Connecticut Administrative Code › Title 17b - Social Services › 198 - The State-Administered General Assistance Program › Section 17b-198-6 - Determining eligibility. Assistance unit obligations

Current through July 10, 2024
(a)
Disclosure of Social Security number.
(1) Each assistance unit member shall disclose his or her Social Security number as a condition of eligibility for assistance pursuant to SAGA. An assistance unit member who has been issued multiple Social Security numbers shall disclose each number. Disclosure of a Social Security number pursuant to this subsection may be based upon such member's memory or a written document, including, but not limited to, a wage stub, a Social Security award or denial letter, an income tax return, a Social Security card, a bank book or statement, an insurance policy or any other document such member believes accurately reflects his or her Social Security number. An assistance unit member shall be required to apply for a Social Security number as a condition of such member's eligibility for assistance if such member has not been issued a Social Security number or has been issued such a number but (A) does not recall such number and has no record of it, (B) the department is unable to confirm such number, or (C) a discrepancy exists between the number provided to the department by such member and information from other sources available to the department. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (5) of this subsection, the assistance unit member shall be responsible for ensuring that any application for a Social Security number required by this subsection is filed with the Social Security Administration. An assistance unit member shall remain ineligible for assistance pursuant to SAGA until such member discloses a Social Security number or files an application for such a number, whichever is required under this subsection.
(2) The department shall confirm the validity of each Social Security number disclosed to it pursuant to this subsection, and each such number shall be used by the department only for verifying the identity of an assistance unit member, such member's income and assets and any benefits received by such member.
(3) Any person who is not applying for or eligible to receive assistance pursuant to SAGA for any reason other than failing to disclose or apply for a Social Security number may voluntarily disclose his or her Social Security number to the department or apply for such a number, but such disclosure or application shall not be required as a condition of eligibility for any assistance unit member.
(4) Whenever the department requests that a person disclose or apply for a Social Security number, the department shall inform such person of whether cooperation with such request is mandatory or voluntary, of the statutory or other authority pursuant to which such request is made and how such number will be used by the department when disclosed, including that the Social Security number of any person whose income is considered in determining whether an applicant is financially eligible shall be used to verify such income. The department shall inform any person whose disclosure of a Social Security number is voluntary that his or her failure to disclose such number shall not result in the denial or discontinuance of assistance for any person.
(5) If a member of an assistance unit informs the department that he or she does not recall his or her Social Security number or has not been issued such a number, the department shall offer to assist such member. If such member requests the department's assistance, the department shall:
(A) Assist such member in completing an application for a Social Security number;
(B) Obtain any evidence pertaining to such member's citizenship or alien status, age and identity that is required by the Social Security Administration and necessary to complete such application; and
(C) When appropriate, send such application to the Social Security Administration or, if evidence suggests that a Social Security number was previously issued to such member, request such number from the Social Security Administration.
(6) The department shall not delay an eligibility determination while confirmation or issuance of a Social Security number is pending unless (A) there is a discrepancy between the Social Security number disclosed by an assistance unit member and other information obtained from a source used by the department, and (B) such member fails to cooperate in resolving such discrepancy. The department shall not penalize an assistance unit member for failing to disclose or apply for a Social Security number unless the department first complies with the provisions of subdivision (5) of this subsection.