Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 3, March 1, 2024
(1) In the REF and REFM programs, an
individual is not required to provide or apply for a social security number
(SSN) to be included in the need group (see OAR 461-110-0630)
or benefit group (see OAR 461-110-0750). In these programs,
the Department may request that a member of the filing group (see OAR
461-110-0310) or need group provide an SSN on a voluntary
basis.
(2) In the EA and TA-DVS
programs, an individual must provide their SSN if the individual can.
(3) Except as provided in section (6) of this
rule, to be included in the need group or benefit
group in the OSIPM and QMB programs:
(a) An individual is not required to apply
for or provide an SSN --
(A) If the individual
does not have an SSN and may only be issued an SSN for a valid non-work reason
in accordance with 20 CFR
422.104.
(B) If the individual meets all financial and
non-financial eligibility (see OAR 461-001-0000) requirements
for OSIPM except citizenship and noncitizen status requirements (see OAR
461-120-0110) and is therefore being evaluated for Healthier Oregon.
(b) When subsection (a) does not
apply, to be included in the
benefit group, an individual
must:
(A) Provide a valid SSN for the
individual; or
(B) Apply for a
number if the individual does not have a valid one and provide the SSN when it
is received.
(4) Except as provided in sections (6) to (8)
of this rule, in the SNAP program, to be included in the need
group or benefit group, an individual (other than an
unborn) must:
(a) Provide a valid SSN for the
individual; or
(b) Apply for a
number if the individual does not have one and provide the SSN when it is
received.
(5) In the
TANF program, to be included in the need group or
benefit group:
(a) Except as
provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, an individual must:
(A) Provide a valid SSN for the individual;
or
(B) Provide verification of
application for an SSN if the individual does not have one and provide the SSN
within six months of the individual's initial TANF approval.
(b) A child (see
OAR 461-001-0000) born in an Oregon hospital is eligible for TANF benefits for
up to six months from the child's date of birth.
(c) The requirement to provide an SSN, or
verification of application for SSN, may be waived or postponed for up to six
months for any member of the need group if the requirement
would put a survivor of domestic violence (see OAR
461-001-0000) at risk.
(6) In the OSIPM, QMB, and SNAP programs, an
individual is not required to apply for or provide an SSN if the individual is
---
(a) A member of a religious sect or
division of a religious sect that has continuously existed since December 31,
1950; and
(b) Adheres to its tenets
or teachings that prohibit applying for or using an SSN.
(7) In the SNAP program, the requirement to
apply for or provide the SSN is delayed as follows:
(a) An applicant eligible for expedited
services may receive their first full month's allotment without meeting the SSN
requirement but must meet the requirement before receiving a second full
month's allotment.
(b) Before
applying for or providing an SSN, a newborn may be included in a
benefit group for six months following the date the child is
born or until the next recertification of the benefit group,
whichever is later.
(8)
In the SNAP program:
(a) An individual who
refuses or fails without good cause (see subsection (c) of
this section) to provide or apply for an SSN when required by this rule is
ineligible to participate. This period of ineligibility continues until the
individual provides the SSN to the Department.
(b) An individual may participate in SNAP for
one month in addition to the month of application, if the individual can show
good cause why the application for an SSN has not been
completed. To continue to participate, the individual must continue to show
good cause each month until the application for an SSN is
complete with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
(c) An individual meets the good
cause requirement in subsections (a) and (b) of this section if the
individual provides evidence or collateral information that the individual
applied for or made every effort to supply the SSA with the necessary
information to complete the application process. Delays due to illness not
associated with a disability (see OAR 461-001-0015), lack of
transportation, or temporary absence do not qualify as good
cause under this rule.
(9) This rule authorizes or requires the
collection of an SSN for each of the following purposes.
(a) The determination of
eligibility for benefits. The SSN is used to verify income and
other assets, and match with other state and federal records such as the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Medicaid, child support, Social Security
benefits, and unemployment benefits.
(b) The preparation of aggregate information
and reports requested by funding sources for the program providing
benefits.
(c) The operation of the
program applied for or providing benefits.
(d) Conducting quality assessment and
improvement activities.
(e)
Verifying the correct amount of payments, recovering overpaid benefits, and
identifying any individual receiving benefits in more than one
household.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS
411.060,
411.070,
411.404,
411.706,
411.816,
412.014,
412.049 & 409.050
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS
411.060,
411.070,
411.404,
411.706,
411.816,
412.014,
412.049,
411.704,
414.025,
414.826,
414.831,
414.117 &
414.231
