3001      APPLICATION PROCESS

In order for DPADivision of Public Assistance to determine a household's eligibility, the household must:

• Submit a physical or telephonic application, meeting identifiable application requirements;

• Complete and sign an approved application form or complete the telephonic application submission process; and

• Provide documentation and verification, including required forms, needed to determine program eligibility.

Fee agents help individuals who live in communities that do not have a local DPADivision of Public Assistance office apply for heating assistance. DPADivision of Public Assistance provides fee agents with applications and other forms individuals need to apply for assistance. Individuals are not required to go to a fee agent, and may send the application directly to the nearest DPADivision of Public Assistance office.

An application is considered filed when a DPADivision of Public Assistance office receives an identifiable application form containing the applicant's name, address, and signature, or completes the telephonic application process to meet these requirements. Applications received via fax, e-mail, or completed online are accepted.

The receipt of an identifiable application in a DPADivision of Public Assistance office establishes the application filing date. The application, however, may not be a complete application. The worker has 45 days (or 18 hours for life-threatening heating assistance expedited service applications) following the receipt of a complete application to process the application.