Changes to the Enumeration Verification Process, OPS-24-07-05 (Published July 23, 2024)
Ukrainian Special Consideration, PCA-20935-122 (Published June 21, 2022)
Afghan Special Immigrants, PCA-20693-122 (Published November 8, 2021 Revised November 15, 2021)
How to Identify the New Population of Afghan Special Immigrants, Individuals and Families of Individuals who Assisted the U.S. Overseas , PCA-20622-122 (Published August 13, 2021)
Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Initial Verification Requests and Sponsorship Compliance, PCA-20165-122 (Published September 25, 2020)
United States citizens, qualified noncitizens (including refugees and humanitarian parolees) and noncitizens who are Permanent Residents Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) are eligible for Cash Assistance if they meet all other eligibility conditions.
The CAO must review each applicant’s citizenship or noncitizen status. See the noncitizen status chart in Appendix A. For information about refugees, see Supplemental Handbook, Chapter 730.
A person who is not a citizen, qualified noncitizen (including refugee and/or humanitarian parolee), or PRUCOL is not eligible for TANF. These ineligible noncitizens may be present lawfully but temporarily, or unlawfully. Ineligible noncitizens do not have to show or declare an immigration status when applying for other eligible household members. They need only declare that they do not have immigration status entitling them to public benefits.
NOTE: Individuals with deferred action under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are not considered “lawfully present” individuals for cash benefits and should be coded as Citizenship Code 05.
An individual is still a mandatory budget group member even if they are TANF ineligible for not being a U.S. citizen, a resident alien or humanitarian parolee. The income and resources of an illegal noncitizen member who is a legally responsible relative or stepparent are deemed to the budget group. See Chapter 155.
One adult budget group member (age 18 or over) must sign the declaration of the application for benefits (PA 600 or COMPASS application). This certifies that each applicant household member is a citizen or a noncitizen with lawful immigration status. If there are no adult members, the applicant must sign the statement for all members.
Effective as of December 18, 2006, CAOs must ask TANF applicants for proof of citizenship and identity for themselves and other persons for whom they are applying. At renewal, TANF recipients must provide proof of citizenship and identity for themselves and other budget group members if they have not already provided proof.
An adult member who refuses to sign the declaration is ineligible for benefits unless another adult member of the budget group signs for all members. If a signature cannot be obtained, each adult who refuses to sign the declaration is ineligible for benefits. The ineligible person’s income and resources will be considered available to any remaining members when determining their eligibility. The CAO must keep the signed declaration in the case record permanently. The declaration needs to be signed only once as long as the original signer remains part of the budget group.
NOTE: TANF applicants or recipients may not be denied Cash Assistance or have Cash Assistance benefits delayed or closed if the person or family cooperates with the CAO in getting acceptable documentation of citizenship and identity but fails to provide documentation of citizenship and identity that meets Medical Assistance requirements. The CAO must use the Citizen and Identity Form (PA 1809) to verify citizenship and identity for TANF cash and Medical Assistance applicants and recipients.
Updated September 27, 2024, replacing May 29, 2018