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Volume III | Chapter 7

considered valid applications. In Other Places - Eligibility staff of the county department or an out stationed worker on official duty are authorized to accept applications outside the county office. A request may come while a worker is interviewing in a branch office or in the home of an individual. In some instances, the worker will go to the home, hospital, or another place to take an application for an individual who is incapacitated and unable to visit the county office. Upon returning to the office, the worker will follow regular procedures for registering and handling of the application. Requests made to a worker on the street or while the worker is not on duty or made in some other informal manner should be handled by letting the individual know the address and office hours of the county department and the individual's right to apply there. INITIAL INTERVIEW Requirement At least one interview with the legal parent or the grantee relative must be held during the TANF application process. A second parent may be interviewed when there are two parents in the home, but an interview with the second parent is not mandatory. However, the second parent must sign the application form and complete the MDHS-EA-312, Personal Responsibility Contract. Normally the interview will be held in the county office but may be held in the home or another place based on circumstances. On a case by case basis, a telephone interview may be granted in situations where the caretaker relative is unable to come to the office due to hardships such as, but not limited to, illness, care of a household member, hardships due to residency in a rural area, prolonged severe weather, or work or training hours which prevent the caretaker relative from participating in an in-office interview. Waiver of the face-toface interview does not exempt the household from providing all necessary verification requirements as outlined later in this chapter. The initial interview appointment will be scheduled no later than 10 days from the application date. The applicant must be told that it will be his responsibility to request an appointment to be rescheduled when he is unable to keep the initial appointment. If the applicant fails to keep the interview appointment and does not contact the office to arrange another interview, the application will be denied.

MISSISSIPPI [ ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION PROCESS: THE APPLICATION PROCESS]

Revised 07 - 01 - 17