Work First 104 – THE APPLICATION INTERVIEW

Change #6-2010

December 1, 2010

The caseworker has determined that the family is not a candidate for Benefit Diversion or the family has declined the offer to apply for Benefit Diversion before the application interview begins. Advise the applicant that by applying for Work First Family Assistance (WFFA) they are also applying for Medicaid. The caseworker will advise the applicant that any information provided as a part of their application for WFFA will automatically be used as part of their Medicaid application, including citizenship status, immigration status, identity and social security numbers. The caseworker must ask if the applicant wishes to continue with the WFFA application or if there are individuals in the household who only want to apply for Medicaid. Document the applicant’s decision of whether or not to apply for Medicaid for those individuals.

The caseworker is now ready to proceed with determining eligibility for WFFA. The family and the caseworker have discussed personal responsibility and have signed the Mutual Responsibility Agreement. (See Section 103, Personal Responsibility)

The additional requirements to be assessed are:

• Individual Criminal Violations
• Substance Abuse Initiative
• Family Violence Option
• Whether the family has exceeded its time limit(s) (If so, the family may apply for an extension or for hardship status. See Sections 105 and 105A.)
• Whether there is a child subject to the Family Cap in the Family Unit
• Minor Parent Rules
• Residence
• Age Rule for the Children
• Rule for applying for Social Security Enumeration
• Citizenship / Qualified Immigrant Status
• Identity
• Kinship and Living With Requirement
• Income and Needs
• Resources
• Job Quit

There are certain rules that apply as to who in the family must apply and who may choose to apply, as well as whose income and resources must be counted. The basic rules are defined below and must be applied when evaluating whether the family is eligible to receive Work First Family Assistance (WFFA). Do not request citizenship, immigration status, and/or social security number for individuals who are not applying for assistance.

I. APPLYING FOR WFFA

A. Biological or adoptive parents and stepparents may apply for assistance for a child(ren) and must be included in the payment for the family, unless they are ineligible, or disqualified from the program. (See Section 112, Kinship/Living with Requirement).

B. Certain other relatives of a child(ren) may apply for assistance on the children’s behalf but cannot be included in the payment for the family. (See Section 112, Kinship/Living with Requirement).

C. Non-relatives may apply for assistance on behalf of a child(ren) if they have legal custody or legal guardianship of the child(ren). These adults can not be included in the payment for the family. (See Section 112, Kinship/Living with Requirement).

NOTE: Legal custody or legal guardianship can only be established by a court document signed by a Judge or other Officer of the Court. A notarized statement is not sufficient.

D. WFFA is not provided to pregnant women unless they have other eligible children in the home and meet all other eligibility requirements.