DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

FIELD OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATION ECONOMIC STABILITY ADMINISTRATION

STATE DISABILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Filed with the secretary of state on

These rules become effective 7 days after filing with the secretary of state.

(By authority conferred on the department of health and human services by section 6 of the social welfare act, 1939 PA 280, MCL 400.6)

R 400.3155 of the Michigan Administrative Code is amended, as follows:

R 400.3155  Applications for assistance.

  Rule 5.  (1)  Any person, regardless of age, may apply for assistance for himself or herself.   With the group's permission, a person who is more than 18 years of age or older may be authorized to represent, and apply on behalf of, the group.

  (2) An applicant may submit an application in person, by mail, telephone, or electronically.  The department must receive the original, signed application before benefits are approved.

  (3) A person shall complete a department application form when first applying for assistance benefits and when eligibility is redetermined.

  (4) If an application contains the minimum information established by the department, including the signature of the client or authorized representative, then the department shall must accept and register the application as soon as it is filed.

  (5) Upon receipt of an incomplete application, department staff shall give or send a client an appropriate form that identifies the information needed to render the application complete and shall specify a due date by which the information must be provided. Eligibility shall must be denied, or an ongoing assistance case shall must be terminated, if an application remains incomplete. An incomplete application is valid through the last day of the month after the month of denial or termination and may be updated during that period.

  (6) As part of the application and redetermination process, the department may conduct an official, confidential interview with a client, another responsible applicant group member, or an authorized representative.  An interview shall must be conducted in a department local office during normal weekday office hours or by telephone. The department may conduct an interview in the group’s home if the client is physically unable to come to the office and if the group has no one else to help or to come to the office on its behalf.