Sec.17b-198-3. Beginning the eligibility process

(a) Application required. (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any person seeking assistance pursuant to SAGA shall complete and submit to the department an application on a form prescribed by the department. Each application shall be in writing and include, at a minimum: (A) A formal request for assistance; (B) the applicant's full name and address; and (C) the signature of the applicant or person authorized to request assistance on the applicant's behalf. The signature required pursuant to this subdivision may be an electronic signature. The department shall forward application materials to any person who requests a paper application, and shall afford any person who appears in person and requests assistance an opportunity to file an application for assistance pursuant to SAGA or any other pertinent program administered by the department on the day such person appears in person.

(2) Any telephone contact or other request for assistance that is not written, does not contain the minimum information required by subdivision (1) of this subsection or is not made on an application form prescribed by the department shall be considered an inquiry and shall not constitute an application.

(3) In addition to the minimum information required under subdivision (1) of this subsection, an applicant shall complete all pertinent sections of the application form to the satisfaction of the department prior to being granted assistance. Any applicant who fails to complete all pertinent sections of the application form by a date requested by the department, shall be denied assistance.

(b) New application not required. The department shall determine a person's eligibility for assistance pursuant to SAGA without requiring a new application meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of this section when:

(1) Cash assistance requested by or provided to such person pursuant to TFA, AABD or RCA is denied or discontinued;

(2) Such person requests that the department resume assistance not later than thirty days after such person is released from a correctional or mental health facility, provided such person was previously determined eligible for assistance pursuant to SAGA and lost eligibility due to institutionalization in such facility not earlier than twenty-four months prior to the date of such release; or

(3) Such person (A) is discharged from a residential substance abuse treatment facility, and (B) was a recipient of assistance pursuant to SAGA within sixty days of the date of such discharge.

(c) Where to file. A completed application may be filed with the department electronically, in person at, or by mail to, any department regional office or by mail to any other address approved by the department for receipt of applications.

(d) Date of application. (1) The date of application shall be the date on which a signed application requesting cash assistance is received by the department. If the department receives a signed application that does not indicate which form of assistance the applicant is requesting, the date of receipt shall remain the date of application if such applicant indicates he or she is requesting cash assistance at the application interview or when contacted by the department for the purpose of determining which form of assistance such applicant is requesting, whichever occurs first.

(2) When the date of application for cash assistance is established pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection and an applicant subsequently and for the first time requests a different form of assistance, such applicant shall be required to sign and submit a new application concerning such request, and the date of application for such different form of assistance shall be the date such new application is submitted to a department office.

(e) Persons qualified to participate in the eligibility process. Any person who requests assistance solely for himself or herself may file an application and complete the eligibility process, unless such person has been declared incompetent by a court of appropriate jurisdiction. Any applicant may choose to be assisted in the eligibility process by another person or persons, and may be accompanied and represented by such chosen person or persons during contact with the department. In the case of a person declared incompetent by a court of appropriate jurisdiction, such person's conservator, guardian or court-appointed fiduciary may file an application and complete the eligibility process on behalf of such person.

(f) Authorized representatives. (1) An assistance unit member may appoint a person to act as an authorized representative on his or her behalf, unless such member has been declared incompetent by a court of appropriate jurisdiction, in which case such member's conservator, guardian or court-appointed fiduciary may appoint an authorized representative for such member. Such appointment shall be in writing and include the signature of the assistance unit member, or such member's conservator, guardian or court-appointed fiduciary. The appointment of an authorized representative shall not be effective until received by the department and shall be subject to the department's determination that the person selected as an authorized representative is a responsible individual. For purposes of this subsection, "responsible individual" means a person who: (A) is eighteen years of age or older; (B) is sufficiently familiar with the assistance unit's household circumstances to answer with reasonable accuracy questions concerning the assistance unit's need and eligibility for assistance; (C) understands the responsibilities assumed by virtue of acting as an authorized representative; (D) is able to communicate with members of the assistance unit in order to obtain information from such members and provide such members with an explanation of their rights and responsibilities; (E) has an interest in the well-being of the assistance unit; and (F) has not been disqualified from receiving assistance pursuant to SAGA.

(2) Unless an assistance unit member's signature is otherwise required by state or federal law, an authorized representative may sign any document, including an application, and otherwise act on behalf of the assistance unit on all matters. The department shall send notice of any case action to the assistance unit and its authorized representative. The department shall not take any action based on information provided by an authorized representative until such authorized representative verifies his or her identity.

(3) The department may appoint an authorized representative for an assistance unit when it determines that there has been financial mismanagement and that a protective payee is necessary, as described in subsection (e) of section 17b-198-12 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, in which case such protective payee shall act as the assistance unit's authorized representative.

(4) An assistance unit shall have no more than one authorized representative at any given time. An authorized representative may represent multiple assistance units and may terminate his or her representation of an assistance unit at any time by notifying the department of such termination in writing. No department employee involved in the eligibility process or the issuance of benefits may act as an authorized representative without the specific, written approval of the commissioner or the commissioner's designee.

(5) An assistance unit member shall not be relieved of any responsibility imposed by statute or regulation due to the appointment of an authorized representative. An assistance unit member and his or her authorized representative shall be jointly responsible for any assistance improperly obtained from the department due to the actions of the authorized representative.

(6) An assistance unit member may, at any time, revoke the appointment of any authorized representative, provided such revocation is in writing and received by the department. The department may remove an authorized representative if such representative knowingly misrepresents the assistance unit's circumstances and eligibility for assistance.

(g) Application interviews. (1) Each applicant requesting assistance pursuant to SAGA, or such applicant's authorized representative, shall be interviewed by the department as a condition of eligibility for such assistance. The department shall conduct such interview for the purpose of reviewing the application form and any other relevant information or documents for accuracy and completeness, and to ascertain pertinent information relating to the current circumstances of the assistance unit. Such interview may be conducted in person or by telephone on the day an application is filed or within a reasonable amount of time thereafter, as determined by the department.

(2) The department shall not schedule a second application interview for a person who misses a scheduled application interview and does not contact the department to reschedule such interview. The department shall schedule a second application interview for any person who misses a scheduled application interview if such person requests that the department reschedule such interview and such person's failure to complete the previously scheduled interview was due to a hardship such as, but not limited to, an accident or a family illness. Any delay in processing an application that results from rescheduling such an interview shall be attributed to the applicant.

(3) If, at any time after the application interview but prior to granting assistance, a change occurs with respect to the information provided by the applicant on the application or at the application interview, and such change could impact the applicant's eligibility for or appropriate level of SAGA assistance, such applicant shall report such change to the department not later than ten days after the date on which such change occurred.

(h) Date on which documents are considered received during the eligibility process. Unless specifically provided otherwise by a statute or regulation, during the eligibility process any application, written verification, report or request, redetermination form, waiver, petition or other document shall be considered received by the department on the day any such item is actually received by the department, except that any such item received on a weekend day, holiday or any day after normal business hours shall be considered received on the next business day.

(Effective October 11, 2016)