Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services Office of Medicaid 600 Washington Street Boston, MA 02111 www.mass.gov/masshealth Eligibility Operations Memo 10-07 May 1, 2010 TO: MassHealth Eligibility Operations Staff FROM: Russ Kulp, Director, MassHealth Operations RE: Requests for Social Security Numbers Introduction MassHealth is revising the regulations about who has to provide a social security number. In addition, the regulations and MA21 are being changed to allow individuals to be given a benefit for either 30 or 60 days to provide a social security number or provide proof that they have applied for a social security number. Eligibility Rules As a condition of eligibility for MassHealth and Commonwealth Care, except MassHealth Limited, Healthy Start, the Children’s Medical Security Plan (CMSP), and the Health Safety Net, all citizens, qualified aliens, and aliens with special status must provide either a social security number or proof that they have applied for one. Notification of Birth A Notification of Birth (NOB-1) form indicating that the hospital has applied for a social security number for a newborn satisfies the requirement. Coverage Types Citizens who do not provide either a social security number or proof that they have applied for one will, at the end of the request for information time period, be downgraded to Health Safety Net. Noncitizens who do not provide either a social security number or proof that they have applied for one will, at the end of the request for information time period, be downgraded to Limited if they meet the categorical and financial rules. If they do not meet the categorical and financial rules for Limited coverage, they will receive Health Safety Net. (continued on next page) Requests for Information The request for information notices, the VC1-HCR, the VCT-HCR, and the VC2-HCR, have been revised to inform individuals that they need to provide either their social security number or proof that they have applied for one. In addition, the Web site and telephone number of the Social Security Administration have been added to these forms. Current Requests for Information When these new rules are implemented, if an individual is in a request for information time period, MA21 will automatically end the current time period and start a new time period. During the new time period, the individual will receive a benefit for either 30 or 60 additional days to obtain existing outstanding verifications and either proof of a social security number or proof that he or she has applied for one. MA21 Screen Change On the MA21 Head of Household (HOH) screen, an indicator has been added to allow an entry of Y or N to the question “Applied for SSN?” Attachment Attached to this memo is a sample receipt from the Social Security Administration for an application for a social security number. Questions If you have any questions about this memo, please have your MEC designee call the Policy Hotline. Eligibility Operations Memo 10-07 May 1, 2010 Attachment Social Security Administration Important Information Social Security 200 Pleasant Street Room 215 Malden Govt center Malden, MA 02148 Claim Number: July 30, 2008 JM Dear This is to acknowledge that you applied for a Social Security number card on July 25, 2008. Before we can issue you a Social Security number card, we must verify the document(s) you gave us to show your legal status with the Federal, State or local office in the United States the issued the document. This may take up to 30 days. If that office verifies the authenticity of your document(s) we will mail you a Social Security number card. If that office does not verify your documents, you are not eligible for a Social Security number card and we will inform you of this in writing. If you are not a U.S. citizen and you are applying for a Social Security number for employment purposes and your immigration status allows you to work, you may legally begin employment while you await issuance of a Social Security number card. You cannot work if your immigration status does not authorize you to do so. If You Have Questions For general information about Social Security we invite you to visit our website at www.socialsecurity.gov on the Internet. For general questions and specific questions about your case, you may cal us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213, or call your Social Security office at 781-388-2854 and ask for . We can answer most questions over the phone. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY/TDD number at 781-322-3157. If you do call or visit an office, please have this letter with you. It will help us answer your questions. Gary D. Hart District Manager