| Effective 07/28/2003, sponsored immigrants
have the option to not give consent for the Family Support Division to
contact their sponsor. If the immigrant chooses not to give consent,
that immigrant is not eligible to receive food stamp benefits. Other
eligibility unit (EU) members who are US citizens, immigrants who provide
consent to contact their sponsor(s), or immigrants who are not sponsored
may still be eligible to receive food stamp benefits.
Form IM-118 (Consent to Contact Sponsor)
is developed for staff to review with the applicant, have the applicant
mark whether s/he provides consent or not, and sign. The decision
marked on IM-118 applies to all EU members who have the same sponsor. A
copy of this form is attached to this memo.
Print the form to use until copies of the form are sent to county offices.
Process
Discuss with immigrant applicants that
they must give us consent to contact their sponsor while explaining other
rights and responsibilities when:
-
the immigrant has chosen to provide SSN(s)
and immigrant status for all EU members and
-
the immigrant has a sponsor who signed an
affidavit of support (I-864 or I-864A) on or after 12/19/1997.
Following discussion of the Key Points to
Discuss with Immigrant Applicants included with Memorandum
IM-56, dated 4/18/03, if appropriate:
-
Review the IM-118 (Consent to Contact Sponsor)
form with the applicant.
-
Mark whether the applicant gives consent to
contact his/her sponsor. If other EU members have the same sponsor,
write the names of the other EU members for whom consent was not given.
-
If some EU members have a different sponsor
and the applicant does not give consent to contact the other sponsor(s),
write the names of the EU members for whom consent was not given.
The applicant must sign the form.
-
File the IM-118 (Consent to Contact Sponsor)
form in the hard copy case file.
-
If the applicant chooses to provide consent,
enter the status of each immigrant on the Non-Citizen Information screen
(FMML) following current policy. Record the sponsor information on the
Sponsor Information screen (FM85).
-
If the applicant chooses to not provide consent,
enter NOC (did not agree to sponsor contact) in the Status field, application
date for the status begin date, and CS (client statement) in the Ver field.
If the applicant also provides the immigration status of the EU members
for whom consent was not provided, record the immigration status in comments.
Do not capture the sponsor information on the Sponsor Information screen
(FM85).
-
Record a comment on the FMML screen that states
the option to not provide consent was discussed with the applicant and
the applicant chose not to provide. Also indicate the form is in the hard
copy case file.
The EU member for whom consent is not provided
will fail for Non-Citizen eligibility at the Technical Eligibility Determination
on the Supercase Eligibility Unit Summary screen (FM30). If other EU members
are eligible, the overall determination will be pass. FAMIS will
prorate any income, shelter expenses other than the standard utility allowance,
or other deductions the NOC EU member has and count the prorated amount
for the rest of the EU.
At the Action Authorization screen
(FM3H), the action is RJPR (reject a person) and the reason is NOC (did
not agree to sponsor contact). |
