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Seal Use and Colors | HHS Symbol For questions or additional information about the HHS logo and seal, please contact . The logo is for official use of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Approved uses are:
The logo cannot be used
Size The logo should never be reduced to a size of less than 5/8 inch in diameter. Logo Colors The official color of the HHS logo is HHS Blue. RGB decimal code: R24 / G83 / B148. The logo may also be rendered in black or white. Two-or multi-color reproduction of the logo is not permitted. Seal Use and ColorsUse the HHS seal for:
The seal cannot be used:
Size The seal should never be reduced to a size of less than 5/8 inch in diameter. Seal Colors The official color of the seal is HHS Blue. RGB decimal code: R24 / G83 / B148. The seal may also be rendered in black or white. Two-or multi-color reproduction of the seal is not permitted. Social Watermark and ColorsThe HHS social watermark is used specifically for HHS social media graphics. The watermark should be rendered in black or white. In some cases, this mark may be rendered in HHS Blue. The RGB decimal code for this color is: R24 / G83 / B148. Two-or multi-color reproduction of the watermark is not permitted. HHS SymbolThe symbol is the key element in Department identification. The symbol represents the American People sheltered in the wing of the American Eagle, suggesting the Department’s concern and responsibility for the welfare of the people. This symbol is the visual link which connects the graphic communications of all components and programs of the Department. It is the major design component for the Department logo and seal. The symbol can never be altered and must always be positioned with the eagle facing left. It should never be reduced to a size of less than 1/4 inch in height. Content created by Digital Communications Division (DCD) Dear State Health and Welfare Officials: SUBJECT: Policy Guidance Regarding Inquiries into Citizenship, Immigration Status and Social Security Numbers in State Applications for Medicaid, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Food Stamp Benefits Since 1993, the Clinton
Administration and states have worked diligently to ensure that eligible persons are enrolled in and have access to federal benefit programs and services. Medicaid, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Food Stamp supports are critical for all eligible low-income families, especially those trying to make the transition from welfare to work. The Administration will continue to work with states to reduce and eliminate access barriers
that discourage the enrollment of all eligible program participants, including those in immigrant families. For example, in May 1999, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) issued comprehensive guidance regarding the standards used for making public charge determinations. The public charge guidance was issued to address concerns in immigrant communities about the consequences of participating in public assistance programs such as TANF, Medicaid, SCHIP and Food Stamps. We also have
worked with states to simplify and streamline their application forms and processes and to reduce administrative barriers to enrollment. Recent information, however, has focused attention on another barrier: that U.S. citizen children and other eligible persons who live in immigrant families still may be deterred from applying for benefits because they are concerned about responding to certain questions on application forms regarding the disclosure of immigration status and social security
numbers (SSNs) for family members who are not seeking assistance. This concern appears to stem from uncertainty among immigrant families regarding the confidentiality of information provided to states and the fear that states may provide information about family members to the INS. Although federal law may sometimes require states to ask these questions of applicants, many states are requiring non applicants to disclose immigration status and/or SSNs, even though this information is not legally
required. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color and national origin by federal fund recipients. To the extent that states' application requirements and processes have the effect of deterring eligible applicants and recipients who live in immigrant families from enjoying equal participation in and access to these benefit programs based on their national origin, states inadvertently may be violating Title VI. To help states understand their responsibility for enrolling eligible children and families, and to reduce and eliminate access barriers, we are providing this guidance and the accompanying set of Questions and Answers (Qs&As){PDF/146KB}. Together, they clarify when a state is required to request information about citizenship, immigration status, and social security numbers (SSNs) on joint and single-program applications, when a state is not required to do so, and the circumstances under which a state mayor may not deny benefits when an applicant does not provide the information that the state has requested. The guidance and the accompanying (Qs&As) also clarify policy in the TANF program and set forth new policy in the Food Stamp program intended to provide states with greater flexibility to design their application forms and procedures to eliminate access barriers for eligible children and adults in immigrant families. Section I of the guidance sets forth basic rules regarding inquiries into citizenship and immigration status during the application process. Section II addresses the application of the basic requirements of the Privacy Act to inquiries regarding social security numbers on benefit application forms. Section III outlines the content of the accompanying set of (Qs&As). These (Qs&As) are an integral and important part of this guidance, as they detail the specific rules and how those rules are applied in the Medicaid, SCHIP, TANF and Food Stamp programs. Finally, Section IV outlines specific suggestions to help states make changes to their application forms and processes to eliminate access barriers in conformity with this guidance. I. Application Requirements and Inquiries Regarding Citizenship or Immigration Status Under federal law, states are required to establish the citizenship and immigration status of applicants for Medicaid (except emergency Medicaid), SCHIP, TANF and Food Stamps. However, states may not require applicants to provide information about the citizenship or immigration status of any non-applicant family or household member or deny benefits to an applicant because a non-applicant family or household member has not disclosed his or her citizenship or immigration status. Thus, for example, in the Medicaid program, if benefits are being sought only for the child, the child is considered the "applicant," and the state is required to establish the citizenship and immigration status of the child, but not the child's parents. Further, the state may not deny benefits to the child, if otherwise eligible, because the child's parents have not provided information to establish that they are citizens or qualified immigrants. It is important to underscore that each federal benefit program has somewhat different rules and policies regarding who is and is not considered "an applicant." While Medicaid and SCHIP allow -- indeed encourage -- individual children to apply for and receive benefits, TANF and Food Stamps, as a general rule, require families or households to apply for benefits as a unit. The accompanying (Qs&As) explain in detail how the rules regarding the requirements for establishing citizenship and immigration status are applied within each benefit program. II. Application Requirements and Inquiries Regarding Social Security Numbers States must comply with the Privacy Act and other federal laws when seeking disclosure of an individual's SSN. Under the Privacy Act, � 7(a), states are prohibited from denying an individual any right, benefit, or privilege provided by law because of the individual ' s refusal to disclose his or her social security number (SSN) unless such disclosure is required by federal statute, or the state maintains a system of records in existence and operating before January 1,1975, and the disclosure of the SSN was required under statute or regulation adopted prior to that date to verify the identity of an individual. Where a state is not authorized to require an individual to disclose his/her SSN, states may request that individuals voluntarily provide SSNs. However, under the Privacy Act, any time a state agency requests an individual to disclose his or her SSN, that agency "shall inform that individual whether that disclosure is mandatory or voluntary , by what statutory or other authority such number is solicited, and what uses will be made of it." (Privacy Act of 1974 � 7(b�. Thus, in the Medicaid example cited earlier in Section I, states can ask non-applicant parents for their SSNs to verify income, but to avoid a potential violation of the Privacy Act, they must clearly indicate that the provision of this information is voluntary and that their SSNs will be used, for example, only to verify their income. States also should inform the non-applicant parents that the failure to provide their SSNs voluntarily will not affect the eligibility of their child, if otherwise eligible. The Privacy Act, as a general rule, prohibits states from denying program benefits to certain applicants who do not disclose their SSNs if the disclosure is not required by federal statute. In addition separate and apart from the Privacy Act prohibitions, Medicaid, SCHIP and Food Stamp laws and federal policies prohibit states from denying benefits to an applicant because of the failure of another household member to disclose his or her SSN. Again, because of differences among the Medicaid, SCHIP, TANF and Food Stamp programs, the specific rules and procedures for each program with regard to SSN inquiries are set forth in detail in the accompanying set of (Qs&As). III. Program-Specific Rules The accompanying (Qs&As) detail program-specific rules and provide further explanation of: I) the legal and policy basis for this guidance; (2) the circumstances under which a state may and may not request information about citizenship, immigration status and SSNs on single and joint-program applications; (3) when a state may and may not deny benefits because an applicant has not provided the information the state has requested; and (4) other implementation issues. IV. Suggestions for States We recognize that most states have consolidated their application forms and use joint applications for Medicaid, SCHIP, TANF , Food Stamps and other benefits. Joint applications eliminate duplication for states and applicants, and they help ensure that applicants receive all the benefits to which they may be entitled, not just benefits for which they had originally intended to apply. We also recognize that designing consumer-friendly, non-discriminatory joint application forms that combine eligibility requirements for different federal and state benefit programs can be challenging, especially given the recent and significant changes introduced by welfare reform. States need to review and possibly modify their application forms to make them consistent with this guidance. Given the variety of application forms and processes used by states, it is difficult to provide specific direction as to how each may need to be modified. Federal regional offices are available to provide technical assistance, and we encourage states to work with them as they adapt application forms to be consistent with this guidance. The following general recommendations may be helpful:
We look forward to working with you and are available to provide technical assistance at your request. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the issues discussed in this letter, please contact our regional staff. Sincerely, /S/ /S/ /S/ /S/ Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR) What seal is on a Social Security card?The current Social Security card consists of specially designed pre-printed banknote paper bearing the words, "Social Security," and the official seal of SSA. The statement, "This number has been established for" is printed across the official seal, in the middle of the card.
What does DHS mean on a Social Security card?If you have a social security card that says “Valid for Work Only With DHS Authorization”, it means your immigration status is valid, but you need separate documents to prove that you are allowed to work in the United States – for example with an Employment Authorization Document.
What is SSN card annotated with DHS authorization restriction?Shows your name and Social Security number with the restriction, "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION". We issue it to people lawfully admitted to the United States on a temporary basis who have DHS authorization to work.
Can I work with SSN Valid for work only with DHS authorization?Do not accept an employee's restricted Social Security card that is stamped with one of the following restrictions: “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION”
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