If the household's eligibility is not decided within 30 days after the application date, the CAO must figure out the reason for the delay.
It is the household's fault when the delay is caused by the household not completing the application process. The CAO must do all that it can to help the household.
When a delay is caused by the household, benefits authorized after the first 30 days will begin with the date the household completes the application process.
A delay is the household's fault if the CAO:
Helped or offered to help the household complete an incomplete application; and
Gave the household a copy of the Appointment Notice and Verification Checklist (PA 253), helped the household as required in Chapter 578, and gave the household at least 10 days from the date of the first request to get missing proof.
NOTE: If the CAO does not take the above actions, delays are the CAO's fault.
To be eligible in the month of application, the household must appear for an interview and provide proof by the 30th day if:
It failed to appear at the originally scheduled application interview; and
Another appointment cannot be scheduled until after the 20th day following the application filing date.
NOTE: If the household does not meet this requirement, the household is at fault in causing the delay and is ineligible for benefits in the month of application.
A delay is also the household's fault if the household:
Fails to keep the first appointment and postpones a second attempt at an interview until after the 30th day from the filing date; or
Misses both scheduled interviews and requests another.
The CAO must deny an application and send the household a PA/FS 162 when the application is not processed by the 30th day because of a household delay.
If an application is denied and the household submits needed verification, requests the application be reopened, or asks for a new application within 30 days of the denial date, see Chapter 579.1, the CAO must take the following actions:
Reopen the case without requiring a new application.
Decide on the household's eligibility and, if the household is eligible, figure out who was at fault for the delay in the first 30-day period.
Provide benefits only from the date the household completes the interview or gives the needed verification if the household was at fault.
The CAO must take immediate corrective action if it was the cause of a delay in the first 30-day period.
The CAO must not deny the application, and it must do the following:
Let the household know by the 30th day that the application is pending, and tell the household what action to take to complete the application process.
Determine the household's eligibility during the second 30-day period.
Provide benefits retroactive to the month of application if the household is eligible.
If the CAO has not completed the application process by the end of the second 30-day period and the CAO is at fault, the CAO must continue to process the application until eligibility is determined.
If the CAO has not completed the application process by the end of the second 30-day period and the household is at fault, the CAO must deny the application and require the household to file a new application.
If the household is eligible and the CAO caused the delay in the initial 30 days, benefits are retroactive to the month of application.
If the household is eligible and the household caused the initial delay, benefits are retroactive to the date the household completed the interview or provided needed proof. The household is not entitled to benefits for the month of application.
Reissued March 1, 2012, replacing March 26, 2004