N.M. Admin. Code § 8.102.110.11 - INTERVIEWS

A. Application interview: All applicants shall be interviewed in person at the local office or, when circumstances warrant, at another place reasonably accessible and agreeable to both the applicant and the caseworker. The applicant may bring any individual to the interview.

B. Alternative interviews:

(1) A cash assistance applicant shall not be required to have a face-to-face interview if the applicant is unable to appoint an authorized representative and the household has no member(s) able to come to the HCA due to one of the hardship conditions listed in Paragraph (2) of Subsection B of this section.

(2) Hardship conditions: The face-to-face interview for cash assistance households shall be waived when the applicant meets one of the following conditions:

(a) over the age of 60;

(b) disabled;

(c) employed 20 or more hours per week;

(d) has transportation difficulties;

(e) prolonged severe weather;

(f) other hardship identified as situations warrant; as authorized by the county director.

(3) A face-to-face interview must be granted to any recipient who requests one. If the recipient is unable to come to the office due to the issues listed in Paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection, then an interview may be scheduled at a location agreed upon by the caseworker and the applicant.

C. Home visits: A home visit may be made to conduct the interview and obtain the information needed, as long as the HCA gives adequate prior notice of the visit.

D. Scheduling interviews: An interview shall be scheduled upon receipt of the application. The interview shall take place within 10 working days of the date an application is filed and, to the extent possible, at a time that is convenient for the applicant.

E. Missed interviews: The applicant shall be responsible for scheduling a second appointment. If the applicant does not contact the office or does not appear for the rescheduled interview, the application shall not be denied until the 30th calendar day (or the next workday if the 30th is not a workday) after the application was filed.

F. Purpose and scope of interview:

(1) Prior to approval there shall be an interview with the applicant. The purpose and scope of the interview shall be explained to the applicant. The interview is an official and confidential discussion of benefit group circumstances between the applicant and the caseworker. The interview allows the caseworker to explore and clarify unclear or incomplete information reported on the application and is intended to provide the applicant with information regarding the work program, child support benefits and requirements, the temporary nature of the program, eligibility requirements, and to provide the caseworker with the necessary facts to make an accurate eligibility determination.

(2) For cash assistance cases, at initial application, a brief history shall be required in the case narrative explaining the circumstances, which led to the application. The narrative shall include information clearly describing the child's situation with respect to child support from a non-custodial parent or parents.

G. Applicant information: During the course of the interview all reasonable steps shall be taken to make the applicant feel at ease and protect the applicant's right to privacy. The interviewer shall tell the applicant about the following:

(1) services available and requirements which must be met under the cash assistance program and the child support enforcement programs;

(2) school attendance and reporting requirements;

(3) complaint and hearing procedures;

(4) work program procedures;

(5) work requirements;

(6) application processing standards;

(7) procedures in cases of overpayment or underpayment;

(8) responsibility to report changes;

(9) nondiscrimination policy and procedures;

(10) timeliness standards; and

(11) semiannual reporting requirements.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.102.110.11

8.102.110.11 NMAC - Rp 8.102.110.11 NMAC, 7/1/2001; A, 2/14/2002; A, 1/1/2004; A, 11/15/2007; A, 7/1/2013, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, June 25, 2024, eff. 7/1/2024