All Programs
The advisor must avoid the appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest when determining eligibility. The advisor is not allowed to work on a case if the individual is a relative (by blood or marriage), roommate, dating companion, supervisor, or someone under the advisor's supervision. The advisor may never work on a case in which the advisor is a case participant or an authorized representative (AR).
The advisor:
may provide anyone with an application and information about how and where to apply for benefits;
may help a person gather any documents needed to verify eligibility; but
must not take any other role in determining eligibility.
The advisor must consult with the supervisor if the individual is a friend, acquaintance or coworker. Generally, the advisor should not work on cases involving these individuals, but the degree and nature of the relationship should be taken into account. In remote areas where it is impractical for another person to process the application, the unit supervisor should be contacted to determine the best method to process the application.