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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 20

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 12 Chapter 20 Emergency and Special Assistance Programs

eliminate or prevent the emergency, even though a cooperative effort with the DOHS, the Worker uses EA funds, provided all other eligibility factors are met. When a referral is made to a community agency, the Worker cannot make a final decision on the application until it is determined that the applicant actually received the benefits and that the emergency was eliminated or prevented. When a referral is made to a community agency, the Worker must provide the following written notification to the applicant: "You are being referred to (name of agency or person) to pursue potential assistance to alleviate any need you may have for Emergency Assistance. If you do not receive assistance or the amount of the assistance fails to eliminate your emergency, please contact (name of local office) by (month, date and year) for a decision on your application." The date entered on this notification must be within three days of the date of the application. The date of the application is counted as the first day. A copy of this notification must be retained. When the emergency need is met by community resources, the application is denied. 20.2.2.H.3 Applicant Responsibilities All applicants for EA must cooperate in a reasonable manner by accepting a referral to a community resource in order to eliminate or prevent an emergency. All applicants who are referred to a community resource, but who do not receive the resource, must contact the Worker by the due date on the referral notification form. Based on his knowledge of the applicant's capability, the Worker is required to make judgment on whether or not the applicant can follow through with a referral to community resources. The Worker should not refer an applicant to a community resource if he is unable because of illness, physical or mental handicap, lack of transportation, etc., to follow through with the referral. However, the applicant is expected to take any action necessary to follow through with the referral, provided he is capable to do so. EXCEPTION: When the community resource is likely to be a friend or relative of the applicant or a church he attends, permission must be obtained from the applicant before the Worker may contact this resource. This procedure gives consideration to the applicant's privacy.