16 Del. Admin. Code § 2000-2001
A redetermination is a process by which eligibility factors are periodically reviewed to determine if they assistance group remains eligible for benefits.
Eligibility periods means the period of time within which a family is eligible to receive benefits. At the expiration of each eligibility period cash assistance benefits end. Further eligibility is established based upon a newly completed application, an interview and verification of information. Under no circumstance will benefits continue beyond the end of an eligibility period without a new determination of eligibility. The first month of the eligibility period is the first month for which the household is eligible to participate.
A redetermination is due when the eligibility period is expiring. The recipient must complete a new DSS application form and an interview. The interview may be in person or over the phone. When the client says he/she cannot get a requested document, the worker will assist him/her in obtaining an acceptable verification. A redetermination is complete when all eligibility factors are examined and a decision regarding eligibility is reached. The worker sets a new review period for eligible families.
The eligibility review periods for cash assistance cases will not exceed 12 months. If there are also Food Stamps to review, the cash assistance eligibility period will be adjusted to come due at the same time as the Food Stamp review. That means, the cash assistance redetermination will be done at the same time as the Food Benefit recertification.
If there is no open Food Benefit case but there is an open cash assistance group, the eligibility period of the new cash assistance group is adjusted to come due at the same time as the existing cash assistance group.13 DE Reg. 661 (11/01/09) Delaware's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program emphasizes work and work-related activity. Mandating face-to-face interviews might undermine that goal. Therefore, use mail-in applications, with a telephone interview, as an option to encourage recipients to continue employment and training activities or continue working. For Non-Needy Non-Parent Caretakers using mail-in applications with a telephone interview is also permitted since DSS does not count the income and resources of these caretakers. A Contract of Mutual Responsibility is still required to be reviewed and updated. Families that have filed an application by the fifteenth (15th) day of the last month of their eligibility period must be provided with either a notice of eligibility or a notice of denial by the end of the current eligibility period. The end of the eligibility period means that a redetermination interview is due. A system-generated notice is issued even if the assistance group's benefit level increases or does not change. If a family received a notice of expiration of when the eligibility period was ending indicating that a redetermination was due, and timely reapplied for cash assistance, they are to be sent another notice no later than 30 days after the review date. This second notice will indicate whether the family was eligible for benefits or denied benefits based on the information provided for the redetermination. TANF emphasizes work and work-related activity. Mandating face-to-face redeterminations might undermine that goal. Therefore, use mail-in redeterminations, with a telephone interview, as an option to encourage recipients to continue employment and training activities or continue working. 8 DE Reg. 1153 (2/1/05)
16 Del. Admin. Code § 2000-2001