Connecticut Department of Social Services Uniform Policy Manual: 1505.30P Application Process - Completing the Interview

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF INCOME MAINTENANCEPRIVATE UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL _____________________________________________________________________________ Date: 11-1-93 Transmittal: UP-93-38 P-1505.30 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Eligibility Process PROCEDURES ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: AFDC The Application Process AABD _______________________________________________________________ MA Subject: FS Completing the Interview ______________________________________________________________________________

P-1505.30 1. Conduct the interview. Use the EDD or EMS screens as a guideline and review all factors related to:

° Technical eligibility;

° Categorical eligibility;

° procedural eligibility requirements;

° Financial eligibility.

2. Complete all appropriate sections of the EDD or EMS screens.

3. Assist the applicant in deciding which programs he or she wishes to apply for:

° advise the applicant of the type of assistance available;

° discuss any program options.

4. Document your findings. Use the EDD margins or EMS Remarks Screen to make notes or records of the interview.

5. Provide the applicant with any forms or materials necessary to establish eligibility or meet procedural eligibility requirements.

6. Make referrals to preventive services, HealthTrack, or other areas where appropriate.

7. For all cash and Medicaid assistance units with children under the age of twenty-one, discuss the importance of regular age appropriate well-child care, including immunizations and blood lead testing. Encouarage these assistance units to take advantage of the following services which HealthTrack staff can provide:

° helping to schedule regular medical, dental, vision and hearing appointments

° helping to find a doctor, dentist or other medical provider convenient for the family

° arranging medical transportation, if necessary

° help with eliminating barriers (i.e. child care) which prevents families from receiving medical care

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF INCOME MAINTENANCE UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL ______________________________________________________________________________ Date: 11-1-93 Transmittal: UP-93-38 P-1505.30 page 2 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Eligibility Process PROCEDURES ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: AFDC The Application Process AABD ____________________________________________________________ MA Subject: FS Completing the Interview ______________________________________________________________________________

P-1505.30 7. (continued)

° providing health education information, including the benefits of preventive health care, the importance of age appropriate immunizations and the periodicity schedule for well-child care.

° explaining the benefits and availability of the WIC program and other community services of interest

° providing information on the availability of local immunization clinics, which provide vaccines free of charge.

° reminding the client when a child is due for an appointment

8. Review the application information with the applicant.

9. Discuss with the applicant all of the eligibility factors which need to be verified. Come to an agreement with the applicant on what documents the applicant will submit, based on what is the best documentation, which the applicant can readily obtain. Refer to Chapter 1540 for guidelines on verification.

10. Provide a notice of documents that must be submitted to verify eligibility factors (W-1348). Include the deadline for submitting these documents and explanation of the consequences of not providing these documents. Also provide a list of alternative documents which can be used.

11. Ask the heads of households of all cash or Medicaid assistance units with children under the age of twenty-one, to document whether the children have a primary care provider and are receiving regular physical exams. Refer all of these clients to the HeathTrack Unit.

12. Explain that the Department may provide assistance if it will be difficult for the applicant to obtain any required verifications by the deadline.

13. Refer to the General Principles of Verification (chapter 1540) for detailed information on handling verification and evaluating evidence.

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF INCOME MAINTENANCE UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL _____________________________________________________________________________ Date: 11-1-92 Transmittal: UP-93-38 P-1505.30 page 3 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Eligibility Process PROCEDURES ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: AFDC The Application Process AABD _______________________________________________________________ MA Subject: FS Completing the Interview ______________________________________________________________________________

P-1505.30 (continued)

14. Explore any other issues, which need to be discussed.

15. Obtain signature on all pertinent forms, including the Agency/Client Agreement sections of the verification checklist. The Agency/Client section of the verification checklist does not have to be signed unless the client was interviewed in person. If an interpreter was used, require the interpreter's signature on the EDD and on other appropriate documents. Do not have the applicant sign documents that he or she does not understand.