Section 1-3 - Application/Intake Process (a) Application/Intake process. - (i) The DFS-FO shall:
- (A) Provide an application upon request.
- (B) Require a separate application for each assistance unit.
- (C) Accept and date stamp a signed application from the applicant upon receipt during regular business hours, or the next business day when placed in a drop box, in the county of residence or other county as approved by DFS-SO.
- (D) Upon request, make arrangements for someone to assist the applicant in completing the application.
- (E) Conduct an interview with the applicant.
- (F) Inform the applicant of her/his rights and responsibilities.
- (G) Inform the applicant that valid documentation of alien status shall be provided within five (5) days from the date of the intake interview for all individuals who are not U.S. citizens.
- (H) Inform the applicant of the Pay-After-Performance requirements which shall be met before a performance payment can be authorized, the noncompliance penalties and the requirement to perform for a full performance period before any penalty can be overcome.
- (I) Inform the applicant which family members shall sign the IRCU as a condition of eligibility. Applicants and applicable family members shall:
- (1.) Sign the IRCU by Wednesday of the same week if application is made on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday; or
- (2.) Sign the IRCU by Wednesday of the following week if application is made on Thursday or Friday of the prior week.
- (J) Provide each applicant with an IRP or appointment form indicating the dates by which the individual shall:
- (1.) Register for work online or at the DWS;
- (2.) Contact the work program action center CM; and/or
- (3.) Contact the child support workers.
- (K) Inform the applicant what documents and verifications shall be provided no later than 10 days of a notice requesting the information or verification.
- (L) Verify no one in the assistance unit has within the 60 calendar days prior to the date of application and without good cause:
- (1.) Refused a bona fide job offer of employment or training for employment;
- (2.) Voluntarily quit employment;
- (3.) Voluntarily reduced hours of employment and/or rate of pay; and/or
- (4.) The employment was for at least 20 hours per week or provided weekly earnings equivalent to the federal minimum wage multiplied by 20 hours.
- (M) Grant or deny good cause for voluntary quit. Good cause shall be verified and for one (1) of the following reasons:
- (1.) The applicant was legally, physically or emotionally unable to perform the type of work involved or lacked the basic skills required to do the job.
- (2.) Employment was reduced or terminated through no fault of the applicant.
- (3.) The applicant was subjected to intimidation, abuse, exploitation or harassment by the business management or the general public and the applicant exhausted all resources available for resolution of the problem.
- (4.) Unsafe or unsanitary working conditions existed and the applicant exhausted all resources available for resolution of the problem.
- (5.) The job did not pay the applicable state or federal minimum wage.
- (6.) The expenses of the employment exceeded the net income.
- (7.) The job was not covered by Worker's Compensation as required under state law and the applicant exhausted all resources available to acquire coverage for an injury.
- (N) Not authorize a performance payment for the assistance unit until compliance has occurred for 30 calendar days in a voluntary quit situation. The performance payment shall begin with the first of the month following the date of application if performance requirements are met.
- (O) Notify the applicant in writing of the decision to approve or deny the application.
- (1.) The performance payment shall be authorized after the Pay-After-Performance requirements are met.
- (2.) The application shall be denied immediately upon determination any assistance unit member refuses to meet the Pay-After-Performance requirements.
- (3.) The noncompliance penalty shall be authorized when the IRCU was completed and any mandatory assistance unit member failed to comply with the Pay-After-Performance requirements.
- (P) Inform the applicant/recipient she/he can request an administrative hearing if there is an adverse action to her/his case. No performance payment shall be authorized pending the hearing decision.