Disabled Noncitizen - SNAP

SNAP regulations provide that certain qualified noncitizens may be eligible for SNAP based on disability as long as the disability meets RSDI or SSI standards, regardless of date of entry into the U.S. Noncitizen clients who receive any of the following Disability benefits are automatically eligible for SNAP.  These include:

• RR Disability

• Recipient RSDI Disabled Recipient/Certified

• SSI Disabled Recipient/Certified

• Aid to Blind Recipient/Certified

• MassHealth Disability

• Disabled Child Deceased Veteran/Certified

• Disabled Spouse Deceased Veteran/Certified

• Totally Disabled Veteran/Certified

• Government Disability

• Retirement Disabled Recipient

SDX Noncitizen Indicator Codes

The Noncitizen indicator Codes on the SDX Basic Screen, in PACES FMCS, is a one letter or number code which represents the individuals citizen/noncitizen status as determined by the Social Security Administration, if an SSA application has been made, and is another source to assist you in the determination of an applicant’s eligibility.

Noncitizens who do Not Receive Disability Benefits but Meet Disability Standards

Disabled Elderly Noncitizens (65 and over)

The SNAP Disability Verification for Elderly Noncitizens (SNAP-DVEN) form provides noncitizen EAEDC applicants or clients who are 65 or over and who have been in the U.S. less than five years the opportunity to apply for SNAP benefits based on disability.  The form establishes that the client has a disability for SNAP purposes:

• if a licensed medical practitioner provides the diagnoses and an explanation required in Section II

• answers Yes to each of questions 1, 2 and 3, and

• signs the form

This form simplifies the disability determination process for EAEDC elderly noncitizens not receiving SSI because of the five-year bar, but who are likely to be determined disabled at an RSDI/SSI level in light of:

• Vocational

• Educational, and

• LEP considerations

Your Responsibilities

When taking an EAEDC application for a noncitizen who is 65 or over and who has been in the U.S. less than five years, you must explore the possibility that the applicant has a disability that, once verified, may qualify the applicant for SNAP benefits.  You must ask the client if he or she has a disability and, if so you must:

• complete the food stamp portion of the BEACON application with the EAEDC application

• provide the applicant with a SNAP Disability Verification for Elderly Noncitizens (SNAP-DVEN) form and explain how to have the form completed and how to return the form along with any other necessary verifications within required time frames, and

• process the case following established procedures for completing an EAEDC and SNAP application

Noncitizen Meets Disability Standard

If the applicant/client returns the SNAP Disability Verification for Elderly Noncitizens (SNAP-DVEN) form within the required timeframe, and a licensed medical practitioner has certified that the client is disabled and meets the RSDI or SSI standards you must:

• enter the Disability page of BEACON answer the Disabled prompt with Yes and enter SSI Disabled recipient /certified in the Determination Source prompt.  At the Other Person Responsible and Review Required prompt enter No

• on the disability determination page, enter No at the reviews required prompt

• obtain other verifications as needed and approve the SNAP case within standard time frames, if eligible, and

• ensure the client has an EBT card

Noncitizen does not Meet Disability Standard

If the medical practitioner has checked No to any question in Section II of the form, you must:

• select Ineligible Noncitizen in the Reason Category prompt drop-down list on the AU tab of the AU Composition results page to deny the SNAP application

• if the applicant does not return the Disability Verification form within the required time frame, deny the SNAP application for failure to provide verifications

Special Procedures for EAEDC Non-Elderly Disabled Noncitizens (Under 65)

BEACON has been programmed to select certain noncitizens who are:

• not receiving SNAP benefits but who are receiving EAEDC

• are under the five year waiting period for SNAP eligibility, and

• have been certified by DES as meeting the RSDI or SSI disability standard

BEACON will then automatically generate a cover letter for each client describing potential eligibility for SNAP benefits and encouraging the client to complete, sign and return the enclosed special SNAP application to the TAO.  A weekly informational report entitled Disabled EAEDC Noncitizens Potentially Eligible for Food Stamps can be found in Actuate Report Viewer in the Matches Detail folder.

BEACON will also create the following message in the BEACON Narrative tab: “Disabled EAEDC noncitizen potentially eligible for FS notice sent.”  The notice itself will be displayed in the Client Communications tab.

Noncitizen Eligibility

Once a signed RFA is received, you must process the case in accordance with current procedures as outlined in Field Operations Memo 2006-30.

Since these clients are eligible for a waiver of the face-to-face interview based on disability, they should be interviewed via telephone, unless they request a face-to-face interview.  You must screen each application and provide expedited SNAP benefits, if eligible, following current procedures.

Case Manager Responsibilities

During the interview, you must:

• use available information in the cash case record and information obtained during the application interview to complete the BEACON application

• obtain verifications as needed and approve the SNAP case within standard timeframes, if eligible.  (Remember that claiming some expenses such as shelter and utility costs is optional, although these expenses may increase the amount of SNAP benefits, if verified. Also, remember to assist clients in obtaining verifications, if help is needed), and

• ensure the client has an EBT card

You must continue to process EAEDC applications as usual in accordance with current procedures for these noncitizens.  Each week, automated mailings will occur to potentially eligible noncitizens receiving EAEDC but not receiving SNAP Benefits whose disability has been RSDI/SSI certified by DES.  You must process any signed, returned RFAs.

Noncitizen does not Meet Disability Standard

BEACON has been automated to close SNAP benefits for certain noncitizen EAEDC clients who are under the five-year waiting period for SNAP eligibility and whose returned medical report is coded by DES as not disabled or disabled but not RSDI or SSI certified.  The closing reason will be: Ineligible noncitizen.  The following message will be created in the BEACON Narrative tab:  “FS client and/or AU closed because PRO disposition indicates noncitizen client is no longer disabled.  Client has a U.S. Entry Date within the last 60 months.”

Entering Disability Data

Entering Citizenship Data

Entering INS Designation

Entering Legal Permanent Resident Data

Entering Sponsor Deeming Data Noncitizen Data

Entering Sponsor Deeming Data

Disabled Noncitizen Policy and Procedures

  Last Update:  November 12, 2020