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Page | 90 A customers' progress is not just their ability to fulfill a work requirement, but also on their personal development, job satisfaction, and financial independence. 5200 SCHEDULING THE INTERVIEW

All applicants must have a specified date and time for the initial interview, if they are not able to be interviewed when they first come to the office. The DSS-EA-300, Cover Letter and Verification Checklist, should be sent to the household within 1 working day of receipt of the application to schedule the interview and to inform the household of what information may be needed for the interview. Scheduling of the interview should take into consideration the needs of the household as much as possible.

DSS will schedule all interviews as promptly as possible and must allow the household at least 10 days to provide requested verifications before the end of the 30 day processing time. The interview must also be conducted, and benefits approved to ensure that eligible households receive an opportunity to participate within 30 days following the date the application is filed.

If the interview is scheduled at a location other than the office, both the Benefits Specialist and customer must agree to the location.  If the location is the individual’s residence, the individual must agree to the home visit, and the interview time must be approved by the individual prior to the visit.  If there is no agreement to an alternative interview site, the interview must be conducted at the DSS office.

5300 MISSED INTERVIEW APPOINTMENTS

If the DSS-EA-301, Application, has been filed and a household fails to appear for the first scheduled interview or only a partial interview is completed, the Benefits Specialist will notify the household of the missed interview and of the household’s responsibility to reschedule. The notice of missed interview (DSS-EA-333 or missed appointment macro) must be sent within 1 working day of the missed appointment. If a DSS-EA-301 (or page one) has not been filed, no further action is required by DSS.

When a household misses the first scheduled interview appointment and contacts our office for a second interview, we must schedule a second interview. The second interview should be made, if possible, to allow the household at least 10 days to provide requested verifications before the end of the 30 day processing time frame. The household does not need to show good cause for missing the first appointment.

If the household does not schedule a second appointment within the 30 day application processing time, the application must be denied on the 30th day following the application filing date. If the 30th day falls on a weekend or holiday, the notice must be sent on the next working day following the 30th day.

Example: Working individuals should not be scheduled during their working hours but should be scheduled during their days off, lunch times, break times, or before or after their employment hours. Example: Mrs. Jones filed an application on 12-1 but failed to keep her initial appointment. A notice of missed interview was sent. She did not contact our office for a second interview. Her application must be denied on December 31, and she will be required to file a new application if she wants to receive benefits.