N.M. Admin. Code § 8.106.110.11 - INTERVIEWS

A. Application interview:

(1) All applicants shall have a face to face interview.

(2) The interview may take place at a location reasonably accessible and agreeable to both the applicant and the caseworker.

(3) The applicant may bring any individual to the interview.

(4) The interview shall take place within 10 days of the date an application is filed and, to the extent possible, at a time that is convenient for the applicant.

B. Alternatives to an office interview: Waiver of the requirement that the interview be conducted in the ISD office shall be determined on a case-by-case basis for any individual who is unable to appoint an authorized representative, has no one able to accompany the applicant to the office because of transportation difficulties, or similar hardships that the county director determines warrants a waiver of the office interview. These hardship conditions include, but are not limited to: illness, care of benefit group member, prolonged severe weather, or work hours which prevent an in office interview during work hours. If an office interview is waived, the caseworker shall conduct a telephone interview or a home visit. Home visits shall be scheduled in advance with the benefit group as provided for at 8.100.180.17 NMAC. Waiver of the office interview, in and of itself, shall not be justification for extending the eligibility determination deadlines.

C. Scheduling an interview: An interview shall be scheduled upon receipt of the application. The interview shall take place within ten working days of the date an application is filed and, to the extent possible, at a time that is convenient for the applicant. Applications that are dropped off or submitted electronically after the close of business or on weekends or holidays will be considered received as of the next business day.

D. Missed interview: An applicant who fails to appear for the first interview shall be responsible for scheduling a second appointment for an interview. If the applicant does not contact the office or does not appear for a rescheduled interview, the application shall be denied on the 30^th day (or the next workday if the 30^th day is not a workday) after the application was filed.

E. Purpose and scope of interview: The interview is an official and confidential discussion of benefit group circumstances between the applicant and the caseworker.

(1) Prior to processing an application, there shall be a face-to-face interview with the applicant. The purpose and scope of the interview shall be explained to the applicant.

(2) The interview is intended to provide the applicant with information regarding eligibility requirements for the program and to provide the caseworker with the necessary information and documentation to make an accurate eligibility determination. In addition, the interview allows the caseworker to clarify unclear or incomplete information reported on the application.

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

(1) the requirements that must be met by the applicant under the requested cash assistance program;

(2) responsibility to report changes;

(3) complaint and fair hearing procedures;

(4) application processing standards;

(5) procedures in cases of overpayment or underpayment of benefits;

(6) non-discrimination policies and procedures;

(7) timeliness standards.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.106.110.11

8.106.110.11 NMAC - N, 7/1/2004; A, 12/1/2009; A, 7/1/2013, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, June 25, 2024, eff. 7/1/2024