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Immigrants who are eligible for federal nutrition
assistance often face daunting obstacles in their attempts to complete
the application process for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program). The Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently
issued policies that seek to reduce two of the access barriers faced by
eligible immigrant households. One is national guidance on verification
of a sponsor's income, and another is a letter to one state clarifying
procedures for verification of an immigrant's income.
The nationally distributed policy, "Whether
Verification of Sponsor's Income is Required to Determine Indigence,"
clarifies that sponsored immigrants who are seeking the indigence
exemption to deeming (for immigrants who would go hungry or homeless
without assistance) should not be required to provide information about
a sponsor's income before the agency determines whether the immigrant is
indigent. Such verification is an unnecessary barrier given that
federal food stamp regulations stipulate that the immigrant is
considered indigent if all income actually provided does not exceed 130
percent of the poverty income guidelines for the household's size. The
memo is consistent with USDA's previous guidance, which indicated that
immigrants who are exempt from sponsor deeming are not required to
provide verification of a sponsor's income. An immigrant who is
indigent is exempt from sponsor deeming.
Second, a memo to the Food Stamp (SNAP) Director in the
Mid-Atlantic Regional office regarding a Virginia policy corrects that
state's practice of refusing to accept a pay stub bearing a different
name and Social Security number as proof of earnings. The memo, "Household
Member's Name Differs from the Name Contained on the Earnings Statement
Used to Verify Income," reminds states that such documentation is
being used to prove earnings, not to prove identity. The letter also
reminds states that federal rules call for states to be flexible in
their verification requirements, to assist households in proving income,
and to accept any "reasonable" documentary evidence.
For more information, contact
Dinah Wiley, public benefits policy
attorney.
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