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Page | 70 CHAPTER FOUR: APPLICATION PROCESS

4000 APPLICATION PROCESS

4100 FILING AN APPLICATION

Applications must be readily available and can be filed in any of these ways:  In person  By mail  By fax  By email  Via online application

If a customer contacts DSS by phone, but is unable/does not wish to come into the local office to file an application, then: 1. Provide the online application website 2. If the customer prefers, mail an application form the same day the call is received 3. If the customer prefers, email an application to the individual the same day the call is received.

If a customer sends a written request for an application and includes a phone number, then: 1. Call to see if the customer prefers to complete the application online, have the application mailed to them, or have the application emailed to them. 2. If the customer cannot be reached by phone, then the application will be mailed to the customer the same day or next working day after the written request was received.

4110 APPLICANT FILING RIGHTS

Applicants and participants must receive timely, accurate, and fair service. Applicants must be allowed the opportunity to file an application and complete the application process without undue hardship to them.

a) Applicants have the right to file an application in any DSS office regardless of where the applicant resides. If an applicant goes to an office in a county, he/she does not reside in, the office will offer an opportunity to complete the application and interview at that time. If the individual declines to interview that day, he/she must be asked to complete page one, so the application date is set.

If the individual has a valid reason for preferring the application to be handled from that office, make an appointment and give him/her the rest of the application and the DSS-EA- 300, Cover letter and Verification Checklist.

Important: The individual must be informed of the right to same day filing and that benefits are calculated from the date the application is filed.

If the application is emailed, remind the customer that a written signature must be on the application. We cannot accept electronic signatures at this time.