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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 11/2019

APPLYING FOR OTHER BENEFITS

0012.12

MFIP: Require clients to apply for, accept benefits if eligible, and follow through with appealing any denials from other programs for which they appear eligible if those benefits would reduce their MFIP benefit. This includes SSI, RSDI, and Unemployment Insurance. They must apply for benefits within 30 days of being told of their potential eligibility. Deny or terminate eligibility if clients fail to apply without good cause. Good cause for failure to apply for these benefits is allowed when circumstances beyond the control of the applicant or participant prevent the applicant or participant from making an application.

Do not require clients to reapply for benefits which had been denied before, unless there has been a change in circumstances or eligibility requirements of that benefit program.

When a member of the MFIP unit has been awarded Workers’ Compensation, any MFIP received during the period covered by the Workers’ Compensation settlement or award is subject to recovery by the DHS Benefit Recovery Section (BRS). BRS has the authority to recover subsistence related to a workers’ compensation injury. An Interim Assistance Agreement (IAA) is not required.

DWP: Follow MFIP. Clients applying for SSI and SSDI are considered unlikely to benefit from DWP and should be converted to MFIP. See 0008.06.24 (DWP Conversion or Referral to MFIP).

SNAP: No provisions.

MSA, GA, GRH: Require clients to apply for benefits from other programs for which they appear eligible such as RSDI, SSI, Unemployment Insurance, and Veterans benefits.

People referred to apply for RSDI and/or SSI should be referred to a Social Security benefits advocacy provider to assist with the application process. See 0012.12.06 (Special Services – Applying for Social Security).

A person may be eligible for SSI and/or RSDI if they have a physical and/or mental impairment (including an emotional or learning problem) that will last more than a year, or result in death, and have significant functional impairments that affect their ability to do work activities. See 0029.06.03 (Supplemental Security Income Program), 0029.06.06 (Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance).

The Social Security Administration does not consider chemical dependency a disability. However, some people with chemical dependency might have other physical and/or mental impairments that would qualify.

In general, clients must apply for benefits within 30 days of when you notified them about their potential eligibility. Deny or terminate eligibility after 30 days if clients fail to apply without good cause. An individual may receive an extension to the 30-day requirement to apply for other benefits if they have good cause to not apply. A worker will need to enter a MAXIS case note stating good cause was granted.

A client has good cause not to apply for other benefits for any reason that is reasonable and justified in the context of surrounding circumstances.

Benefits may be approved before a client applies for other maintenance benefits.

Clients who do not appear eligible for other benefits should not be referred to apply.

Three months prior to the 62nd birthday of a person who has any U.S. work history, require him/her to sign an Interim Assistance Agreement (Non-SSI) (DHS-1795A) (PDF) and to file for Social Security early retirement benefits.

Do not require clients to reapply for benefits which were previously denied unless there has been a change in circumstances or eligibility requirements of the benefit program.