Work First 101 – Initial Screening and Assessment

V. REFERRAL POSSIBILITIES

A. One of the goals of Work First is to prepare families for self-sufficiency. This preparation requires families to begin building a "safety net" for a future without Work First Family Assistance benefits. To accomplish this important goal, you must inform each family of available services, both in and out of your agency. Some of these services include, but are not limited to:

Vocational Rehabilitation	Dept. of Labor Apprenticeship Programs
One-Stop Centers	Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Goodwill Industries	Social Security
Local GED & AHS Programs	Employment Security Commission
Family Resource Centers	Local charitable organizations
Adolescent Parenting	Services to the Aged Programs
Smart Start Initiatives	Head Start Programs
Veteran's Affairs	Salvation Army
Health Department	HUD/Local Housing Office
Mental Health	Transportation Services
LifeLine/Link-Up Programs	Area Mental Health Centers
Child Day Care Services

NOTE: Since many of these services are provided by other agencies, your agency should develop a listing of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of some of the important resources in your community. This listing can be distributed to families to use, and you can encourage them to take initiative in making their own contacts.

B. Lifelife/Link-Up Assistance Programs

The Lifeline Assistance Program is designed to promote universal service by helping low-income individuals afford telephone service. Lifeline Assistance allows those eligible low-income customers to receive a credit each month on their telephone bill.

The Link-Up Program provides low-income persons a discount toward the cost of hooking up local telephone service.

C. Lifeline/Link-Up Assistance Programs Requirements

1. Customers must receive Work First Family Assistance, LIEAP, CIP, Weatherization, Housing Authority or Section 8 Assistance, Food Stamps, Medicaid, or Supplemental Security Income;

2. Have the telephone service listed in his name; and

3. Receive the telephone bill.

NOTE: Verification of receipt of Work First Family Assistance or other low-income assistance must come from the authorizing agency.

D. Lifeline Program Procedures for Applications/Reapplications in the Work First Program

1. Explain the Lifeline and Link-Up Assistance Programs to the applicant.

2. If the applicant meets the eligibility requirements and wants to apply for the Lifeline Assistance Program, have him sign the DSS-8168-I. (See Figure 1.) Hold the DSS-8168-I until you dispose of the Work First application. Verification of the telephone bill is not required for the client to apply for the Lifeline Program.

3. If the application is approved, complete the information on the DSS-8168-I. Enter the head of household’s social security number in the appropriate block on the form. Ensure the information written on the DSS-8168-I is correct and legible.

4. Mail the completed DSS-8168-I, without delay, to the appropriate telephone company. File a copy in the case record.

5. Upon receipt of the DSS-8168-I, the telephone company verifies the recipient’s name and telephone number and keys the information into its system. The recipient receives the credit with his next billing cycle.

6. If the application is denied or withdrawn, file the form in the case file if applicable. If client is receiving Medical Assistance, Food Stamps, Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), or Crisis Intervention Program (CIP), forward the application to the appropriate program. Do not forward to the telephone company.

E. Lifeline Program Procedures for Ongoing Work First Cases

1. If the recipient is not currently receiving the credit, explain the Lifeline Assistance Program to him.

2. If the household meets the eligibility requirements and wants to apply for the program, complete the DSS-8168-I. (See Figure 1.) Enter the payee’s social security number in the appropriate block. Ensure information written on the DSS-8168-I is correct and legible.

3. Mail the completed DSS-8168-I, without delay, to the appropriate telephone company. File a copy in the case record.

4. Upon receipt of the DSS-8168-I, the telephone company verifies the recipient’s name and telephone number and keys the information into its system. The recipient receives the credit with his next billing cycle.

F. Procedures for Receiving Link-Up Assistance for New Phone Service

A person requesting new telephone service will apply at the local telephone company for service. The telephone company will either mail the application form to the proper local agency or will give the client the application form to be taken to the proper local agency to be signed and for the agency to verify that the client is receiving benefits that make him eligible for Link-Up Assistance. Complete the form, and return it to the telephone company. In order for the person to receive the discount, the telephone company should not install the telephone until they receive the form. When the telephone company receives the DSS-8168-I, the Link-UP discount will appear on the first bill.