HAR §17-647-4. Filing an application

(a) The application process shall begin with an applicant's request for an application form and shall end with the branch's notification to the applicant of its eligibility. The process shall involve the following: (1) Making applications available; (2) Assisting an applicant in the completion of its application; (3) Interviewing the applicant or an authorized representative; (4) Obtaining necessary verification, including use of collateral contacts; and (5) Preparing necessary documents to authorize the issuance of benefits to eligible applicants. (b) An applicant shall cooperate in completing the application process which shall consist of filling out an application, being interviewed, and verification by the branch of circumstances relating to an applicant's eligibility. (c) For the food stamp program: (1) Households shall file food stamp applications by submitting the forms to the branch office either in person, through an authorized representative, or by mail. The length of time the department has to deliver benefits shall be calculated from the date the application is filed in the branch office designated by the department to accept a §17-647-4 647-7 household's application, except when a resident of a public institution is jointly applying for SSI and food stamps prior to the resident's release from the institution in accordance with chapter 17-655. Residents of public institutions who apply for food stamps prior to their release from the institution shall be certified in accordance with this chapter or chapter 17-663, as appropriate. Each household shall have the right to file an application form on the same day it contacts the branch office during office hours. A household shall be advised that it does not have to be interviewed before filing the application and may file an incomplete application form provided the form contains the applicant's name and address, and is signed by a responsible member of a household or a household's authorized representative. The branch shall document the date the application was filed by recording on the application the date it was received by the branch office. When a resident of an institution is jointly applying for SSI and food stamps prior to leaving the institution, the filing date of the application is the date of release of the applicant from the institution. (2) Households wishing to participate in the program shall file and complete an application, be interviewed by an employee designated by the department, and have certain information verified. A household shall be encouraged to file an application the same day the household contacts the branch in person, in writing, through an authorized representative, or by telephone to express its interest in obtaining food stamp assistance. Each household or authorized representative that contacts the branch in §17-647-4 647-8 person during office hours to make a request for assistance shall receive and be permitted to file an identifiable application that same day. Households making a telephone or written request for assistance shall have an application mailed to them that same day. (3) If a household contacts the wrong office within a branch, either in person or by telephone, the office shall, in addition to meeting the requirements in paragraph (2), give the household the address and telephone number of the appropriate office. If the household has completed enough information on the application to file, the office shall offer to forward the application to the appropriate office that same day. The household shall be informed that its application will not be considered filed and the processing standards shall not begin until the application is received by the appropriate office. If a household has mailed its application to the wrong office within a project area, the certification office shall mail the application to the appropriate office on the same day. (4) The department shall ensure that application forms are readily accessible to potentially eligible households and those groups and organizations involved in outreach efforts. The department shall also provide an application form to any individual requesting one. (5) One adult member of the applicant household shall sign the certification statement on the application for food stamps attesting, under penalty of perjury, to the truth of the information contained in the application; and (6) One adult member of the applicant household shall sign the department's declaration statement for the SAVE program on the §17-647-5 647-9 application for food stamps attesting, under penalty of perjury, to the citizenship or legal alien status of each household member. [Eff 3/19/93; am 8/1/94; am 12/18/95 ] (Auth: HRS §346-14) (Imp: 7 C.F.R. §273.2; 42 C.F.R. §435.907)