400-2        PRUDENT PERSON JUDGEMENT

This manual is a broadly written guide to the policy and procedures that apply to the administration of the APA program.  It is impossible to anticipate every issue that a case worker will encounter in his or her casework.  It is expected that the case worker will, from time to time, encounter circumstances where the manual does not provide enough detail to make a decision on an individual's eligibility.

Case workers are expected to operate independently and to apply their prudent judgement to the decisions they make in the course of their work.  If a case worker is unable to reach a decision on a particular point of eligibility, he or she is expected to consult with his or her supervisor or with the supervisor's designee.  In all circumstances, it is important that the decision made, and the reasons for that decision, be documented in the case file in enough detail to allow another worker or a reviewer to understand what was done and why it was done.

Because of the unique relationship between the APA program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI Supplemental Security Income) program, the APA case worker will sometimes need to know the SSI Supplemental Security Income policy on a particular point of eligibility.  The SSI Supplemental Security Income policy manuals are written in much greater detail than this manual.  Case workers are, however, discouraged from contacting SSA personnel for policy clarification; the APA Policy Specialist is, in all circumstances, to be used as the contact for clarification of APA policy.  Questions from field staff are encouraged and will be dealt with as quickly as possible.