2.3.1 Providing Social Security Numbers

Every individual in an EAEmergency Assistance Group must provide a Social Security Number (SSN), or provide proof of having applied for an SSNSocial Security Number within the past six months, unless the individual is initially exempt. An individual is initially exempt if he or she does not have an SSN, does not have a work authorization, and is a member of one of the following qualified non-citizen groups:

1.             Cuban/Haitian entrants, as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980; or

2.             Certified, foreign-born victims of trafficking; or

3.             Parolees (alien paroled into the U.S. for at least one year under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA));

4.             Certain battered aliens who meet the requirements of 8 U.S.C. s. 1641(c); or

5.             Any qualified non-citizen (see W-2 Manual 2.4.2) who cannot apply for an SSN until his or her immigration status paperwork has been revised.See 4.2.2 for suggested sources of allowable verification.

If the W-2Wisconsin Works agency determines that an individual in an EA Group The primary person and any individuals living in his or her household whose income and/or needs are considered when determining eligibility for benefits. has refused to provide or apply for an SSN, the entire EA Group is ineligible for EA.

W-2 agencies must only use SSNs and personally identifiable information for the direct administration of the program. Each time a W-2 agency staff person requests an SSN, the staff person must inform the individual that 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. A sample statement follows:

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

History: There are no previous versions of this policy

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