121 INTERVIEWS SR 11-40, 10/11 (AAM-A)

Interviews are official and confidential discussions of household circumstances. The worker must do all of the following:

• evaluate all available information, including any existing case record;

• resolve any unclear or incomplete information;

• inform individuals of their rights and responsibilities; and

• provide information about program policies and procedures.

Conduct a personal interview:

• prior to each initial eligibility determination;

 Exceptions:

- Do not require a personal interview for New Hampshire Housing Authority (NHHA) residents, or ServiceLink-assisted individuals who apply using Form 800Q, Assisted Application For Help With Medicare Costs Through the Medicare Savings Program, to apply for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Special Low Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), Special Low Income Medicare Beneficiary at 135% of federal poverty income guidelines (SLMB135), or Qualified Working and Disabled Individual (QDWI) programs.

- Do not require a personal interview for individuals who apply using Form 800, Application for Assistance, when the only program of assistance the individual is requesting is QMB, SLMB, or SLMB135.

- Do not require a personal interview for individuals reapplying for In and Out medical assistance because they want to change from a one- to a six-month spend down period, if the reapplication is made within 6 months of the previous eligibility interview.

- If the information provided for an initial determination of eligibility establishes that the individual is ineligible, the worker may deny the case without an interview.

• at regularly scheduled face-to-face redeterminations/recertifications of eligibility (see PART 155, REDETERMINATION); and

• as a result of reported changes, or the discovery of conflicting information regarding eligibility criteria.

Waiver of the personal interview does not exempt the individual from the verification requirements. Arrange for the completion and return of Form 800R and required verification by the date specified on the New HEIGHTS-generated AE0055, Proof Needed to Determine Your Assistance, if applicable. If New HEIGHTS is unavailable, use paper backup Form 808, Proof Needed to Determine Your Assistance. Document in the case record why the personal interview was waived.

Individuals eligible to participate in the mail-in redetermination/recertification process are not required to participate in a personal interview. However, an interview must be granted if one is requested.