Citizenship and Identity Documents for Medicaid

Citizenship and Identity Verification Documents – T1 – T4

T1 Documents (Only Tier 1 documents are considered by the federal government to document both citizenship and identity).

  • US Passport.
  • Enhanced Drivers license or state ID (only if issuing state verifies citizenship to issue enhanced document)
  • Certificate of Naturalization.
  • Certificate of Citizenship.
  • Tribal Membership Card with picture.

T2 Documents

  • Official state/county US birth certificate. ***
  • Other certification of birth issued by the Department of State.
  • Department of Health (DOH) printout for Washington State Birth
  • US Citizen ID card.
  • Final adoption decree in the US.
  • Evidence of civil service employment by the US government before June 1976.
  • Official military record of service that shows a US place of birth.

***NOTE: A "hospital" birth certificate is considered by the federal government to be a souvenir and DOES NOT meet the federal requirement for any "T" level of verification.

T3 - Examples

The T3 tier of verification must be created 5 years before the date of initial application or eligibility review.

  • Religious records within 3 months of birth showing US place of birth.
  • Early school record showing a US place of birth.
  • Insurance company records (life or health), that indicate a US place of birth.
  • US hospital record created at the time of birth, indicating a US place of birth such as:
    • Chart notes of the birth.
    • Hospital records of the baby's stay in the hospital.
  • Other document that shows a U.S. place of birth that was created at least 5 years prior to the client’s initial application for Medicaid.

T4 - Examples

  • Federal or State census record indicating US citizenship or US place of birth.
  • Institutional admission papers indicating a US place of birth and created 5 years before the date of initial application or review.
  • Other medical records (clinic, doctor, or hospital), created five years before the date of initial application or review that indicate a US place of birth.
  • Citizenship Affidavit (DSHSH 27-033)
  • The Citizenship Documentation and Identity Declaration form (DSHS 13-789) does not fulfill this requirement.
  • Clients exempt from citizenship requirements due to SSI, Medicare or receiving SSA disability if no level T1 or T2 exists.

Identity - Examples

  • A current state driver's license with individual's picture.
  • A state identity card with individual's picture.
  • A US American Indian/Alaska Native tribal document.
  • Military identification card with individual's picture.
  • For disabled individuals in residential care facilities the facility administrator or director may submit affidavits attesting to the client's identity.

A child under the age of 16 (or 16-17 if they have no ID verification above) may present the following documents as evidence of identity:

  • Citizenship Documentation and Identity Declaration form (DSHS 13-789) signed by the parent or guardian attesting to the child's identity.
  • School record (including daycare and nursery school records)
  • Clinic, doctor or hospital record.