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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 10/2019

APPLICATION PROCESSING STANDARDS

0005.12.15

All assistance programs require you to process applications as soon as possible, and within a certain number of days from the date of application. Day 1 of the count starts with the 1st day following the date of application. See 0005.12.09 (Date of Application). See program provisions listed below for application processing timetables.

Processing standards are the maximum time you have to determine eligibility. Do NOT treat this time as a waiting period for eligibility.

Determine eligibility as soon as the necessary information is available. Send a notice approving, pending, or denying eligibility. See 0010 (Verification), 0026 (Notices).

The processing standards for Emergency General Assistance, DWP and expedited SNAP applications differ from standard applications. See 0004.06 (Emergencies - 1st Month Processing), 0005.12.09 (Date of Application).

Within the processing period:

● Review the application for completeness.

● Schedule and conduct the interview. See 0005.12.12 (Application Interviews).

● Verify mandatory and inconsistent items. See 0010.18 (Mandatory Verifications), 0010.21 (Verification Due Dates).

● Determine eligibility.

● Send a notice. See 0026 (Notices).

See 0005.12.15.03 (Delays in Processing Applications) for what to do when you cannot determine eligibility within the time frames listed below because clients do not provide information, for delays not caused by clients, and when not to delay processing.

See 0022.03.03 (Ineligibility in a Prospective Month - Cash), 0022.03.04 (Ineligibility in a Prospective Month - SNAP) for provisions relating to cases that are ineligible in a prospective month.

MFIP: Determine eligibility no later than 30 days following the date of the application. Clients must be eligible for assistance on the date you approve the case.

To meet the 30-day requirement, you may want to conduct interviews for minor caregivers on an accelerated schedule due to the time that social service evaluations might require. See 0004.01 (Emergencies - Program Provisions), 0012.06 (Requirements for Caregivers Under 20).

DWP: Below are various steps and time lines in processing a DWP application:

● Conduct the initial face to face interview to determine DWP eligibility within 5 working days of receiving the application. Although you must conduct an interview within 5 working days, the participant still has 30 days before the application expires. If an applicant does not show up for an appointment within the 5 days, attempt to reschedule the appointment. If more than 30 days have lapsed since the date of application, deny the application, giving proper notice.

● Determine the need for child care at the interview and complete a child care application before the interview ends. Forward the child care application to the child care worker the day that it is completed.

● Within 1 working day of determining that the applicant meets the DWP eligibility criteria, refer the participant to ES. Trigger the referral based on county policy. Some counties may choose to make the referral pending receipt of final verifications, others may choose to wait until all verifications are in. Prompt referral to ES is critical because applicants cannot receive DWP benefits until eligibility is determined and an initial EP has been developed and signed.