Department of Human Services: Chapter 2: Sections 2.3.1 thru 2.3.2

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PART III: APPLICATION PROCESSING

CHAPTER 2: PROCESSING TIMEFRAMES

Household-Caused Delays in Benefits Processing 2.3.1

MA	N/A
TANF	N/A
GC	N/A
FS	The following actions or situations lead to household-caused delays: The household fails to complete the application form and the SSR has offered or attempted to offer assistance in its completion; One or more members of the household has failed to register for work (see Chapter 1: Work Requirements in Part V) and the SSR has informed the household of the need to register for work and has given the household at least 10 days from the date of notification to register these members; Verification is incomplete, and the SSR has provided the household with 'A Statement of Required Verification,' offered to assist the household in obtaining required verification, and allowed the household at least ten days from the date of the SSR's initial request for missing verification to comply; or The household failed to appear for an interview and the SSR has attempted to reschedule the initial interview within 30 days following the date the application was filed. However, if the household has failed to appear for the first interview, and a subsequent interview is postponed at the household's request or cannot otherwise be rescheduled until after the 20th day but before the 30th day following the date the application was filed, the household must appear for the interview, bring verification, and be referred for the FSET program by the 30th day. Otherwise, the delay is the fault of the household. If the household has missed two scheduled interviews and requests another interview, any delay is the fault of the household. If by the 30th day the SSR cannot take further action on the application due to household delays, the household loses its entitlement to benefits for the month of application. Send a notice of denial to the household. Inform the household that they have an additional 30 days to take the required action without filing another application and if found eligible during that time, benefits will begin from the date that the required information is provided. No further action by the SSR is required after the notice of denial is sent, if the household fails to take the required action within 60 days following the date the application was initially filed.

Department-Caused Delays in Benefits Processing 2.3.2

N/A

TANF

N/A

The following actions or situations constitute a Department-caused delay:

The SSR fails to notify the household of any action it must take to complete the application process;
The SSR fails to schedule the required interviews in a timely manner; or
The SSR fails to determine household recertification or initial eligibility in sufficient time to provide for issuance of benefits by the household's next normal issuance and the household provided all required information in a timely manner.

If the household is determined eligible and the Department was at fault for the delay in the initial 30 days, immediate corrective action shall be taken by the Department. If the Department caused the delay, the application will not be denied. The household will be notified by the 30th day following the date the application was filed that it is being held pending and will be notified of any action it must take to complete the application process. If verification is lacking, the Department must hold the application pending for 10 days following the date of the initial request for the missing item of verification.

If the Department is at fault for not completing the application process by the end of the second 30 day period and the case file is otherwise complete, continue to process the original application until an eligibility determination is reached. If the household is determined eligible and the Department was at fault for the delay in the initial 30 days, the household shall receive benefits retroactive to the month of application. Lost benefits are always provided to the household for the period in which the delay was Department caused.

If the case is denied based on circumstances that changed since the original application date, advise the household of its possible entitlement to benefits lost as a result of a Department-caused delay.

Example

Mr. Jones applies for FS benefits on April 15. The Department did not make an eligibility determination until July 1 due to a Department-caused error. In July, the application was denied because Mr. Jones was over-income for the program. Mr. Jones, however, had no income when he initially applied for benefits. He found a job in June and became over-income for benefits in June. Mr. Jones is eligible for back-benefits for the April and May benefits he should have received based on his circumstances in those months.

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