Page 19

UPDATED: JUNE 2011

473

OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS APPLICATION, CERTIFICATION AND RENEWAL

NEW APPLICATION

When providing application assistance to an applicant who has brought his/her application to the local department of social services, the LDSS may offer to screen the application, but may not require that the application be screened. If during the screening the LDSS finds that the case will be ineligible/denied based on income, the district must continue to process the application, request income documentation and render a decision with proper notice.

Documentation: Sufficient to establish an audit trail:

Photocopies may be used. A primary source for eligibility documentation is any previous case record.

When citing documents, the date, issuing authority, file number and such pertinent data as necessary to determine authenticity must be recorded in the applicant's file.

Applicants must show original or certified copies of documents that document identity and citizenship. These documents may be presented at the LDSS to an FE, designated staff at an outreach site including deputized workers, or to designated staff at an entity in the community with which the LDSS has established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for purposes of verifying that original documents have been seen. (It is not necessary for the LDSS to enter into a separate agreement from those that currently exist with entities such as community based organizations (CBOs) or plan FEs, family planning providers, presumptive eligibility qualified entities or Article 28 prenatal care providers.) Such community organizations will not validate the authenticity of the documents, nor will they determine if the identity and/or citizenship documentation requirement has been satisfied.

Local departments of social services must allow applicants at least 10 days to provide requested documentation. If an applicant is requested to provide documentation necessary to make an eligibility determination and does not do so within the required time period and does not ask for more time or assistance in obtaining documentation, his/her application may be denied.

(MRG)