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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 20
West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 17 Chapter 20 Emergency and Special Assistance Programs
20.2.3.B The Intake Interview The Worker must conduct the intake interview for the purpose of obtaining a thorough knowledge of the applicant's current financial situation, determining if the applicant meets the EA eligibility requirements, and determining the specific item(s) of need for which he is requesting payment. The time limitations must be explained to the applicant during the intake interview. When the applicant is not currently receiving any type of assistance from the DOHS, the Worker should give particular attention to the possibility of the applicant's eligibility for regular financial assistance, Medicaid, and/or SNAP. The intake process ends when the Worker has gained sufficient information from which he can make a decision on the application. 20.2.3.C Who Must Complete the Application? The person who applies for EA must be an adult AG member, preferably one in whose name the bills are listed or the adult who handles the financial matters of the AG. In most situations, this person is the head of the household or the person who has accepted responsibility for and is knowledgeable about other members of the AG. When the person who should apply for benefits is unable or unwilling to do so, the Worker must determine if someone else appointed by the AG in writing can apply for the AG. The Worker must consider the nature of the crisis and if a suitable person is available to apply. 20.2.3.D The AG The AG consists of one or more persons who live together. One exception to this is when a person pays for the privilege of living in the household. In this situation, that person and his income are not considered in determining eligibility of the AG. However, the payment made to the AG is counted as income of the AG. AG members receive a communal benefit from the EA payment. This means that everyone in the group benefits from the payment. The AG must include at least one member who has not benefited from an EA payment during the last 12 months to be eligible for payment. AG Eligibility Example: Ms. Cedar was a member of an AG that received an EA payment. Six months later, she is a member of another AG who has not received