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Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Division 10 Service 415 Program 415 Chapters 05 - 65 North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services

Outreach Services to Individuals 415-10-05-10 (Revised 10/00 ML #2629) View Archives

The county social service board offices will provide outreach activities and services to assist households to understand, verify, or otherwise complete the application, when necessary, especially when a member of the household is elderly or disabled. Direct outreach activities and services for heating assistance and emergency assistance may include, but are not limited to:

1. Assistance with Application Process Most potential applicants are able to complete the application and obtain needed verification and understand the payment procedures without assistance. Many of these applications and certifications can be handled successfully by mail or telephone contact. The applicant has 30 days from the date an application is received in the county office to provide all necessary information and verifications. If, however, a potential applicant does not respond to written or telephone requests for additional information, it is the responsibility of the county social service board to offer to provide the applicant with assistance in obtaining the necessary information before a decision is made to deny the application because of lack of verification. No application shall be denied based on lack of verification unless the case file documents that the applicant refused to provide the information or that every effort was made to assist the applicant in obtaining necessary verification. In some cases, a face-to-face interview with the applicant may be necessary. If the applicant cannot come to the social service office by reason of age, illness, disability, lack of child care or transportation, isolation, work schedule, or other appropriate reason, it is the responsibility of the county social service board to arrange another means of making contact. This may include: a. Home visits, when necessary;