Staff must inform the household of these options before asking the applicant to provide any household member's SSN and/or immigration status.  In addition, staff must inform the household that social security numbers and/or immigration status information is used and disclosed in the same manner for ineligible household members as SSNs and/or immigration status of household members who receive food stamp benefits.  Review the revised form, IM-31B, Your Rights as a Food Stamp Applicant/Participant, prior to beginning the food stamp application process.

Consider all resources and all but a pro rata share of the income and expenses of ineligible immigrants and individuals for whom a social security number is not provided to the remaining household members.  Do not prorate the SUA.  Do not delay processing food stamp applications waiting for optional information from the household that it says it will not provide.

If a household chooses not to provide the SSN and/or immigrant status of a household member, follow these steps to exclude the individual:

• in FSU5, on the case data screens, show the individuals not providing information in the Disqualified Members field, in field 43.

 
• on the individual screen, enter a disqualification code in field 26 as applicable:
 
 A - Alien
 S - SSN


Example:  Mr. R applies for food stamps.  His brother also lives with Mr. R.  Mr. R says he will not provide any information about his brother.  All other required verification is presented at the time of application.  Process the application but do not approve food stamp benefits for Mr. R's brother because Mr. R stated he will not provide any information at the time of the application interview.

• Discuss this memorandum with all appropriate staff.

• Inform the household of the option to provide the immigration status and/or SSN of each household member prior to beginning the food stamp application process.

• Inform the household of the option to withdraw the food stamp application or not receive benefits for each household member for whom the applicant chooses not to provide the SSN and/or immigration status.

• Do not approve food stamp benefits for the individual household member if s/he refuses to provide their immigration status and/or social security number.

• Process the food stamp application if all the required verification is provided.

• File the revised IM-31B and instructions in the Forms Manual.