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Section 4: EAP Documentation 4.1 EAP Statewide Application All applicants must fill out and sign the EAP statewide application. An application may be completed on the statewide application form, via the online portal, or telephonically via LSP intake staff. If the applicant is submitting a paper application, the form must be signed by the adult household member who is completing the application on behalf of the household, or a third party who is a power of attorney for the household member. The paper application form, as well as any accompanying forms, affidavits, or other documentation that require a household member signature, may not be signed by any other third party, non- household member, or individual under 18. If a third-party power of attorney is signing any documents on behalf of a household member, documentation of this authorization must be submitted as part of the application. If an applicant completes an application through the online portal, the application is electronically signed when it is submitted. The application may only be submitted by a household member aged 18 or above, or a third-party power of attorney for an adult household member. If a third-party power of attorney is submitting the application on behalf of the household, documentation of this authorization must be submitted as part of the application. Any applications or supporting documents that are determined to be submitted or signed by an individual who is not legally authorized to do so under these policies may be investigated as potential application noncompliance or fraud, and may be subject to penalties up to and including debarment from the program and responsibility to repay any benefits found to have been awarded in error due to application noncompliance or misrepresentation. When an application is submitted electronically via an approved proxy, the proxy obtains verbal permission to electronically sign on the applicant’s behalf and obtains the applicant’s acceptance of the certification and release of information statements. If LSP intake staff fill out an application online for a client during a home visit or telephonically, the applicant does not have to sign, but intake does have to read the certification statement aloud to the applicant and obtain their verbal assent. LSPs are to make notes in the statewide database to explain in these situations. If intake staff fills out a paper application for a client during a home visit, the intake staff must have the applicant sign the paper form. Federally required EAP reporting has been expanded to collect additional demographic statistics. The EAP statewide application collects eligibility information for EAP and required demographics for reporting. All EAP demographic and statistical information must be entered accurately into the statewide database and must match information provided on the application form or over the phone. The EAP application no longer collects