Section 17-647-11 - Processing of application(a) An individual or family requesting financial assistance or an individual requesting to be added to a recipient's household becomes an applicant when the signed application form is received by the branch office designated by the department to accept a houshold's application. The date of application shall be: (1) The date the income maintenance unit office receives the signed application form or the most recently completed redetermination form requesting the individual be added to a recipient's household; or(2) The date the individual is required to be included in the financial assistance under sections 17-647-12 and 17-647-13. The individual shall be included in the application already on file from the date the individual joins the household or the date the individual is required to be included.(b) The application form shall be signed, under penalty of perjury by: (1) All adults in the household requesting financial assistance;(2) The applicant's authorized representative when the applicant is incompetent or incapacitated;(3) All legally responsible relatives living in the household;(4) Nonlegally responsible relative living with minor children; or(5) All natural parents, living with their children requesting assistance in the AFDC category.(c) If the application includes minors under age eighteen who are not living with a parent, the parents shall be informed of the minor's application.(1) The department shall contact the minor's legally responsible relatives to determine the parents' or the relatives' willingness to provide financial support before financial assistance payment is authorized. The amount of financial contribution made by the parents or relatives shall be collected as a refund by the department;(2) The failure of legally responsible relatives, not living with an applicant, to respond to the department's inquiry regarding the relative's willingness to contribute towards the support of the applicant shall not delay the application process. However, an applicant shall agree to develop a potential source of income in the form of support from relatives before assistance shall be provided to the applicant;(3) The minor shall be informed of social services available within the family and adult services division. All minors under age sixteen who are living independently shall be referred for social services.[Eff 3/19/93; am 1/25/97] (Auth: HRS §§ 346-14, 346-53) (Imp: HRS § 346-29)