An official State of Texas website.
Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015
All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35, TP 36 and TP 45
All applicants must provide a Social Security number (SSN) or apply for one through the Social Security Administration (SSA) before certification, unless they meet one of the criteria in this section.
Exception: Undocumented aliens are not required to apply for an SSN.
Non-applicants are not required to provide an SSN or proof of an application for an SSN. When non-applicants provide an SSN, advisors may attempt to verify the SSN using the procedures explained in A-440, Verification Requirements. If verification is not available through electronic data sources, verification of the non-applicant’s SSN must not be requested from the applicant.
SNAP
Children age six months or younger are not required to provide proof of an application for an SSN. Newborns may receive benefits with the household without providing proof of an application for an SSN for the later of:
- six months following the child's birth, or
- the next recertification/complete review.
Applicants eligible for expedited service may receive initial benefits without providing or applying for an SSN. Initial benefits can include the first two months if receiving a combined allotment.
Applicants who cannot provide required proof to apply for an SSN may receive the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for each month they have good cause. Good cause exists when circumstances beyond the individual's control prevent the individual from securing proof required to obtain an SSN.
Medical Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35, TP 36 and TP 45
Applicants do not need to provide an SSN if they meet any of the following good cause reasons:
- They are not eligible to receive an SSN;
- They do not have an SSN and may only be issued an SSN for a valid non-work reason; or
- They refuse to obtain an SSN because of a well-established religious objection. A well-established religious objection exists when the applicant:
- is a member of a recognized religious sect or division of the sect; and
- adheres to the tenets or teachings of the sect or division of the sect and for that reason is conscientiously opposed to applying for or using a national identification number.
TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35 and TP 36
Undocumented aliens applying for Emergency Medicaid are not required to provide an SSN.
TP 45
SSN requirements do not apply to TP 45.
If a TP 45 child has an SSN, advisors enter the SSN at Application Registration or during Data Collection in the Individual Information page. If the child does not have an SSN, advisors may refer the parent or caretaker to the SSA to complete Form SS-5, Application for Social Security Number.
A—411 Determining Staff Action at Application
Revision 20-2; Effective April 1, 2020
All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35, TP 36 and TP 45
| If the applicant ... | then ... |
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Note: Follow policy in A-412, Action at TANF and Medical Program Redetermination — Forms SSA-5028 or SSA-2853, for action to take at the next periodic review for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid recipients. |
| provides an SSN, |
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| provides an SSN but indicates the name and/or date of birth on record with SSA is not correct, |
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| provides an SSN but wants a replacement for a lost card, |
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* If the applicant cannot provide an SSN because the applicant is a documented alien without work authorization, refer the applicant to the local SSA office using Form H1106.
Explain the following to applicants applying for an SSN:
- the type of proof they must take to SSA to obtain an SSN (see page 2 of Form H1106, Proofs You Need to Apply for a Social Security Number Card, for common types of proof);
- the referral procedure and the results of any delay;
- that SSA must conduct a face-to-face interview with a person age 18 or over applying for an original SSN; and
- that a person applying for someone else (including an adult applying for a child) must provide proof of that person's own identity in addition to proof needed for the SSN application.
When an applicant takes Form H1106 to the SSA office, SSA:
- determines whether the applicant is eligible for an SSN;
- submits Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, for those eligible; and
- adds information to Form H1106 or provides another SSA receipt or letter verifying the applicant completed the SSN application process.
Follow policy in A-420, Failure to Comply, if the applicant does not return Form H1106 with entries made by SSA, or another receipt or letter, verifying that an application for an SSN was submitted for each applicant by the 30th day after the file date, or later, to allow at least 10 days.
SNAP
If the applicant cannot complete the SSN application process in a timely manner, explain the procedure for claiming good cause. If the applicant claims to have good cause for not complying in a timely manner, determine whether good cause applies. The application is not pended for SSA's response if good cause applies.
Related Policy
General Policy, A-410
Action at TANF and Medical Programs Redetermination, A-412
Social Security Number (SSN) Validation Through State Online Query (SOLQ), A-413
Failure to Comply, A-420
A—412 Action at TANF and Medical Program Redetermination — Forms SSA-5028 or SSA-2853
Revision 20-2; Effective April 1, 2020
TANF and Medical Programs, except TP 43, TP 44, TP 45 and TP 48
Provide the person with Form H1106, Enumeration Referral, at the next complete review when:
- Form SSA-5028 or SSA-2853 is accepted at application,
- the form is no longer current; and
- no SSN has been received.
Inform the applicant that the form must be returned within 60 days. Explain to the person the consequence of noncompliance.
The complete review must not be pended for the return of Form H1106. Set a special review for the end of the 60-day period. Follow procedures in A-420, Failure to Comply, for noncompliance if:
- Form H1106 is not returned by the deadline; and
- an SSN is not received.
If an SSN is provided at the next complete review, enter the SSN during Data Collection and run SOLQ if it is not automatically invoked by TIERS. Follow policy in A-413, Social Security Number (SSN) Validation Through State Online Query (SOLQ), if SOLQ
- verifies the SSN with a SSN Verification Code of F or X; or
- does not verify the SSN.
TP 43, TP 44 and TP 48
Follow the procedures above, but do not set a special review. Check for compliance at the next review.
Related Policy
Social Security Number (SSN) Validation, A-413
Failure to Comply, A-420
A—413 Social Security Number (SSN) Validation Through State Online Query (SOLQ)
Revision 23-1; Effective Jan. 1, 2023
All Programs except TA 31, TP 32, TP 33, TP 34, TP 35, TP 36 and TP 45
A person’s SSN is verified when all the demographic information provided by the person matches the information available in SOLQ. When the information matches, TIERS will display the SSN as validated. If the SSN is not verified, TIERS will display in the SOLQ screen the reason why the SSN is not verified.
SSN Verified
A person’s SSN is verified when SOLQ provides one of the following SSN Verification Codes:
- F: SSN is verified, but last name does not match SSN (an indication that the person has changed their last name due to marriage, divorce or adoption);
- M, P, R and V: SSN is verified; or
- X: Data exists that the validated SSN belongs to a person who is deceased.
When a person’s SSN is verified with SOLQ, but information given by the SSA shows that the person is deceased (code X) or that the name does not match (code F), the person’s identity is questionable. Clear the discrepancy before disposing the case action. If the person does not provide the information needed to clear the discrepancy, either disqualify or deny the person using failure to comply policy. Exception: When processing expedited SNAP benefits or Medicaid for Pregnant Women, certify the person with a validated SSN with verification code F or X if unable to clear the discrepancy by viewing case documentation, or contacting the household by phone. Postpone verification needed to clear the discrepancy to meet expedited processing time frames.
Note: If a person with a SOLQ verified SSN requests to change their name, date of birth or gender, the person must first update their information through the Social Security Administration.
SSN Not Verified
If the person’s SSN is not verified with SOLQ, review the information on the application and other supporting documents and update any information entered incorrectly. After making corrections, manually invoke SOLQ to re-run the verification process.
If the person’s identity is not questionable and the SSN remains unverified after re-running the SOLQ verification process, try to contact the person by phone to clear the SSN discrepancy. If unable to clear the discrepancy by phone and:
- No other information is required to determine eligibility, certify the person if all other eligibility requirements are met.
- Other information is required to determine eligibility, include the request for information to clear the SSN discrepancy on Form H1020, Request for Information or Action.
- Manually generate the Form H1020 and attach the Form HRG-83, SSN Maintenance Memorandum, before mailing.
If the person:
- Returns all requested information and staff verify the SSN, certify the person if all other eligibility requirements are met.
- Returns all requested information, but staff are unable to verify the SSN with the information provided, certify the person if all other eligibility requirements are met.
- Returns information, but not the information to clear the SSN discrepancy, certify the person if all other eligibility requirements are met.
- Does not return requested information, disqualify or deny the person.
If the person’s identity is questionable, request information to clear the discrepancy. If the information is not provided or the information provided does not clear the discrepancy, disqualify, or deny the person.
If unable to verify a person’s SSN via SOLQ, the monthly SSA interface will attempt to validate the SSN. If the monthly interface does not validate the SSN, TIERS generates Alert 268, Social Security Administration Unable to Verify SSN (RG-83), or Alert 269, Social Security Administration Reports a Duplicate SSN, to address the discrepancy.
Related Policy
Social Security Numbers (SSNs), A-144.1
Postponed Verification Procedures, A-145.1
Failure to Comply, A-420
SSN Discrepancy Clearance Procedures, A-432
Verification Requirements, A-440
Questionable Information, C-920