1330 Identity

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
TANF Policy Manual

Policy Title:

Identity

Effective Date:

April 2022

Chapter:

1300

Policy Number:

1330

Previous Policy Number(s):

MT 56

Updated or Reviewed in MT:

MT-66

Requirements

The identity of a person applying for TANF must be verified, i.e. head of household.

Basic Considerations

Verifying identification for the head of household who is a member of the assistance unit is an eligibility requirement for the TANF program. Identity of an individual who is not a member of the assistance unit (AU) but who applies to receive on behalf of the AU must also be verified.

The following list of secure and verifiable documents, published under the authority of O.C.G.A. § 50-36-2, contain documents that are acceptable verifications for identification purposes.

The documents on this list may not necessarily be indicative of residency or immigration status.

Verification of Identity

Verify identity with one of the following sources:

  • A United States passport or passport card

  • A United States military identification card

  • Department of Driver services interface

  • A driver’s license issued by one of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the United States Virgin Island, American Samoa, or the Swain Islands, provided that it contains a photograph of the bearer or lists sufficient identifying information regarding the bearer, such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address to enable the identification of the bearer.

  • An identification card issued by one of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the United States Virgin Island, American Samoa, or the Swain Islands, provided that it contains a photograph of the bearer or lists sufficient identifying information regarding the bearer, such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address to enable the identification of the bearer

  • A tribal identification card of a federally recognized Native American tribe, provided that it contains a photograph of the bearer or lists sufficient identifying information regarding the bearer, such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address to enable the identification of the bearer. A listing of federally recognized Native American tribes may be found at: www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/BIA/OIS/TribalGovernmentServices/TribalDirectory/ind

    • A United States Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card

    • An Employment Authorization Document that contains a photograph of the bearer

    • A passport issued by a foreign government

    • A Merchant Mariner Document or Merchant Mariner Credential issued by the United States Coast Guard

    • A Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card

    • A NEXUS card

    • A Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) card

    • A driver’s license issued by a Canadian government authority

    • Birth Certificate

    • A Certificate of Citizenship issued by the United States Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (Form N-560 or Form N-561)

    • A Certificate of Naturalization issued by the United States Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (Form N-550 or Form N-570)

Any document that reasonably establishes identity must be accepted. The list is not all inclusive.

In addition to the documents listed herein, if, in administering a public benefit or program, an agency is required by federal law to accept a document or other form of identification as proof of or documentation of identity, that document or other form of identification will be deemed a secure and verifiable document solely for that particular program or administration of that particular public benefit.

The requirement to verify identity does not apply to a recipient of benefits at renewals, who has previously verified his or her identity by submission of a secure and verifiable document and has also established that such applicant/recipient is a United State Citizen.