A-350, Verification Requirements

Revision 13-2; Effective April 1, 2013

A-351 Verification of Citizenship

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs

Items used to verify citizenship for TANF can be used for SNAP and vice versa. Items used to verify citizenship for Medical Programs can also be used for TANF and SNAP. For Medicaid Programs, only verification sources listed in A-358.1, Citizenship, can be used to verify citizenship.

TANF

Advisors verify citizenship for all household members applying for benefits. Individuals are allowed 10 days to provide proof. Advisors must document the type of proof provided. Advisors do not reverify citizenship at complete or incomplete reviews unless questionable.

If the applicant or recipient refuses or fails without good cause to provide proof, the individual is disqualified until proof is provided.

Related Policy

TANF — Budgeting for a Legal Parent Disqualified for Alien Status, Failure to Prove Citizenship, Noncompliance with the Unmarried Minor Parent Domicile Requirement or State Time Limits, A-1362.1

SNAP — Budgeting for Members Disqualified for Citizenship, 18-50 Work Requirement or Noncompliance with Social Security Number Requirements, A-1362.3

SNAP

Advisors must verify U.S. citizenship for certified members if questionable or if a regional requirement.

If an individual fails to provide verification of citizenship for Medical Programs, the claim of U.S. citizenship is not considered questionable for SNAP based solely on this reason.

A person with a questionable claim is disqualified until proof of citizenship is received.

Related Policy

SNAP — Budgeting for Members Disqualified for Citizenship, 18-50 Work Requirement or Noncompliance with Social Security Number Requirements, A-1362.3

Medical Programs Except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Before certifying an individual who has declared that they are a U.S. Citizen, the advisor must verify that the applicant or recipient is a U.S. citizen. Once verified, citizenship does not need to be verified again unless questionable. 

Applicants requesting three months prior Medicaid coverage must provide citizenship verification before prior coverage can be provided.

Exception: Current Medicare and SSI recipients are exempt from the verification requirement. Individuals who are receiving Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) based on disability, and who are in a 24-month waiting period to receive Medicare, are considered Medicare recipients for the citizenship and identity verification requirement.

Related Policy

At Application, A-611
Reasonable Opportunity, A-351.1
Using State Online Query (SOLQ) or Wire Third-Party Query (WTPY) to Verify Citizenship, A-351.2

A-351.1 Reasonable Opportunity

Revision 20-4; Effective October 1, 2020

Medical Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35, TP 36, TP 45 and TA 85

Medicaid applicants who declare themselves to be U.S. citizens or declare to have an eligible alien status, but for whom verification of citizenship or alien status is unavailable, must be allowed a period of reasonable opportunity to provide verification of citizenship or alien status. Reasonable opportunity is defined as the 95-day period a person is allowed to provide this verification beginning the day the Form TF0001 is generated.

At application and when adding a person during a redetermination or change, if the person does not provide proof of citizenship or alien status and:

• no other information is required to determine eligibility, certify the person for Medicaid if all other eligibility requirements are met, send Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action, and provide a period of reasonable opportunity.
• other information is required to determine eligibility, request verification of the other information in addition to citizenship or alien status prior to providing a period of reasonable opportunity. If the other information is not returned, deny the person. If the person returns the other information but does not provide proof of citizenship or alien status, certify the person for Medicaid, send Form TF0001, and provide a period of reasonable opportunity.

Form TF0001 informs the person that verification of citizenship or alien status is required within 95 days and lists the names of each person who must provide citizenship verification. The period of reasonable opportunity begins the day Form TF0001 is generated.

All new applicants must be given a period of reasonable opportunity even if they have received a previous reasonable opportunity period.

The reasonable opportunity period may be triggered under the following conditions:

• the person cannot provide a Social Security number (SSN) needed to electronically verify citizenship with the Social Security Administration (SSA);
• the data available from an electronic data source and the person’s declaration of citizenship or alien status are inconsistent; or
• electronic verification is unsuccessful, including agency efforts to resolve any inconsistencies, and additional documentation is still needed.

The day the reasonable opportunity period expires (the 95th day), TIERS generates an alert that creates a task. If verification of citizenship or alien status has not been provided, deny the person. 30 days advance notice of adverse action is provided to the household after informing them of the denial of ongoing benefits using Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action.

Related Policy

How to Take Adverse Action if Advance Notice Is Required, A-2343.1
Medicaid Suspension, B-520
Reasonable Opportunity after a Medicaid Suspension and Reinstatement, B-533
Reasonable Opportunity to Provide Citizenship and Alien Status Verification, D-441.1

A-351.2 Using State Online Query (SOLQ) or Wire Third-Party Query (WTPY) to Verify Citizenship

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

Medical Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36 

If an applicant has an SSN, use SOLQ or WTPY to verify citizenship.

The system attempts to verify citizenship using SOLQ through Electronic Data Sources (ELDS). If the SOLQ system is unresponsive or unavailable due to system failure, advisors must attempt to verify using WTPY.

If the SSN is verified, WTPY provides a response code for verification of citizenship. Advisors follow the steps in the chart below to determine the required advisor action for each response code. These response codes are only provided for Medicaid or CHIP requests.

If unable to, Advisors should attempt to verify citizenship using the Birth Verification System (BVS).

1. If staff is unable to verify citizenship using BVS and additional information is required to determine eligibility, request the additional information and verification of citizenship and allow the individual at least 10 days to provide proof.
   • If the client does not return the additional information by the final due date, the advisor must deny the case for failure to provide required information.
   • If the client provides the additional information, but does not provide verification of citizenship, the advisor must allow the individual a period of reasonable opportunity (explained in A-351.1, Reasonable Opportunity) to provide the verification of citizenship.
2. If staff is unable to verify citizenship using BVS and no other information is required to determine eligibility, the advisor must allow the individual a period of reasonable opportunity to provide the verification without pending the EDG.

After allowing reasonable opportunity, if the recipient refuses or fails to provide proof, the advisor must deny the individual until proof of citizenship is provided.

SOLQ or WTPY responses may also include information on the receipt of SSI or RSDI. Advisors can find more information on the treatment of RSDI and SSI income explained in A-1324, Government Payments.

If the WTPY system is unresponsive or unavailable due to system failure, advisors must not deny or delay certification of Medicaid or CHIP coverage for failure to verify SSN or citizenship. Advisors must:

• enter the SSN as provided by the applicant into TIERS and allow the automated SSA interface to verify the SSN; and
• allow the individual a period of reasonable opportunity (explained in A-351.1) to provide the verification of citizenship.

A-351.3 Good Cause Determination

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

TANF

Good cause exists when the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) determines that circumstances beyond the individual's control prevent proving U.S. citizenship. The individual's statement that proof is delayed is acceptable.

At initial application and when adding a person, good cause is allowed until the next complete review. The individual must be advised that the verification must be provided by the next complete review or the individual will be disqualified.

A-351.3.1 Referrals to OIG

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

TANF

Advisors must disqualify and refer an individual to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) if:

• the individual previously claimed to be a U.S. citizen but could not provide proof after allowing good cause; and
• other information indicates the individual's claim of citizenship is questionable.

A-351.4 How to Verify Citizenship

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs

Advisors may refer to A-358.1, Citizenship, for common sources used to verify U.S. citizenship. For Medical Programs, advisors use the most reliable level of verification available from the sources listed as acceptable for Medical Programs. An affidavit is used only as a last resort when other verification is not available.

Advisors should explore derivative citizenship for any applicant born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent. If the applicant claims derivative citizenship, the applicant must provide a Certificate of Citizenship issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Related Policy

Reasonable Opportunity, A-351.1
Questionable Information, C-920
Providing Verification, C-930

TANF and SNAP

If the applicant cannot obtain the requested proof but can reasonably explain why it is not available, the advisor must obtain an affidavit signed by someone who knows the applicant's history. The advisor should advise signers that the affidavit is a sworn statement; signers can certify only those facts of which they have personal knowledge. The affidavit must state that the signer:

• is a U.S. citizen;
• knows that the applicant is a U.S. citizen; and
• may be fined, imprisoned or both if false information is given.

Through supervisory channels, the advisor must ask the regional attorney to make a determination if the applicant:

• does not have proof of citizenship and cannot obtain an affidavit as described above; or
• claims derivative citizenship and does not have a Certificate of Citizenship.

TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Verification requirements do not apply for undocumented aliens in the Emergency Medicaid certified group.

A-352 Verification of Alien Status

Revision 18-1; Effective January 1, 2018

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Advisors must verify alien status by:

• obtaining documentation of alien status, as explained in A-340, Qualified Alien Status Eligibility Charts; and
• accessing the USCIS SAVE VIS, as explained in A-355, Verifying Alien's USCIS Documents.

Advisors pend the EDG to allow an alien to update the alien's status with USCIS. An alien who does not have acceptable status is disqualified. If a certified alien’s document expires before the next redetermination, the alien’s immigration status must be re-verified following policies and procedures in A-313, Absence of Proof of Alien Status.

Advisors use the SAVE VIS:

• at application;
• when adding a new household member identified as an alien; or
• when the client’s USCIS document has expired.

Notes: If the alien’s USCIS document is expired and the SAVE response shows;

• The individual is a Lawful Permanent Resident - Employment Authorized and the Date Admitted is “Response is Indefinite,” the individual meets an alien status criteria. These individuals must not be disqualified.
• The individual's I-766, Employment Authorization Document, is not expired. These individuals must not be disqualified due to having an expired document.

SAVE does not contain information about victims of severe trafficking or nonimmigrant alien family members. At application, advisors must call the trafficking verification toll-free number at 866-401-5510 to confirm the validity of the certification letter or Derivative T Visa and to notify the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the benefits for which the individual is applying.

Medicaid and CHIP applicants or recipients who declare an alien status, but for whom verification of alien status is unavailable, must be allowed a period of reasonable opportunity to provide verification of alien status as explained in A-351.1, Reasonable Opportunity.

TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Do not follow the SAVE VIS verification procedures.

A-353 Verification of Military Connections

Revision 13-2; Effective April 1, 2013 

A-353.1 Verification of Veteran Status

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Advisors must verify an individual's eligible veteran status by:

• a discharge certificate; or
• Form DD-214 or equivalent that shows the individual previously met active duty status in the armed forces.

Note: Discharge certificates that show character of discharge as anything but "honorable" are not acceptable. A character of discharge "Under Honorable Conditions" is not an "honorable" discharge for purposes of eligibility.

If the veteran does not have proof of discharge status, the veteran is referred to the Veteran's Administration to obtain verification.

A-353.2 Verification of Active Duty Military

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Individuals who claim they are currently on active duty in the military must provide a:

• current Military Identification Card, Form DD-2 (Active); or
• copy of their current military orders.

If the active duty military member does not provide proof of active duty status, the advisor must request other forms of proof.

A–353.3 Verification of a Spouse or Minor Unmarried Dependent Child of a Veteran or Active Duty Military Member or Unmarried Surviving Spouse of a Deceased Veteran or Active Duty Military Member

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Staff must verify whether an alien meets the eligibility requirements as:

• a spouse or minor unmarried dependent child of a veteran or active duty military member; or
• an unmarried surviving spouse of a deceased veteran or active duty military member.

To verify, advisors may use one of the following methods:

• view Form DD-214 for the discharged veteran;
• view the Military Identification Card (DD-2) that shows that the
  alien is married to or is a minor unmarried dependent child of a veteran
  or active duty military member; or
• refer the individual to the Veteran's Administration for verification.

A–354 Verifying 40 "Qualifying Quarters"

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Advisors must verify 40 qualifying quarters for LPR applicants or household additions that must meet this requirement. Advisors use the WTPY 40 Quarters Verification System to verify covered wages. Once verified, this information does not have to be reverified.

A–354.1 Response from Social Security Administration's (SSA) WTPY System

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

SSA does not complete the posting of covered earnings quarters for any one year until the following year (around August). Example: Quarters earned in 2012 may not be posted on the WTPY system until August 2013. These quarters are referred to as “Lag” quarters.

A response from SSA on the 40 quarters verification request takes approximately 48 hours to receive.

Advisors base the quarters of covered earnings on the calendar year’s total earnings. Each year, the amount of income needed to earn a quarter changes. State office advises staff of the change each year.

For 2012, an individual must earn $1,130 to earn one quarter. If the individual earned at least $4,520 for 2012 ($1,130 x 4), the client has four qualifying quarters for the year.

Note: Advisors must not allow credit for an incomplete or future quarter. Example: The quarter of July to September 2012 cannot be counted until October
2012, even though the individual earned enough income by March 2012 to receive credit for three quarters in 2012.

A–354.2 Non-Covered Wages

Revision 18-1; Effective January 1, 2018

All Programs Except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36 

Non-covered wages are those earned by an individual whose employer was not required to pay into the Social Security system (such as certain city, federal, school or religious organization employees).

If the LPR cannot meet the 40 qualifying quarter requirement using covered earnings verified by the SSA, advisors must then obtain sufficient income verification from the individual's employer to determine the earned quarters for the period in question.

Use the chart below to determine if the individual has earned sufficient money to earn a quarter.

Example: A former custodian worked for a school district from 2008 through 2011. The school district did not pay into the Social Security system. The advisor requested that the former custodian provide verification of their earnings for this particular period.* They brought a statement from the school district verifying their wages showing they earned $9,000 for 2008. Using the chart above, the income required to earn a quarter for 2008 is $1,050. This person can be credited with four quarters for 2008 ($1,050 x 4 = $4,200).

*If HHSC already has proof of income earned, advisors do not request that the individual provide additional verification.

Note: Credit for an incomplete or future quarter is not allowed.

A-354.3 Quarters Earned On or After January 1, 1997

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Federal law requires that quarters earned on or after January 1, 1997, cannot be credited if the person who earned the quarters received means-tested public benefits.

When determining the total amount of quarters earned by an LPR,
advisors do not allow any quarters earned after January 1, 1997, if the
person received TANF, SNAP, Medicaid or SSI benefits for the quarter.
The WTPY system response does not reflect receipt of these benefits.

The SSA defines a quarter as a period of three calendar months:

• Quarter 1: January, February, March
• Quarter 2: April, May, June
• Quarter 3: July, August, September
• Quarter 4: October, November, December

A-354.4 Procedures for Verifying 40 Quarters

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Advisors must:

A-355 Verifying Alien's USCIS Documents

Revision 20-2; Effective April 1, 2020

A-355.1 SAVE Program's Verification Information System (VIS)

Revision 20-2; Effective April 1, 2020

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program's Verification Information System (VIS) is a web-based application that provides alien status information using the applicants' alien registration number.

The SAVE System provides the following types of responses:

• Initial Verification Results: First Name, Last Name, Country, Date of Entry, Date of Birth, Class of Admission (COA) and System Response; and
• Additional Verification Results: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Response, Expires On, Response Date and DHS Comments.

If the alien’s USCIS document is expired and the SAVE response shows the individual is a Lawful Permanent Resident - Employment Authorized and the Date Admitted is “Response is indefinite,” they meet alien status criteria.

Use the SAVE Verification Information System:

• at application;
• when adding a new household member identified as an alien; or
• if a person's alien documentation has expired.

Exceptions:

When SAVE does not contain information about victims of severe trafficking or non-alien family members, call the trafficking verification toll-free number at 866-401-5510 to:

• confirm the validity of the certification letter or Derivative T Visa; and
• notify the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the benefits for which the person is applying.

SAVE does not normally contain information about American Indians born outside of the U.S.

Related Policy

American Indians Born Outside the U.S., D-8420

A-355.2 How to Request an Initial Verification

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Supervisors complete and route Form 4743, Request for Applications
and System Access, to the regional security officer for employees who
need access to the SAVE system.

Advisors must follow these steps to access the SAVE system:

1. Open the VIS web site at https://save.uscis.gov/Web/vislogin.aspx?JS=YES.
2. Enter your User ID and password.
3. Select Initial Verification from the Case Administration menu.
4. Enter the document type that the applicant provided.
5. Enter the applicant's information as it appears on the document:
   • Alien Number — Do not include the letter A when entering the information in SAVE. If the A number has fewer than nine digits, add leading zeroes to make it a nine-digit number. USCIS# is used on the new I-551 cards instead of Alien Number.
   • I-94 Identification Number — known as the admission number, consists of an 11-digit field. Enter leading zeroes if the I-94 number provided has less than 11 digits.
   • Card Number — Card numbers for I-551 cards issued before November 2004 are at the bottom of the card toward the right-hand side. Card numbers for newer versions of I-551 are on the back of the
     card.
   • Last name.
   • First name.
   • Date of birth.
   • Document expiration date, if applicable.
   • Required benefits — Select the benefit type from the Benefits List (SNAP, Medicaid, TANF).
6. Select Submit Initial Verification. The response appears in the Initial Verification Results section of the same page.
7. The screen displays one of the following messages:

• Lawful Permanent Resident – Employment Authorized;
• Institute Additional Verification; or
• Temporary Resident/Temporary Employment Authorized.

Note: If the response is Temporary Resident/Temporary Employment Authorized, the alien does not meet eligibility requirements.

8. Review the results and select Print Case Details.
9. Select Complete and Close Case to close the case (only if
   additional verification is not necessary). Once a case is closed, the
   user can view it for an additional 90 days.

A-355.3 How to Request Additional Verification – Online Process

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

To request additional verification:

1. In the Initial Verification Results section, select Request Additional Verification. The Enter Additional Verification Data section appears.
2. Edit the default information if necessary, enter required information, and include as much information as possible. Use the Special Comments box to enter additional information to the Immigration Status Verifier (ISV) staff.
3. Submit the request by selecting Submit Additional Verification. The response section appears indicating that the request is in process and will return the response within three working days.
4. To view the status of the case, select View Cases from the Case Administration menu. The Case Search page appears.
5. Enter the Case Search Criteria to search for cases based on the following case status:
   •  
     • all open cases;
     • cases requiring action;
     • cases with additional verification responses;
     • cases in process; and
     • closed cases.

Select Display Case Summary List to open the Case Summary List page. The list displays the Case Status for cases that require action, cases in process, and closed cases. Click the Verification Number to view the Case Details. The user is able to print the case details, request additional verification, and close the case.

When the system is unable to verify the immigration status with the information provided by the user in the automated additional verification request, or the document appears counterfeit, altered, or expired, staff may use the manual process in A-355.4, How to Request Additional Verification – Manual Process.

A-355.4 Secondary Verification of Alien Immigration Status

Revision 20-2; Effective April 1, 2020

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35, and TP 36

If staff are unable to verify an alien's immigration status through primary verification procedures, use SAVE to request additional information from USCIS by requesting a Data Broker Combined Report through TIERS or the Data Broker Portal.

Once a request from USCIS is obtained for verification of immigration status, the information received must be processed. Staff receive one of the following responses from SAVE via the Combined Report in TIERS or in the Data Broker Portal:

• First level verification - initial verification request in TIERS.
• Second level verification - situations that require additional (secondary) verification in the Data Broker Portal.
• Third level verification - situations that require staff to upload documents for verification in the Data Broker Portal via SAVE.

For the first level verification, staff enter the information provided by the person into TIERS. Once the information is entered and SAVE is requested, SAVE will return an immediate response back indicating if the information entered was able to be verified with USCIS or if more information is needed.

If the information entered can be verified on the first level verification, staff will see the alien status, category code, and entry date. If the information entered is unable to be verified against USCIS records, then staff will have to proceed to second or third level verification responses to correctly verify the person’s citizenship and alien status.

For second level verification and third level verification responses, Data Broker automatically requests additional verification from SAVE. Once obtained from SAVE, staff receive an email from the Data Broker vendor notifying them that the verification requested has been returned from SAVE.

For second level verification responses:

• The Data Broker vendor sends a subsequent email notifying staff that the verification has been returned from SAVE.
• Staff must then:
  • login to the Data Broker Portal to retrieve the information; and
  • update the Alien/Refugee Details page in TIERS accordingly.

For third level verification responses:

• Staff must:
  • upload the verification documents requested into the Data Broker Portal;
  • not mail the documents to USCIS; and
  • ensure only one PDF file containing all required verification documents is uploaded.
• The Data Broker vendor sends a subsequent email notifying staff SAVE has returned the verification.
  • staff must then login to the Data Broker Portal to retrieve the information; and
  • update the Alien/Refugee Details page in TIERS accordingly.

Note: SAVE only populates alien sponsor information into TIERS for the additional verification response. This is unlike initial verification that populates the response data for the applicant in the appropriate ELDS tables on the TIERS Alien/Refugee-Details page.

Related Policy

Filing an Overpayment Referral, B-770
Referrals for Intentional Program Violation (IPV), B-900

A-356 Verifying Alien's Date of Entry

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

TANF and Medical Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

The date on the alien's immigration document often represents the alien's first date of entry into the United States. In some instances, an alien may be present in the United States without a qualified status. The individual may then depart and then return to the U.S. as an LPR. For these aliens, the date on their immigration document reflects the date of entry with LPR status, rather than the alien's original date of entry.

Advisors use immigration documents to verify date of entry. Advisors must allow aliens with a USCIS document showing an entry date on or after August 22, 1996, who claim to have entered before that date, an opportunity to submit evidence of their claimed date of entry. This evidence may include pay stubs, a letter from an employer, or a lease or utility bill in the alien's name.

A-357 Verifying Alien's Continuous Presence

Revision 20-1; Effective January 1, 2020

TANF and Medical Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

The USCIS maintains a record of arrivals to and departures from the country for most legal entrants.

To verify continuous presence in the U.S., submit the Form G-845, Verification Request, and Form G-845S, Supplement Verification Request, electronically through the Data Broker system to the USCIS.

Other entrants, including aliens who entered the U.S. without USCIS documents, must provide documentary evidence showing proof of continuous presence, such as a letter from an employer, a series of pay stubs, or utility bills in the alien's name spanning the period in question.

Note: The alien does not have to remain continuously present in the U.S after obtaining qualified immigrant status.

Related Policy

How to Request Additional Verification – Online Process, A-355.3
How to Request Additional Verification – Manual Process, A-355.4

A-358 Verification Sources

Revision 13-2; Effective April 1, 2013 

A-358.1 Citizenship

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

TANF and SNAP Verification Sources:

• Birth Verification System automated process (for individuals born in Texas)
• Birth certificate (see Note)
• Naturalization papers (N-560 or N-561)
• Hospital record of birth
• Baptismal record with date and place of birth
• U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
• Military service papers
• Census records showing name, U.S. citizenship or U.S. place of birth, and date of birth or age
• Voter registration card (SNAP only)
• Local, state or federal records showing birthplace in the U.S.
• Regional attorney
• Civil service employment by the U.S. government
• American Indian Card
• Report of birth abroad (FS-240)
• Certificate of birth (FS-545 or DS-1350)

Alternate Sources

• Family Bible records
• Affidavit from U.S. citizen

Note: Individuals born in Puerto Rico must provide a birth certificate issued on or after July 1, 2010, unless previously certified using a birth certificate issued before July 1, 2010. See C-932, Advisor Responsibility for Verifying Information, for information regarding assisting an individual in obtaining birth verification from Puerto Rico.

Medical Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Citizenship and Identity Verification

Verification sources are divided into two levels: Level 1 and Level
2. Level 1 sources establish both citizenship and identity. Level 2
sources establish citizenship only.

* Individuals born in Puerto Rico must provide a birth certificate issued on or after July 1, 2010, unless certified previously using a birth certificate issued before July 1, 2010. C-932, Advisor Responsibility for Verifying Information, includes information regarding assisting an individual in obtaining birth verification from Puerto Rico.

American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN)

Individuals can self-declare AI/AN status. Form H1205, Texas Streamlined Application, and Form H1010, Texas Works Application for Assistance — Your Texas Benefits, include a general question asking whether anyone in the household is an American Indian, Alaska Native, or member of a federally recognized tribe. In some instances, Yes may be selected on the application for this question, but information is not provided by the applicant in Appendix B, American Indian or Alaska Native Family Member (AI/AN), identifying the member of the household composition for Medical Programs to whom the status applies. If the name of the individual claiming AI/AN status is not provided, AI/AN status is considered not verified.

Related Policy

Providing Verification, C-930
Using State Online Query (SOLQ) or Wire Third-Party Query (WTPY) to Verify Citizenship, A-351.2

A-358.2 Alien Status

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36 

• Form I-94, I-151, I-551, I-688B (with special annotations), I-766 (with
  special annotations), or other valid USCIS records
• Contact with USCIS

TANF and Medical Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36

Alien Entry Date

• Immigration document
• Contact with the USCIS
• Pay stubs
• Letter from employer
• Lease or utility bill in the alien's name
• School records
• Other document indicating entry date

Alien's Continuous Presence

• Contact with the USCIS
• Letter from employer
• Pay stubs or utility bills in the alien's name spanning the time period in question
• School records
• Other documents spanning the time period in question