Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
(1) In the REF,
REFM, and TANF programs,
(a) An interview
with an adult in the filing group (see OAR
461-110-0330 and OAR
461-110-0430) or the
authorized representative (OAR
461-115-0090) of the filing
group is required at initial application and renewal of benefits.
(b) An interview may be conducted via phone,
office visit or offsite location.
(c) A face-to-face interview must be granted
at the applicant's request.
(2) For the purposes of this rule, "hardship"
includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Care of a
household member;
(b) An
individual's age, disability (see OAR
461-001-0000), or
illness;
(c) A commute of more than
two hours from the individual's residence to the nearest branch
office (see OAR
461-001-0000);
(d) A conflict between the individual's work
or training schedule and the business hours of the branch
office; and
(e)
Transportation difficulties due to prolonged severe weather or financial
hardship.
(3) In the
SNAP program:
(a) An interview must be
scheduled so that the filing group (see OAR
461-110-0370) has at least ten
days to provide any needed verification before the deadline under OAR
461-115-0210.
(b) A face-to-face interview must be granted
at the applicant's request.
(c)
When an applicant misses the first scheduled interview appointment, the
Department must inform the applicant by notice of the missed
interview.
(d) An applicant who
fails to attend a scheduled interview must contact the Department no later than
30 days following the filing date (OAR
461-115-0040) to be eligible for
benefits.
(e) An
adult (see OAR
461-001-0015) or primary
person (see OAR
461-001-0015) in the filing
group, an adult or primary person excluded
from the filing group under OAR
461-110-0370(8)(b),
or the authorized representative (see OAR
461-001-0000,
461-115-0090, and
461-135-0510) of the filing
group is interviewed once every 12 months.
(4) In the OSIPM program, the Department must
complete an interview with at least one individual authorized to sign the
application under OAR
461-115-0071(3),
except as follows:
(a) Individuals in a
standard living arrangement (see OAR
461-001-0000) who are receiving
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or are in 1619(b) status are not required to
complete an interview at initial application.
(b) Individuals who are receiving SSI or are
in 1619(b) status are not required to complete an interview at annual
redetermination.
(c) The interview
requirement shall be waived at annual redetermination if the individual is
unable to complete the interview due to incapacity and an authorized
representative has not been designated.
(5) In the QMB programs:
(a) The Department must complete an interview
with at least one individual authorized to sign the application under OAR
461-115-0071(3)
at initial application.
(b) An
interview is not required at redetermination except in the QMB-DW
program.
(6) In the REF
and REFM programs, a face-to-face interview is required.
(7) In the TA-DVS program, the Department
will conduct a required face-to-face interview with the survivor, unless there
is a safety concern related to the domestic violence (see OAR
461-001-0000) situation or there
is a hardship. An interview due to safety concern or
hardship may be completed via phone, home visit, or offsite
appointment.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS
411.060,
411.404,
411.706,
411.816,
412.049,
414.826,
414.839 & ORS
409.050
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS
411.060,
411.404,
411.706,
411.816,
412.049,
414.826,
414.839, ORS
409.050, ORS
409.010,
411.070,
414.025,
414.231 &
412.072
