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4. When an individual indicates the presence of domestic violence by providing an affirmative response on the screening form, the district must refer that individual to a domestic violence liaison as soon as practicable and prior to any other assessment. (i) Assessment of credibility. 1. The domestic violence liaison must, as soon as practicable, assess the credibility of a positively screened individual's assertion of domestic violence based upon all relevant information including, but not limited to: an order of protection; court, medical, criminal, child protective services, social services, psychological, or law enforcement records; presence in a domestic violence shelter; a signed statement by a domestic violence counselor or other counselor or other corroborating evidence. 2. Such assessment must be based upon the relevant information and corroborating evidence, but must in the absence of other sufficient evidence include, at a minimum, a sworn statement by the individual alleging the abuse. (j) Services referral and waiver assessment. If the domestic violence liaison determines that the allegation of domestic violence is credible, the domestic violence liaison must, as soon as practicable: 1. inform the individual of services related to domestic violence, which are available to the individual on a voluntary basis; 2. conduct an assessment to determine if and to what extent domestic violence is a barrier to compliance with public assistance program requirements or to employment; 3. assess the need for temporary waivers of such program requirements; 4. recommend or grant any necessary waivers in coordination with social services district staff who are charged with the implementation of such waivers and/or the administration of public assistance program requirements; 5. inform social services district staff responsible for the administration of public assistance requirements of the final determination or recommendation with respect to waivers; and 6. develop an appropriate services plan when a waiver is granted, which is designed to lead to work, to the extent that the plan would not make it more difficult for the victim to escape domestic violence or unfairly penalize those individuals who are or have been victimized by domestic violence or who are at risk of further domestic violence. (k) Waivers. 1. Waivers are a temporary suspension of public assistance program requirements including, but not limited to, residency rules, child support and paternity cooperation requirements, alcohol and substance abuse screening and referral requirements, and employment and training requirements. Any such waivers must be consistent with Federal law. 2. The granting of a waiver does not affect the amount of the grant or the budgeting of income for the applicant or recipient. 3. Waivers will be granted in cases where compliance with public assistance program requirements would make it more difficult for the individual or the individual's children to escape from domestic violence or subject them to further risk of domestic violence. Such waivers must be for an initial period of not less than four months. All such waivers will be subject to ongoing review of the individual's circumstances by the domestic violence liaison and may be extended, modified or terminated based on such review at