Effective October 1, 2010, natural-born U. S. citizens applying for Medicaid will no longer have to document citizenship and identify at the time of application as long as the applicant can supply a Social Security number or proof that s/he has applied for a Social Security number. The Welfare Management System uses a validation process to determine if the Social Security number provided to the local district is a valid Social Security number and the individual’s name, sex and date of birth matches the Social Security Administration’s databases. If the Social Security number is validated by the Social Security Administration to document citizenship, additional documentation will not be necessary. If there is a discrepancy with the SSA database, the individual will have 90 days to provide the local Medicaid district with documentation of citizenship and identity. The local district will include a list of the required documents when the individual is notified that s/he has to provide documentation. If the requested documentation is not provided to the local district within the 90-day timeframe, the local district will be able to close the individual’s Medicaid case.
This process will only apply to natural-born U. S. citizens who are applying for Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus coverage.
Citizenship and identity documentation will still be required:
- When any individual applies for Food Stamps and/or Temporary Assistance; or
- When a naturalized citizen applies for Medicaid.
Legal immigrants (non-citizens) will have to provide documentation of legal residency and identity when applying for any benefits.
NOTE: The New York State Department of Health (DOH) is currently working on the implementation of this change. Finalized instructions have not been issued to local districts. Applicants should continue to provide any and all requested information until this change has been implemented. We will share additional information with you as it becomes available.
Received from: Deirdre M. Dugan, Program Development Specialist 2, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities – Division of Fiscal & Administrative Solutions / Revenue Support Field Operations