New Federal Citizenship and Identity Requirements

As you may know, most members must reapply for health benefits each year. This year, because of a new law, there are extra steps you may need to take to reapply. U.S. Citizens may need to show citizenship and identity documents.

WHAT YOU NEED

Members age 16 and older may need:

• U.S. Passport or Certificate of Naturalization
  
  OR
  
• U.S. Birth Certificate* AND
• Driver's license or state photo ID card or school photo ID

Members younger than age 16 may need:

• U.S. Passport or Certificate of Naturalization
  
  OR
  
• U.S. Birth Certificate* AND
• Parent's signature on application or attestation form verifying identity for children under 16 or school photo ID

Click here to see a list of other acceptable documents.

*If you or your child(ren) were born in Rhode Island, you can get originals of your or your child(ren)’s birth certificate at the:

• City/Town Hall where you or your child(ren) were born
• City/Town Hall where you or your child(ren) resided at time of birth
• State Office of Vital Records.The information for Vital Records is:
  - 1-401-222-2811
  - Can take up to 6-8 weeks
  - Cost is $15 for Rhode Island birth certificate
  - Need to show government issued photo ID or two bills showing your current address if you do not have a government issued photo ID
  - 2 weeks for “rush” – additional $5

*If you or your child(ren) were born outside of Rhode Island, you can find out how to get out-of-state birth certificates by going to: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm

GET READY

• If you don’t already have these documents for you and your family, get them ready now. It may take several weeks to get them.
  
• You may need to be ready for when it’s time to reapply.
  
• When it's time, you will be required to submit these original documents to a Family Resource Counselor (FRC) or at your local DHS office.
  
• FRCs are located at health centers and some hospitals and community-based agencies. Call the Rhode Island Health Center Association at 274-1771 x201 or click here to find an FRC near you.

If you are a U.S. Citizen and you need information on how to get citizenship and identity documents for you or your family, call Neighborhood Customer Service at 1-800-459-6019 today.