PM 02-06-01: Eligibility Interview

WAG 02-06-01.

Cash

  • If only one adult signed the application and both adults are in the home, tell the applicant the 2nd adult's signature is needed if both are applying for Cash assistance (does not apply to SNAP or Medical assistance). If a benefit unit has 2 adults and has asked for Cash, the application cannot be approved without both signatures on the Rights and Responsibilities page and the application attachments.

Gathering Information at the Interview

  • Use the eligibility interview to view, record, or copy documents and to get information needed to figure out if a person qualifies. Also use it to get child support information if the applicant requested Cash or Medical benefits for a child.
  • Ask questions about child support including paternity when cash or medical benefits are requested for a child and:
    • the father and mother weren't married to each other when the child was born, and
    • a court has not ruled the man to be the legal father, and
    • the father did not sign legal forms at a hospital admitting to be the father.
  • Ask the child support questions when these conditions are met, even if the child's father lives with the family. See PM 24-03-02 to conduct a paternity interview.
  • Asking child support questions at intake speeds up the child support process and may save the applicant another trip to interview with child support staff.
  • Do not ask the paternity questions for a child who has:
    • a legal father; or
    • a representative payee (RPY); or
    • an unknown father; or
    • a mother who claims good cause to not cooperate with child support; or
    • a mother who is not in the home; or
    • a minor mother, and someone other than the mother is applying for the child; or
    • a complete case in KIDS.

new manual textSNAP

  • Before the eligibility interview, ask the applicant to identify who is not applying for SNAP benefits. This includes persons who do not want to verify immigration status.
  • SNAP applicants must be informed at the eligibility interview of:
    • The application process, including the appropriate application processing standard and the written notice of decision on eligibility; and
    • The verification process and what is needed to determine eligibility, including examples of what can be used as verification, and the FCRC's assistance, if help is needed with getting those verifications. Whenever possible electronic sources will be used; and
    • How IDHS uses information, such as Social Security numbers in computer matching systems to verify income related information and eligibility or assistance with other federal and state agencies; and
    • Reporting requirements while the case is pending for a decision after the interview but before the date of decision; and
    • The household's applicable reporting requirements (Change Reporting or Mid-Point Reporting) once the case is approved, including when to report and what should be reported; and
    • Certification periods, including the recertification process, benefits ending if not renewed and the opportunity to reapply if benefits have stopped; and
    • Work Provisions and exemptions; and
    • When in effect, Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits, exemptions and how to meet; and
    • Voluntary SNAP E&T Program; and
    • Rights and Responsibilities:
      • Nondiscrimination statement,
      • Client grievance process,
      • Appeal rights and fair hearings,
      • Penalties for committing fraud; and
    • Benefit determination and availability, including how benefits are issued and what can be purchased; and
    • Manage My Case.