Every person has the right to file an application on the same day that s/he contacts IMA. An application is considered filed if it:
Is on the prescribed form;
Contains a name and address (unless homeless);
Has a signature; and
Is received by any IMA Service Center by mail or in person at any IMA center (except for IDA. See below for that program).
The Combined Application (CA) allows individuals to apply for multiple assistance programs. The CA covers the following five programs:
MA
TANF
GC
IDA , and
FS
Persons applying for multiple program benefits, such as TANF and FS, should complete the pertinent sections of the CA as outlined in the instructions. IMA staff must accept all applications presented at a Service Center during regular business hours. If the application has been sent to the incorrect Service Center, center staff should inform the applicant of the correct Service Center and give the applicant the choice of taking the application to the correct center or permitting the Service Center to forward the application to the correct center.
MA
Children under the age of 19, pregnant women, and parents and/or caretaker relatives of children under the age of 19 may use the D.C. Healthy Families application (which is shorter than the CA) if they are not also applying for TANF and/or FS. If they are also applying for TANF and/or FS, they should complete the CA.
All other MA applicants should complete a CA, filling out the pertinent sections.
TANF
All applicants should complete a CA, filling out the pertinent sections.
GC
See TANF
FS
See TANF
IDA
Applicants should complete a CA. An application for IDA is considered filed when it is received at the designated IMA service center and a face-to-face interivew is completed.
Who Must Sign the Application 1.4.1
MA
A parent or the caretaker of a child under the age of 21 must sign the application. A child under the age of 21 may sign their own application if they are a pregnant, parenting, or emancipated minor.
For adult MA applicants, either the adult applicant or his/her spouse must sign the application.
An authorized representative is also permitted to sign an MA application for a group (see Section 1.6.2: Filing an Application/Accessing Benefits on Behalf of Another Individual or Group in this Chapter).
TANF
The parent/caretaker relative or payee of the child must sign the application.
GC
An adult who exercises parental control over the child and also lives with the child must sign the application.
FS
The application must be signed by an adult group member or the authorized representative (see section 1.6.2: Filing an Application/Accessing Benefits on Behalf of an Individual or Group in this Chapter).
