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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 20

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 18 Chapter 20 Emergency and Special Assistance Programs

EA. The second AG applies for EA and is approved, if otherwise eligible, because not all members have received EA. 20.2.3.E Action on the Application The Worker must approve or deny the application in the eligibility system. A decision must be made on all applications as soon as possible, if the emergency currently exists, or prior to an imminent emergency but no later than three business days from the date of application. Action on the Application Example 1: An applicant submits a notice of termination from a utility provider on Monday which states that the service will end in five days. A decision must be made on the application no later than Wednesday. The date of application is counted as the first day. Action on the Application Example 2: An individual applies for payment of a utility bill on Friday. He does not have the notice of termination to verify the emergency and is given a DFA-6 by the Worker to submit the termination notice no later than Tuesday. The applicant fails to submit the notice. The Worker must make a decision on Tuesday. In the absence of verification, the application is denied. The applicant may reapply immediately. 20.2.4 SPECIFIC ITEMS OF NEED The following section describes the specific eligibility requirements of the various emergency needs and services provided by the EA program. Verification requirements and instructions for determining the amount of payment are also included. Only the items listed below qualify as items of need for EA. A description of the maximum allowable payment for each item is included. The AG is not automatically eligible for the maximum allowable payment when other resources are used with the EA payment or when the amount required to eliminate the emergency is less than the maximum allowable payment amount. Applicants who refuse to accept the benefit which is offered by the DOHS are denied. Since the EA program, administered by the Division of Family Assistance (DFA), and the Homeless Program, administered by the Office of Children and Adult Services, offer the same or similar services, it is important to define the relationship between these two programs in order to best serve the client in the most efficient manner.