(a) The applicant
for financial assistance and food stamps shall provide the department with
information, supported by documents, to establish the value of the applicant's
assets and the amount of income received.
(b) For the financial assistance programs,
the applicant shall:
(1) Provide the
department with information, supported by documents, to establish the monthly
requirements recognized in the standard of assistance;
(2) Apply for and develop potential sources
of income and assets; and
(3) Meet
all of the requirements of the various categories of assistance.
(c) The applicant for financial
assistance who fails to meet all of the eligibility factors, fails to cooperate
with the department by providing the information and verification necessary to
determine eligibility by department deadlines, fails to apply for and develop
potential sources of income and assets, or refuses to inform the department of
the amount of the unapplied for and undeveloped potential source of income and
assets when known, shall be ineligible.
(d) For the food stamp program, an
application shall be completed and signed, a household or its authorized
representative shall be interviewed, and certain information on the application
shall be verified.
(1) If a household refuses
to cooperate with the branch in completing this process, the application shall
be denied at the time of refusal. In order to determine whether a household is
refusing to cooperate, the household shall be able to cooperate, but the
household shall clearly demonstrate that it will not take actions which it can
take and are required to complete the application process. If there is any
question as to whether a household has merely failed to cooperate, the
application shall not be denied. A household shall also be determined
ineligible if it refuses to cooperate in any subsequent review of its
eligibility, including reviews generated by reported changes and applications
for recertification. Once denied or terminated for refusal to cooperate, the
household may reapply but shall not be determined eligible until it cooperates
with the state agency.
(2) The
household also shall be determined ineligible if it refuses to cooperate in any
subsequent review of its eligibility as a part of a quality control review. If
a household is terminated for refusal to cooperate with a quality control
reviewer, the household may reapply but shall not be determined eligible until
it cooperates with the quality control reviewer. If a household reapplies after
ninety-five days from the end of the annual review period, the household shall
not be determined ineligible for its refusal to cooperate with a quality
control reviewer during the completed review period, but must provide
verification of all eligibility requirements prior to being determined
eligible.
(3) The household shall
not be determined ineligible when a member outside of the household fails to
cooperate with a request for verification. Individuals identified as
nonhousehold members or excluded household members according to chapter 17-655
shall not be considered as individuals outside of the household.
