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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 02/2022

APPLICATIONS

0005

Before people can receive any assistance benefits, they (or their authorized representative) must complete an application and meet eligibility requirements. See 0005.06 (Authorized Representatives), 0005.12.03 (What Is a Complete Application).

"Application" refers to the Combined Application Form (CAF) or MNbenefits application. See 0002.03 (Glossary: Agent Orange...) for the definition of application. Also see 0005.09 (Combined Application Form (CAF)), 0005.09.03 (When People Must Complete an Application), 0005.09.09 (When to Use an Addendum to an Application).

"Applicant household" means people who apply for assistance together. "Assistance unit" or "unit" means people who receive benefits together. People who apply as the applicant household on an application may be in separate assistance units. If you find 2 or more assistance units living in the same applicant household, each unit may choose to file its own or a joint application.

Certain people must sign the application. See 0005.12.06 (Who Must Sign Applications).

In some cases you cannot require an application but can require an addendum. See 0005.09.06 (When Not to Require Completion of an Application), 0005.09.09 (When to Use an Addendum to an Application).

Counties must have staff available during office hours to answer program questions and advise people of their right to file an application. See 0005.03 (Assistance Requests).

At client request, counties may evaluate a person’s circumstances (before he or she files an application) and predict eligibility. See 0005.03.03 (Predicting Eligibility).

Encourage people to apply for assistance in their county of residence. However, you must accept applications from residents of other Minnesota counties. Follow the instructions in 0005.12 (Accepting and Processing Applications) for handling applications from residents of other counties. Also see 0005.12.09 (Date of Application), 0006 (Determining Financial Responsibility).

The application process includes the following steps: ● A person contacts the county agency.

● The county agency advises the person of his or her right to file an application, tells the person how and where to apply, and, if necessary, assists the person with the application.

● The county agency provides information on the kinds of assistance available, and other community resources which may be available. For more information on helping clients requesting assistance, see 0005.03 (Assistance Requests), 0005.03.03 (Predicting Eligibility).

● A person files an application. The application process begins with the completion of page number 1 of the Combined Application Form (CAF) containing the name, address and signature of the applicant or the submittal of an MNbenefits application.

● The county agency evaluates the application for emergency need and expedited service. See 0004 (Emergencies), 0005.09.15 (Emergency Assistance and Applications).

● Check for duplicate program participation through MAXIS Person Search.

● The county agency conducts an interview. See 0005.12.12 (Application Interviews).

● The applicant provides verifications. See 0010 (Verification).

● The county agency determines eligibility and the beginning date of eligibility.

● The county agency notifies the applicant of eligibility or ineligibility. See 0026 (Notices).

For specific information on the date of application for a CAF or MNbenefits application, see 0005.12.09 (Date of Application)

People must meet program eligibility requirements within the application processing period. If the unit is not eligible by the end of