410-3       THE INTERVIEW

410-3 A.   WHEN IS AN INTERVIEW REQUIRED?

An interview is required at the time of initial application and once every 12 months thereafter.

An interview does not need to be completed if a household submits their recertification after the end of the certification period but within the following month and they are not due for their annual interview.

Note:

Individuals who only receive APAAdult Public Assistance/MED benefits, that also receive any amount of SSI,Supplemental Security Income are not required to complete an annual APAAdult Public Assistance interview. 

If they stop receiving SSISupplemental Security Income or are receiving benefits (as the PI or SP) from a program that requires an annual interview, such as SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Progam, they are required to complete an APAAdult Public Assistance annual interview.   See APA MS 480-1B.

The annual APAAdult Public Assistance interview is required even if the SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Progam interview is waived.

410-3 B.   WHO MUST PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERVIEW?

The applicant, their authorized representative, or an individual with the legal authority to act on the applicant's behalf such as a legal guardian or power of attorney.

If legally married, only one spouse needs to participate in the interview.

410-3 C.   WHO CAN CONDUCT THE INTERVIEW?

•   DPA Caseworker:  

Most individuals will be interviewed by a DPADivision of Public Assistance caseworker in the DPADivision of Public Assistance office or by telephone.

•   DPA -contracted Fee Agent:  

In communities where there is no DPADivision of Public Assistance office, the fee agent conducts the interview for individuals who want to apply for public assistance.  The fee agent will complete a Fee Agent Interview Report form (FA #1) and submit it with each application.

Note:  Regardless of who conducts the interview, if additional information or verification is needed to process the application, the caseworker will contact the applicant to get this information.

410-3 D.   HOW TO CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW

Interviews can be conducted face-to-face, by phone or, in rare circumstances when a face-to-face or phone interview is not possible, by correspondence.  

The caseworker may require a face-to-face interview if they determine it is appropriate to the situation unless attending in person is a hardship to the household.  A face-to-face interview must be provided when requested by the household.  

410-3 E.   SCHEDULING INTERVIEWS

Interviews must be scheduled for applicants who cannot be interviewed on the day they submit an application.  This means the DPADivision of Public Assistance office must give the applicant a date and time for the interview appointment.  The office must document the applicant was informed of their interview date and time by:

• Writing a case note indicating the applicant was informed and agreed to their interview date and time over the phone.  The case note must include the date and time the applicant was given for the interview; or

• Writing a case note indicating the applicant was informed of their interview date and time in writing via the “What do I need to bring to my interview?” sheet in the GEN 50CApplication for Services.  The case note must include the date and time the appointment was given for the interview; or

• Sending an EISEligibility Information System notice informing the applicant of their interview date and time.

The interview must be scheduled timely to ensure eligible households have an opportunity to participate within 30 days after the application is filed.

Applicants may have anyone they choose with them at the interview.  During the interview, applicants must be informed of their rights and responsibilities and basic program procedures.

When the applicant fails to participate in a scheduled interview and does not reschedule, the application is denied.  If the household contacts the office within 30 days of the application filing date, the office must schedule an interview.  If the household is determined eligible, the original application is used and benefits start based on the date the application was filed.

Note:  

If an application is registered on EISEligibility Information System Eligibility Information System as an Adult Public Assistance request for service (RP), EISEligibility Information System Eligibility Information System will automatically deny the application.  The denial action is done on or after the 30th day from the date the application was filed, depending on when the weekly denial job is run.  The household is notified via the system-generated notice X022, No APAAdult Public Assistance Interview.

410-3 F.   CHANGES REPORTED DURING THE INTERVIEW

Applicant households must report all changes affecting their eligibility or benefits during the interview.  Changes reported after the interview, but before a case decision is made, will be considered in the initial eligibility determination.

When an applicant reports that a spouse has moved into the home before a case decision is made, the spouse must be included in the household beginning with the month the spouse moved in.  When an applicant reports that a spouse has moved out of the home, that spouse is still considered to be part of the household for the month during which the spouse moved out.

Example:

Hope applies for APAAdult Public Assistance on May 27.  At the interview on June 5, she reports that her spouse moved in on May 30.  The spouse is considered part of Hope’s household for May.  If her spouse had moved in on June 3, he would be included in Hope’s household beginning June 1.

Example:
Brie applies for APAAdult Public Assistance on April 1.  Her application lists herself and her spouse as household members.  On April 10, she reports that her spouse left the home that day due to incarceration.  Her spouse is considered to be a household member for April.  He is not considered to be a household member for May, the month after he moved out.