351.21 Required contacts and investigation.
(a) Contacts with recipients and collateral sources shall include
face-to- face contacts, correspondence, reports on resources, eligibility mailouts and
other documentation. Contacts with or concerning recipients shall be made as frequently as
individual need, change in circumstances or the proper administration of assistance or
care may require.
(b) All variable factors of need and eligibility shall be reconsidered,
reevaluated and verified at least once in every:
(1) three months, in cases of Aid to Dependent
Children when eligibility is based on the unemployment of a parent; and
(2) six months, in cases of Aid to Dependent
Children when eligibility is not based on the unemployment of a parent and in cases of
Home Relief.
(c) The social services district shall use the State-prescribed form in
the recertification process and shall require:
(1) a face-to-face interview with the recipient
for each recertification; and
(2) a face-to-face interview by the end of the
third calendar month following the month of acceptance for all new and reopened ADC and HR
cases.
(d) The recipient shall appear at the face-to-face interviews, and
shall present appropriate documentation as required to substantiate both categorical and
financial eligibility. If because of age, handicap or other verifiable limiting condition,
the recipient is unable to appear for a face-to-face interview or requires the use of an
interpreter for the deaf, the district shall make appropriate arrangement to accommodate
the client. The client shall notify the district of special needs or requirements as soon
as the notice to appear is received and give the reason for such special needs or
requirements.
(e) In addition to personal interviews and correspondence with the
recipient, there shall be contact, as the circumstances of the individual case may
require, with appropriate persons and agencies to secure verification of data which is
essential to establish eligibility for public assistance and which the recipient is unable
to secure.
(f) Contacts with recipients and with collateral sources of information
shall be directed toward consideration of all variable factors of eligibility.
(1) Financial need. Identity of the recipient
and his individual circumstances shall be reviewed and verified as indicated in relation
to changes in the household, in living arrangements, in income and in allowance schedules,
in order to determine those items of need that should be added, deleted or changed in
amount.
(2) Financial resources. Current availability
and use of financial resources shall be reconsidered and verified in relation to
fluctuations in value or income, or the initiation or termination of rights to benefits.
(3) Employment, employability and training for
employment. The employment, potential employability, availability for employment, or need
for training or retraining shall be reviewed and established for each person 16 years of
age or over.
(4) Relatives. Changes in circumstances, which
affect the ability or willingness of relatives to financially assist the recipient, shall
be reviewed. If a legally responsible relative is failing to support according to ability
and/or court order, referral for appropriate legal action shall be made.
(5) Special categorical requirements. There
shall be review of factors of categorical eligibility which are subject to change, such as
further impairment, recovery or improvement in the condition of an incapacitated parent,
return of an absent parent, termination of eligibility of children because of age or
leaving school, and obtaining employment. In review of a Home Relief case, entitlement to
assistance under a federally aided category shall be considered.
(6) Health. Changes in health conditions shall
be considered with respect to continuing eligibility and required services.
(7) Services. There shall be a review of the
need for services and appropriate referral made therefor.