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Documents to verify Public Benefits Recipient status

To verify your Public Benefits Recipient status with ID.me, you will need to submit specific documents. You may also need to verify your identity with ID.me, if you haven’t already. This article explains the documents you’ll need to verify your Public Benefits Recipient status.

Verify your identity

If you are asked to verify your identity, you can do it with one of the following:

  • Phone number + date of birth
  • Valid US driver's license
  • Valid US state ID card
  • Valid US passport

Verify your Public Benefit Recipient status

After your identity is verified, you will need to verify your Public Benefit Recipient status. Enter information about your household, including:

  • Number of members in your household
  • Household annual income
  • The state you reside in
  • ZIP code

Acceptable documents

To verify your Public Benefit Recipient status, you must submit one of the acceptable documents below. The document needs to show that at least one person in your household participates in one of the following programs:

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance

Document Type  Requirements 
General Assistance letter from the Bureau of Indian Affairs

General Assistance Letter must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date
  •  

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

Document Type  Requirements 
Letter from school proving enrollment

School Enrollment Letter must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Name of a CEP participating school
  • Current academic year
  •  
Registration Confirmation

Registration Confirmation must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Name of a CEP participating school
  • Current academic year
Report Card

Report Card must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Name of a CEP participating school
  • Current academic year

Federal Pell Grant

Document Type  Requirements 
Financial aid award letter

Financial Aid Award letter must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • School name
  • Federal Pell Grant listed as one of the grants awarded
  • Current academic year
  •  

Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)

Document Type  Requirements 
Approval letter from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Approval letter from HUD must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Date the document was issued or expires
Lease agreement or contract from a local public housing agency (PHA)

Lease agreement or contract must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Type of Public Housing Assistance credit (ex: Section 8)
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date
Verification letter from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

Verification letter from FHA must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Document Type  Requirements 
Program approval letter or certification notice from a federal, state, or local agency

Program approval letter or certification notice must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Start and end dates of award period
  • Contact information for food distribution center

Medicaid

Document Type  Requirements 
Letter or statement from a Medicaid agency

Letter or statement from a Medicaid agency must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Be addressed from Department of Health and Human Services, Insurance provider, or Medicaid agency

  • The issued or effective date must be within the past 12 months
Medicaid ID card

Medicaid ID card must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Name of the program (Medicaid, Medi-Cal or other)

  • The issued or effective date must be within the past 12 months

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

Document Type  Requirements 
Notification of eligibility from Local Educational Agency

Notification of eligibility from Local Educational Agency must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Parent name, if shown, must match your name
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date

Qualifying low-income

Document Type  Requirements 
Current income statement from an employer

Current income statement from an employer must show the following:

  • If submitting pay stubs, file must show at least 3 consecutive months of pay or income statements
  • Must be dated within the past year
  • Proof of income is less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
Divorce decree or child support award

Divorce decree or child support award must show the following:

  • Proof of income is less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date
Prior year's state, federal, or tribal tax return

Prior year’s state, federal, or tribal tax transcripts must show the following:

  • Proof of income is less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date
Note: A 1040 Form is not acceptable. An example of an acceptable document would be a tax transcript downloaded from the IRS

Statement of benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA)

 

Statement of benefits from the SSA must show the following:

  • Proof of income is less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date
Unemployment or workers compensation statement of benefits

Unemployment or workers compensation statement of benefits must show the following:

  • Proof of income is less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date

School Breakfast Program (SBP)

Document Type  Requirements 
Notification of eligibility from local educational agency

Notification of eligibility from Local Educational Agency must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Document Type  Requirements 
Benefit statement

Benefit statement must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Program name (SNAP or state program name)
  • Eligibility dates or current participation status
Note: EBT cards are not acceptable
Program approval letter

Program approval letter must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Program name (SNAP or state program name)
  • Eligibility dates or current participation status
Note: EBT cards are not acceptable
Verification of coverage letter from federal, state, or local agency

Verification of coverage letter from federal, state, or local agency must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Program name (SNAP or state program name)
  • Eligibility dates or current participation status
Note: EBT cards are not acceptable

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Document Type  Requirements 
Supplemental Security Income statement

Supplemental Security Income statement must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Reference to Supplemental Security Income (not to be confused with Social Security benefits, which is not an eligible program)
  • Date of award
  • Award amount

Tribal Head Start

Document Type  Requirements 
Letter of enrollment from participating program

Letter of enrollment from participating program must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date

Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Document Type  Requirements 
Letter or statement from a tribal TANF organization

Letter or statement from a tribal TANF organization must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Name of TANF program
  • Award date or period

Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit

Document Type  Requirements 
Summary of pension benefits letter

Summary of benefits letter must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • Claim and pension information
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date

Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC)

Document Type  Requirements 
Benefit statement

Benefit statement must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • The benefits program’s name
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date
Note: WIC cards are not acceptable
Program approval letter

Program approval letter must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • The benefits program’s name
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date
Note: WIC cards are not acceptable
Verification of coverage letter

Verification of coverage letter must show the following:

  • First and Last Name must match Benefit Qualifying Person's name
  • The benefit program’s name
  • Date the document was issued or future expiration date
Note: WIC cards are not acceptable

 

 

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