Responsibility for Cooperating in the Eligibility Determination Process

The client must keep appointments scheduled by the Department to review eligibility. Failure to keep a scheduled appointment constitutes failure to cooperate in the eligibility review process and makes the client ineligible unless he or she contacts the worker before or on the date of the appointment to reschedule. The rescheduled appointment must occur within ten calendar days of the original appointment. Failure to keep any appointments in this process shall constitute failure to cooperate in the eligibility review process unless the client contacts the worker prior to the appointment and one of the following applies: (A) the appointment conflicted with the client's working hours; or (B) the conditions of 106 CMR 701.380(A)(1) or (2) apply. Assistance shall be terminated upon proper notification when the worker cannot complete the eligibility review because the client has not appeared for the scheduled appointment. If the client completes the eligibility review process within 30 calendar days of the termination date, the worker shall determine eligibility based upon information submitted during the process and within the 30-calendar-day period following the termination date. If the client is determined eligible, assistance shall be authorized as of the date of the appointment (if the verifications demonstrate eligibility as of this date), or the date on which all eligibility factors were met, whichever is later.