1134 Data Collection of Racial/Ethnic Categories - The worker may request applicants to voluntarily identify their racial or ethnic status on the application form and shall inform the applicant(s) that this designation shall not affect their eligibility or benefit level.

When the information is not voluntarily provided by the household, the agency shall develop alternative means of providing the racial and ethnic data on households, such as observation during the interview. In these situations, the applicant's race will represent the race of the entire household.

  The worker may ask the applicant to identify his racial/ethnic origin during the telephone interview (see 1412.4)  . However, the following stipulations are necessary when the self-identification process is used in either the application process or the telephone interview:

• Applicants shall be assured by the worker that information is used for statistical purposes only in determining if the program is administered without discrimination. Racial/ethnic data shall have no effect on an applicant's eligibility to participate and it will not be used for discriminatory purposes.


• The applicant shall be advised that the information is used to ensure that benefits are available to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, or national origin.


• Applicants shall be advised that the information given will be confidential and, should they decide not to provide this information, such a decision will not have an adverse effect on determining their eligibility.