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[ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION PROCESS: THE

MISSISSIPPI APPLICATION PROCESS]

Revised 07-01-19

For Applicant Leaving the State When an applicant goes out of state before the application is completed, the county will ask him the purpose of the absence and let him know that his eligibility cannot be determined while he is out of state. Take action then in accordance with the response of the applicant, as follows: 1. Hold the application for 30 days if the applicant says that he has gone on a visit and plans to return. If he does not return within that time, deny the application for inability to complete it. 2. Deny the application when the applicant states that he intends to reside in the other state. SUBSTANCE ABUSE SCREENING As a condition of eligibility for TANF, any adult (including any disqualified individual) included in the assistance unit will be subject to a questionnaire to determine the reasonable likelihood of a substance abuse disorder. This screening is required regardless of the adult’s referable status to the TANF Work Program (TWP), and will be administered during the application process. Results of the questionnaire have no bearing on the decision to approve the TANF application, and eligibility determination must not be delayed based on the questionnaire’s results. However, should results of the screening indicate the reasonable likelihood that a substance abuse disorder exists, upon case approval, the client will be required to register with a designated provider in order to take a drug test. Failure of the adult to cooperate in being tested for a substance abuse problem will lead to a fullhousehold TWP sanction. Screening Process All adults included in the TANF assistance unit will be required to take a substance abuse screening questionnaire at the time of a new TANF application. If at any time another adult joins the assistance unit, that adult will also be subject to screening. The questionnaire will be administered by the Case Manager (CM). The TANF application must be denied if an adult refuses to submit to the screening. The CM will administer the questionnaire utilizing an online screening tool known as the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI). The screening process takes approximately thirty minutes. At the conclusion of the screening, the results are immediately available for viewing by the CM. Screening results have no bearing on the determination of TANF eligibility.

7022 Volume III | Chapter 7

[ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION PROCESS: THE