Work First 130 – APPLICATION PROCESSING

IV. REOPENING AN APPLICATION

A. Re-openings Due to State or Local Appeal Decisions

1. When an application is reopened as a result of a State or local appeal, request all information needed to process the application within five workdays of the date the Notice of Decision is final. Reopen the application based on the instructions in the appeal decision.

a. For a State appeal, the Notice of Decision signed by the State hearing officer becomes final ten calendar days after the date it is signed. If the Notice of Decision is contested, it is not final until the date the Final Notice of Decision is signed.

b. Notify the applicant verbally, when possible, and in writing on the DSS-8146A of the information needed to complete the application.

2. Within five workdays, key the DSS-8124 into EIS and request all information needed to process the application. See EIS instructions for authorizing benefits back to the original date of application. Date of reopen is the date the appeal decision is final. It is imperative that all EIS instructions regarding entry of data be followed. Inaccurate entry of data will negatively impact counties' processing statistics.

In order for EIS to calculate correctly the total number of days the application pends, key a Date Screen. Show the original date of application on the date screen.

3. Complete the application within five workdays of receiving the last piece of information.

B. Reopening Due to Incorrect Eligibility Decision

The agency must reopen an application when it believes the original decision to deny was incorrect due to an erroneous eligibility decision. The applicant does not need to sign another DSS-8124. The original date of application must be honored. Key the application as soon as possible, and enter the current date as the date of application on the DSS-8124.

In order for EIS to calculate correctly the total number of days the application pends, key a Date Screen. Show the original date of application on the date screen.

Document the case record with the date and how the incorrect action was discovered. If all information required to process the application is available, take the appropriate action to approve or deny the application. If additional information is needed, use the DSS-8146A to notify the applicant of the needed information, as well as their option to request help. It is advisable also to attempt to notify the applicant verbally. Allow at least ten calendar days following the date on the DSS-8146A for the applicant to provide the needed information or perform the required actions.