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(4) Providers, educational institutions, and experts with whom the agency contracts shall agree to furnish all required reports, forms and data on a timely basis and shall make their program-related records available for fiscal and programmatic monitoring and review and fiscal audits upon request of the agency. (5) All contracts for educational and training programs under these regulations shall be estab- lished on a reimbursable basis; that is, the provider, educational institution, or expert shall be reimbursed for approved costs as they are incurred, claimed, and processed. H. Prior Regulations Repealed. South Carolina regulation 114-70.1 is hereby repealed. ARTICLE 9 INTERAGENCY MERIT SYSTEM (Statutory Authority: 1976 Code § 43-1-80) 114–910. Interagency Merit System. The Department of Social Services adopts the rule of the South Carolina Interagency Merit System. ARTICLE 10 GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR ARTICLES 15 AND 19 (Statutory Authority: 1976 Code § 43-1-80) 114–1010. Definitions and General Requirements. A. Definitions. (1) Applicant—a person who has, directly, or through his authorized representative, made application for public assistance to the County Department of Social Services and whose application has not been terminated or disposed of by appropriate County Department action. (2) Authorized Representative—someone who is acting for another individual with his knowledge and consent and who has knowledge of the other individual’s circumstances. (3) Application—the action taken by a person or his duly authorized representative by signing a completed application form requesting financial or medical assistance. (4) Effective Date of Application—the date on which the application form is completed and signed by the applicant or his authorized representative. (5) Inquiry—a request for information about eligibility requirements for public assistance. (6) Referral—request for information, service, or aid in behalf of an individual by an agency, institution, or another person. (7) Application Process—all activities from the time an application is accepted until the receipt of payment or other disposition of the application. B. General Requirements. (1) Accrual Rights. (a) For all assistance payments programs except those specified below, an applicant’s right to a money payment accrues on the earlier of the following dates, provided he was alive on such date and eligible insofar as is known: (i) The first day of the month in which the award is authorized by the County Department; or