’s prior to certification, recertification, or any office contact, the county department will record the number; verification of the number is handled as stated in Section 205(A).

   Households who provided the SSA-2853, Hospital Enumeration at Birth form, or the certified copy of the birth certificate which indicates a Social Security Number has been applied for by the hospital, assume the responsibility for reporting the SSN to the county departments no later than the next recertification or six months, whichever comes later after the SSA-2853 has been received.

   If the client has not received the SSN, the household member would have good cause. If the client received the SSN but lost the card, complete the SS-5 referral for issuance of a duplicate card and send the household to SSA. In this situation the automated system could be utilized to verify the SSN.

   For those individuals who do not have a SSN, refer the household to the SSA to apply for a SSN.

   In order that households can promptly and with the least confusion possible, complete a SS-5 at the Social Security Administration Office, the county department shall:

Author: Pamala Pace

Statutory Authority: Food Stamp Act of 1977, U.S.C. 2011 et seq; Code of Ala. 1975, §38-2-6(17); 7 C.F.R. Subtitle B, Chapter II Subchapter C Section 273.6(b)(2).

History: Effective May 10, 1985. Repealed and Replaced: Filed November 1, 1995; effective December 6, 1995. Repealed and New Rule: Filed October 9, 2018; effective November 23, 2018.