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Volume III | Chapter 7 7001

until benefits are authorized and/or notice of denial is mailed to the applicant. At any point in the process, the applicant may decide to withdraw his request. HANDLING INQUIRIES AND REFERRALS From Individuals in State When someone seeks information about receipt of assistance payments, the worker should: 1. Determine whether the inquiry or referral is a potential application by offering to formalize an application. 2. Supply the information, document the conversation, and send a copy to the correspondence file when an application is not desired or the individual making a referral states that the potential applicant is unaware of the referral. Explain that follow-up will be made only when the county department is made aware that the individual himself recognizes his need and desires an application. 3. Take an application if the request is made to county staff or out stationed worker during official office hours. 4. Mail pages one and two (Part I) of MDHS-EA-900, MDHS Application for Assistance, informational pamphlet(s), and form MDHS-EA-300, Rights of Applicants and Recipients, to a potential applicant living in the county who calls or writes the county office requesting assistance or who has been referred by state office or by someone who states that the potential applicant is aware of the request. From Individuals Out-of-State When a request for assistance is made by an individual living or visiting out-of-state, write the individual making the inquiry or referral informing him that an application cannot be formalized until he is living in the state or, for TANF purposes, established intent to live in the state. Instruct him to contact the local county Economic Assistance Office when he arrives in the state if he wishes to apply. Tell him also that he will need to supply documentation from the agency in the other state verifying that he did not receive or will not continue to receive assistance from the state from which he is moving. This information will also provide the contact point to verify countable TANF benefit months from the other state. MISSISSIPPI [ ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION PROCESS: THE APPLICATION PROCESS]

Revised 05 - 01 - 15