Minnesota Administrative Rules

9500.1213 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.

Subpart 1.

Application for general assistance, county of residence.

An applicant for general assistance must apply for general assistance in the applicant's county of residence. However, a county agency must not refuse to take an application from an individual who appears to reside in another county, but must promptly forward the completed application to the county of residence. The county of residence must use the date the application was filed in the county of application as the application date.

Subp. 2.

County agency requirements.

A county agency must:

A.

inform persons who inquire about cash assistance of general assistance eligibility requirements and how to apply for general assistance;

B.

offer, by hand or mail, the application form prescribed by the commissioner when a person makes a written or oral inquiry;

C.

inform the person that, if the person is found eligible, the county agency must use the date the application form is submitted to the county agency as the starting point for computing assistance, and that any delay in submitting an application form will reduce the amount of assistance paid for the month of application;

D.

upon receipt of a signed and dated application from an applicant, the county agency must sign and date the application;

E.

designate a staff member to assist the applicant to take the action necessary to submit an application if a county agency determines an applicant needs assistance in completing an application; and

F.

inquire and determine at the time of initial application if the applicant has an emergency as defined in part 9500.1206, subpart 12e, and if so, determine the person's eligibility for emergency assistance under part 9500.1261.

Subp. 3.

Date of application.

The date of application is the date the county agency signs and dates the application.

Subp. 4.

Withdrawal of application.

An applicant may withdraw an application at any time by giving written or oral notice to the county agency. The county agency must issue a written notice confirming the withdrawal and inform the applicant of the agency's understanding that the applicant has withdrawn the application. If, within ten days of the date of the agency's notice, an applicant informs the county agency that the applicant does not wish to withdraw the application, the county agency must reinstate and finish processing the application.

Subp. 5.

Agency verification of information on application.

The county agency shall verify information provided by an applicant as specified in part 9500.1215.

Subp. 6.

Determination of filing unit.

When an application for general assistance is made and when the county agency redetermines the eligibility of a recipient, the county agency must determine the composition of the applicant's or recipient's filing unit. The county agency must determine the composition of a filing unit according to part 9500.1206, subpart 13a.

Subp. 7.

Processing application.

Within 30 days after receiving an application, a county agency must determine the applicant's program eligibility, approve or deny the application, inform the applicant of its decision, and issue assistance when the applicant is eligible. When an applicant establishes the inability to provide required documentation within the 30-day processing period, the county agency shall have an additional 30 days to process the application and to allow the applicant to provide the documentation. If eligibility cannot be determined by the end of the second 30-day period, the application must be denied.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 14.388; 256D.01; 256D.04; 256D.051; 256D.06; 256D.08; 256D.09; 256D.111

History:

15 SR 1842; 32 SR 1437

Published Electronically:

October 16, 2013