Wyoming DFS Application: Documents You Need to Bring

Why Document Preparation Matters

The most common reason DFS applications stall is missing paperwork. You submit the Application for Assistance, then complete the phone interview by calling 307-777-8550 or arrange an in-person interview through your local DFS office. A caseworker may ask for a document you do not have. The application can stay in a holding pattern while you track it down.

Gathering everything before your interview saves weeks.

The Core Documents

Child's identity and age — the child's birth certificate is the primary document. A passport or hospital birth record can also verify age. If the child was born in Wyoming and you do not have the birth certificate, DFS can request a free copy from the Wyoming Department of Health's Vital Records Department for DFS purposes.

Social Security numbers — for POWER, DFS requires a Social Security card copy or an agency interface record for each assistance-unit member. For SNAP, each assistance-unit member must provide an SSN or proof of application for one; DFS verifies SSNs through its SSA interface.

Proof of Wyoming residency — a current lease agreement, mortgage statement, or utility bill showing your Wyoming address. A driver's license, postmarked mail, or a landlord affidavit can serve as alternatives.

Proof of kinship relationship — birth certificates that link you to the child through the parent. If you are the grandmother, that means the child's birth certificate (showing the parent) and the parent's birth certificate (showing you). Court records, school enrollment records showing the relationship, or paternity records can substitute.

Proof of caretaker control — DFS needs to verify that the child lives with you and that you exercise daily care. A certified court order of guardianship is the strongest proof, but it is not required. School address records, a medical clinic record listing your address for the child, daycare enrollment, or a landlord statement confirming the child resides at your address all work.

Income Documentation

For the POWER Caretaker Relative child-only grant, DFS only evaluates the child's income. If the child has no income of their own, you may not need extensive income documents for POWER specifically. But if the child receives Social Security survivor benefits, child support, or any other payments, bring the award letter or payment records.

For SNAP, DFS counts all household income. Bring:

• Your most recent 30 days of pay stubs (if employed)
• Social Security award letter or pension stub
• Any other income documentation (rental income, self-employment records)
• Tax returns can serve as a backup if other documents are unavailable

For the ECARES childcare subsidy, bring your employer's contact information and work schedule along with income documentation.

What If You Are Missing a Document?

Do not delay submitting the application because one document is missing. For SNAP, timely verification can allow benefits back to the application date. POWER follows its Pay-After-Performance schedule, and ECARES authorization cannot begin before the application, approved activity, child-care start, and provider-eligibility dates. Then work on gathering the missing document. DFS gives you a window to provide verification, and the caseworker will tell you what is still needed after the interview.

If you are missing the child's birth certificate entirely, you can order one from the Wyoming Department of Health's Vital Records Services or the state where the child was born. Processing takes time, so start this immediately.

Keeping Copies

Make copies of everything you submit to DFS — every form, every verification document, every piece of correspondence. If a document gets lost in the system, you will need to resubmit, and having copies prevents starting from scratch. Note the date you submitted each document and the name of the person you spoke with.

The Wyoming Kinship Financial Help Guide includes a printable document preparation checklist organized by program — POWER, SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, ECARES — so you can see at a glance exactly what each agency needs before you walk into your interview.

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