Page 146

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 1

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 113 Chapter 1 Application/Redetermination Process

specialized tools for the new employment. The Worker verifies that the applicant has a car and has the client obtain an estimate of the repair costs. He also verifies the cost of the specialized tools for the new employment based on the client’s statement that they are necessary. The client does not want his future employer to know that he is receiving help from the DOHS to accept the job, so the Worker does not contact the employer to confirm the need for the tools. However, he does contact some local employers of the same type to ensure that such tools would be used. Note that, in this case, it is assumed that the client has written verification of his employment. Otherwise, contact with the future employer would be necessary to verify the employment. The Worker and the client agree on the amount needed for the family for overnight lodging, rent, utility deposits and food. These items are not verifiable, since the client does not yet have a place to live in the new state and does not know where he will stay overnight on the drive. It is reasonable to assume that these costs will be incurred in moving to another state, and the amount is negotiated. 1.5.19 ORIENTATION The purpose of Orientation to WV WORKS is to inform all applicants about WV WORKS, the general policies and requirements. Orientation is part of the application process. It is an opportunity to make sure that each person understands the services available and the program requirements. It also gives the applicant an easy way to ask questions and receive answers. This will also begin the assessment process by allowing the Worker to determine the issues most important to the applicant. Each adult and emancipated minor in the WV WORKS AG and non-recipient Work-Eligible Individual must receive orientation to the program. Orientation may be conducted in a group, or individually. The important point of orientation is that information be presented uniformly using the standardized orientation materials and the applicant leaves with a good understanding of the Program, his general requirements and services available to him. Not only is it important that each applicant in a District or Region receive the same information, it is equally important that all applicants statewide receive the same information. For that reason, the three forms described below are used to accomplish uniformity. Their use is mandatory.