351.20 Determination of continuing eligibility.
(a) Continuing eligibility for public assistance shall be established
by investigation and documentation at specified intervals and the process shall be known
as recertification, which shall include a reevaluation and reconsideration of all variable
factors of need and other factors of eligibility.
(b) In connection with periodic redetermination of eligibility, the
social services district shall:
(1) require that the recipient complete the
State-prescribed form and submit appropriate supporting data;
(2) determine the need for additional
information from the recipient and/or collateral sources;
(3) interview the recipient in a face-to-face
interview, in order to verify factors of eligibility, including those related to:
(i) identity of
recipient;
(ii) domicile of
recipient;
(iii) family
composition;
(iv) rent payment or
cost of housing;
(v) income from any
source;
(vi) savings or other
resources;
(vii) lawful residence
in the United States, if the recipient is an alien;
(4) make appropriate collateral investigation,
as required, where the recipient is unable to secure documentation of the above factors
and any additional factors of eligibility as required to establish continued eligibility;
(5) evaluate all the factual information
gathered as to its completeness, relevancy and consistency;
(6) identify the factors of eligibility subject
to change which call for prompt review of continuing eligibility; and
(7) advise the recipient of his continuing
responsibility to keep the agency informed of changes in his circumstances.(c) When a social services district becomes
aware that the adult relative caretaker of a minor child has died, the district must
take prompt steps to adjust case classification and payee and to adjust benefit levels
pursuant to the second undesignated paragraph of section 352.1 of this Title, to reflect
current circumstances. Public assistance eligibility must not lapse solely by reason of
death of the adult caretaker of a minor child until arrangements are completed, for the
addition of the child to another public assistance household, reclassification of the
case, foster care or other appropriate financial support. For State reimbursement
purposes, Safety Net Assistance given to such a child during the first 45 days after
filing of the application for Safety Net Assistance is regarded as being given to meet
emergency circumstances.
(c) When a social
services district becomes aware that the adult relative caretaker of a minor child has
died, the district must take prompt steps to adjust case classification and payee and to
adjust benefit levels pursuant to the second undesignated paragraph of section 352.1 of
this Title, to reflect current circumstances. Public assistance eligibility must not lapse
solely by reason of death of the adult caretaker of a minor child until arrangements are
completed, for the addition of the child to another public assistance household,
reclassification of the case, foster care or other appropriate financial support. For
State reimbursement purposes, Safety Net Assistance given to such a child during the first
45 days after filing of the application for Safety Net Assistance is regarded as being
given to meet emergency circumstances.