Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families

Emergency Assistance Manual

2.3.1 Providing Social Security Numbers

Every individual in an EAEAEmergency Assistance Group must provide a Social Security Number (SSN) or provide proof of having applied for an SSNSSNSocial Security Number within the past six months, unless the individual is initially exempt. 

An individual is initially exempt if they: 

  1. Do not have an SSN;  
  2. Do not have a work authorization; and 
  3. Are a member of one of the following qualified non-citizen groups: 
    • Cuban/Haitian entrants, as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980; or 
    • Certified, foreign-born victims of trafficking; or 
    • Parolees (aliens paroled into the U.S. for at least one year under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)); 
    • Certain battered aliens who meet the requirements of 8 U.S.C. s. 1641(c); or 
    • Any qualified non-citizen (see W-2 Manual 2.4.2) who cannot apply for an SSN until their immigration status paperwork has been revised. See 4.2.2 for suggested sources of allowable verification. 

If the EA worker determines that an individual in an EA Group who is not exempt has refused to provide or apply for an SSN, the entire EA Group is ineligible for EA. 

W-2W-2Wisconsin Works agencies must only use SSNs and personally identifiable information for the direct administration of the program. Each time an agency requests an SSN, the agency must inform the applicant all of the following:

Disclosure is mandatory for eligibility determination;

  • How the agency will use the number; and 
  • Under what statutory or other authority the agency is requesting the number. 

See below for an example statement: 

Provision of your SSN or cooperation in applying for an SSN is required to determine eligibility for Emergency Assistance (EA). The number you provide to the agency will be verified for program management. Wisconsin Statutes 49.82 (2)(a). 

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