10A NCAC 71W .0302. INITIAL INTERVIEW

The applicant shall be allowed to have any person(s) of his choice participate in the interview.  The applicant shall be informed of the following:

(1)           He must provide:

(a)           the names of collaterals, such as landlords, employers, and others with knowledge of his situation;

(b)           information about his resources;

(c)           verification of his earned income and any operational expenses;

(d)           his Social Security number unless he has lost his card;

(e)           medical forms when appropriate;

(f)            work registration card from ESC;

(g)           statement from a dealer when verified equity of a motor vehicle is disputed;

(h)           evidence of good cause claim for non‑cooperation with the child support enforcement agency;

(i)            verification of the amount of a lump sum payment and other required information regarding the lump sum;

(j)            verification of stepparent's income and verification of income of a minor parent's parent or legal guardian; and

(k)           signed statement from a doctor or medical facility substantiating a pregnancy and the expected due date.

(2)           It is the county's responsibility to use collateral sources to substantiate or verify information necessary to establish eligibility.  Collateral sources of information include knowledgeable individuals, business organizations, public records, and documentary evidence.  If the applicant does not wish necessary collateral contacts to be made, he may withdraw the application.  If he denies permission to contact necessary collaterals, the application shall be rejected due to failure to cooperate in establishing eligibility.

(3)           A worker will visit his home at the county's option.  The county's decision to make a home visit will be based on error‑prone characteristics defined by the state using quality control and other management data.

(4)           The applicant has the right to:

(a)           receive assistance if found eligible;

(b)           be protected against discrimination on the grounds of race, creed, or national origin by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  He may appeal such discrimination;

(c)           spend his assistance payment as he wishes, but it must be in his best interest and that of his family.  A substitute payee may be appointed for those individuals who cannot manage the payments;

(d)           receive his monthly check in advance until the payment is terminated by appropriate action;

(e)           have any information given to the agency kept in confidence;

(f)            appeal, if his assistance will be denied, changed or terminated, his payment is incorrect based on the agency's interpretation of state regulations, or his request for a change in the amount of assistance was delayed beyond 30 days or rejected;

(g)           reapply at any time, if found ineligible; and

(h)           withdraw from the assistance program at any time.

(5)           The applicant's responsibilities.  He must:

(a)           provide the county department, state and federal officials, the necessary sources from which the county department can locate and obtain information needed to determine eligibility;

(b)           report to the county department of social services any change in situation that may affect eligibility for a check within 10 calendar days after he learns of the change.  The meaning of fraud shall be explained.  The applicant shall be informed that he may be suspected of fraud if he fails to report a change in situation and that in such situations, he may have to repay assistance received in error and that he may also be tried by the courts for fraud;

(c)           inform the county department of social services of any person or organization against whom he has a right to recovery.  When he accepts medical assistance (included with any AFDC), the applicant assigns his rights to third party insurance benefits to the state.  He shall be informed that it is a misdemeanor to fail to disclose the identity of any person or organization against whom he has a right to recovery; and

(d)           immediately report to the county department the receipt of a check which he knows to be erroneous, such as two checks for the same month, or a check in the wrong amount.  If he does not report such payments, he may be required to repay any overpayment.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 108A‑43; 143B‑153; 45 C.F.R. 206.10;

Eff. February 1, 1984;

Amended Eff. June 1, 1990; February 1, 1986;

Temporary Amendment Eff. July 1, 1996;

Amended Eff. April 1, 1997.