Date of Application and Benefit Start Date 400-28-20-10

(Revised 10/1/12 ML #3348)

View Archives

 

 

NDAC 75-02-01.3-02

 

The date of the application is the date the signed application is received in the county social service office. An application can be submitted to the county social service office in person, by mail, by fax or electronically.

 

The county social service office must document the date an application is filed by recording the date the application was received on the application.

 

The application must be signed to be considered an application. The application is considered signed if the signature is found anywhere on the application, other than in answer to a question contained therein.

 

If an unsigned application is received and has been date stamped by the county social service office, the unsigned application must be returned to the applicant. If the same application, now signed by the applicant, is returned to the county social service office, that office shall date stamp the application with the date the signed application is received. Document in the case file the correct application received date.

 

Regardless of the means of submittal (in person, by fax, by mail or via electronically filing), an application received after business hours is considered received on the next business day.

 

The benefit start date will be the first day of the month the signed application is considered received in the county social service office or the earliest date of eligibility.

 

An individual applying for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) may request assistance for the month prior to the month the application is received by so indicating on the application. Eligibility can be extended to the prior month if the applicant requesting such assistance meets all other CCAP eligibility requirements for the prior month.

 

If an application is received with a request for a prior month and eligibility for the prior month had been previously established (certificate exists for the month), a new eligibility determination is not made for the prior month based on the new application. The previous determination remains valid.

 

If the prior month was previously denied and a certificate did not exist, eligibility for the prior month can be established.

 

If a caretaker did not request the prior month at the time of application, but later discovers a need, the applicant can request and provide all information for the prior month no later than the last day of the 5th month following the month of application as payment is contingent upon CCAP billing forms being submitted within 6 months following the month care was provided.

Example: A caretaker submits an application for CCAP in August, and in November the caretaker informs the eligibility worker of the need for assistance with July child care. The caretaker must submit all information to process the payment by January 31st.

 

All such requests must be made in writing, with eligibility established based on the information that existed in that month. The eligibility worker must notify the family of the eligibility decision.