PM 02-04-03: Who Signs the Application

WAG 02-04-03

The payee (or applicant for All Kids benefits) for the case must sign the application, except for the following situations:

• For SNAP, any unit member who is age 18 or over can sign. If no one is 18 or over, the payee for the SNAP unit must sign.
• If 2 adults apply for cash, the signature of both adults is required.
• An approved representative who applies for an applicant may sign.
• The legal guardian must sign if the applicant has one. If there's more than one guardian, the "guardian of the person" decides which guardian will sign. When the client has a "limited" or "temporary" guardian, the client should sign the application. The "limited" or "temporary" guardian may sign the application as an interested party acting on the client's behalf.
• A person who resides in a Drug/Alcoholic Treatment Center must have an authorized representative, appointed by the treatment center's administrator, sign an application for SNAP benefits.
• If there's no legal guardian and an applicant is unable to sign the application for physical or mental reasons, death, or age, a responsible person may represent them and sign.
• When application is made for a child under 18 years old, the application must be signed by:
  • an individual with whom the child lives who intends to claim the child as a tax dependent, or
  • the child's caretaker relative with whom the child lives. Note: When a child lives with a parent, that parent shall be designated as the caretaker relative.
• If the child does not live with a caretaker relative or tax filer who is claiming the child, the application may be signed by:
  • the child's guardian,
  • an individual who is acting responsibly in behalf of the child, or
  • the child. 
• A pregnant woman may apply on her own behalf, regardless of her age or who she lives with.
• For clients under age 18 who reside in a DHS - OMH/DDD facility, parents or legal guardians must sign the application. The application can be signed by an interested person if there is no parent or legal guardian. To conclude that there are no parents:

Eligibility does not exist if the parents are competent and are unwilling to apply for medical benefits.

Programs that use MAGI Methodology

In addition to the above, the following policy applies to medical programs that use the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) budgeting methodology.

• A tax filer or other adult who is included in the tax filer's tax household may apply and sign an application on behalf of:

• • their spouse who they live with, and
  • the individuals who are included in the tax filer's household, regardless of the tax filer's or tax dependents' age or relationship to the person who is signing the application.
• Adults may apply and sign an application on behalf of their spouse who they live with, or
• their partner if the partners have children in common.