.4 Interviews

All applicant households, including those submitting applications by mail, shall have face-to-face interviews in a food stamp office or other mutually acceptable location, including a household’s residence, with a qualified eligibility worker prior to initial certification and all recertifications except when waived in accordance with Sections 63-300.42, .43, and .44. Interview requirements for PA and GA applicants are detailed in Section 63-301.6. Interviews conducted in the household’s residence must be scheduled in advance with the household. The individual interviewed may be the head of household, spouse, any other responsible member of the household, or an authorized representative. The individual interviewed may bring any person he/she chooses to the interview. The interviewer shall not simply review the information that appears on the application, but shall explore and resolve with the household unclear and incomplete information and document any changes in household circumstances that have occurred between the time the application was filed and the time of the certification interview. Households shall be advised of their rights and responsibilities during the interview, including but not limited to, the appropriate application processing standard, the household's responsibility to report changes, that eligibility will be determined without discrimination, and the availability and amount of the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA). The interview is an official and confidential discussion of household circumstances with the applicant. The applicant shall be made to feel at ease during the interview and in all instances the household's right to privacy shall be respected. Facilities shall be adequate to preserve the privacy and confidentiality of the interview. The scope of the interview shall not extend beyond the examination of household circumstances which directly relate to the determination of household eligibility and basis of issuance.