126-2          SENIOR BENEFITS

Senior Benefits application is processed statewide by any DPA office, regardless if the household has other open cases assigned to a different office. Refer to Admin Manual MS 101-5D for additional information on location of applications.

Exception:

Cases assigned to LTC Long Term Care should be worked by LTC Long Term Care staff (030-X-070).

126-2 A.     APPLICATION PROCESS

The Senior Benefits Program has a different application form (GEN 152 Senior Benefits Application) than other Public Assistance programs. The Application for Services (GEN 50 C Application for Services) can also be used to apply for the Senior Benefits Program. The eligibility review form (GEN 72) is an acceptable form to renew Senior Benefits.

1. 1. • Register the application as an application and not as a request for service (RG). CARC Case Record Control the application to 030 9 99. Refer to the HowWe Guide Addendum 14 for CARC Case Record Control'ing instructions.
        
        

      • Senior Benefits case will always be designated with Field Service Office as 030-X-(FSO Field Service Office number).
        
        

      • Use appropriate alerts when reassigning or transferring Senior Benefits cases to another office. This notifies the receiving office where the file will be assigned or transferred after the case is approved/denied/closed. Refer to the "Program CARC Guide" section of the Addendum 13 in the HowWe Guide.
        
        Example: "Transfer From FSO 022"
        
        

      • Scan and save the Senior Benefits application with any attachments and documents to ILINX.
        
        

      • Senior Benefits cases will remain in the office that has another open programs.
        
        

      • Stand-alone Senior Benefits case will remain in the office that received the new application.

126-2 B.     SENIOR BENEFITS REGISTRATION AND CASE NUMBERING

Register Senior Benefits cases using a General Assistance case number.  Senior Benefits cases must have a new and separate case number that cannot be used for any other programs within DPA Division of Public Assistance.  If both members of a couple are applying for Senior Benefits, each person must have their own case number.   

Example:

Mrs. Smith received General Assistance for utility shut-off in the prior month. Mrs. Smith and her husband each submitted an application for Senior Benefits. When registering the application, two new case numbers must be established for Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The old General Assistance case number cannot be recycled as a Senior Benefits case number.