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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 1

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 13 Chapter 1 Application/Redetermination Process

Medicaid clients must be encouraged to take advantage of any potential resources that may be available, but failure to apply for or accept such benefits does not affect Medicaid eligibility. 1.2.3 WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES 1.2.3.A General The Worker has the following general responsibilities in the application process. Program-specific responsibilities are found in the program sections of this chapter. The Worker must: • Accept an application from any person or his representative who wishes to apply. • Determine if the applicant requires special assistance. • Ensure the client is given the opportunity to apply for all of the Department's programs on the date that he expresses an interest. • Inform the client of his responsibilities, the process involved in establishing his eligibility, including the Department's processing time limits, and how the beginning date of eligibility is determined. • Adhere to the Department's policies and procedures to establish eligibility, including those regarding timely action and/or decision. • Prior to eligibility system entry for disposition of another application, the Worker must determine if there is an existing case number for the client. o When an existing case number is found in another county, the Worker must request immediate eligibility system transfer to the client's new county of residence. The case record must be mailed to the new county of residence within 10 working days. The request may be accomplished by memorandum, electronic mail, or by telephone. o The Worker must determine if there is an existing EBT account. He must also inform the client of the availability of any balance remaining in the account. • Obtain all pertinent, necessary information through verification, when appropriate. NOTE: In all situations where case information is released to another organization or agency, the information must have form Release of Confidential Information (DFA-CI-1) attached.