Section 470IAC2.1-1-2. Applicant and recipient responsibilities applicable to all public assistance programs

   (a) Each applicant for and recipient of public assistance shall complete, or assist the county office in completing, the appropriate application form and related eligibility forms prescribed by the division.

  (b) Each applicant and recipient is required to provide all information necessary to determine his or her eligibility for public assistance and report any change in this information to the county office within ten (10) days of the date on which the change occurs.

  (c) Each applicant and recipient of public assistance is required to verify or assist the county office in verifying all information required to determine his or her eligibility by signing appropriate release of information forms required to obtain verification of information provided to the county office or either of the following:

(1) Obtaining and providing to the county office documentation which verifies information required to determine his or her eligibility.

(2) Undergoing any required medical examinations necessary to determine eligibility.

  (d) At the time of the initial investigation, the applicant shall allow the county office caseworker to visit the applicant in his or her place of residence during agency working hours. In the absence of a valid reason for the applicant's refusal to allow such visit, the applicant shall be ineligible for assistance and the application shall be denied. The caseworker may conduct the initial interview through a personal interview at the county office or a community location designated by the county office, rather than at the applicant's residence.

  (e) If an applicant fails or refuses to provide the county office information or verification of information required to determine the applicant's eligibility for public assistance, the applicant shall be ineligible for assistance and the application shall be denied. Prior to denying an application under this section, the county office must provide the applicant written notice of the specific information or verification needed to determine eligibility and written notice of the date on which the application will be denied if the information or verification is not provided.

  (f) Treatment plan requirements shall be as follows:

(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2), any recipient who is receiving any type of public assistance due to disability, incapacity, or visual impairment shall be required to cooperate in any treatment plan that is recommended by the examining physician and approved by the division prior approval section, if the goal of such treatment is full or partial alleviation of the recipient's disability, incapacity, or visual impairment.

(2) A recipient shall not be required to cooperate in such a treatment plan if good cause for refusing exists. Good cause for refusing treatment includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(A) Such treatment is contrary to the recipient's religious beliefs.

(B) Previous surgery of the type recommended was unsuccessful.

(C) The recommended treatment is very risky because of its magnitude, unusual nature, or other reason.

(D) The recommended treatment involves amputation of a limb or a major part of a limb.

(3) Any recipient who fails to meet the requirement of this section shall be ineligible and assistance shall be discontinued.

  (g) For the purposes of the assistance to families with dependent children program, failure of the applicant to comply with the requirements of subsections (d) and (e) shall result in the ineligibility of the entire assistance group. (Division of Family Resources; 470 IAC 2.1-1-2; filed Mar 1, 1984, 2:31 p.m.: 7 IR 992, eff Apr 1, 1984; filed Dec 16, 1986, 11:00 a.m.: 10 IR 1079; filed Feb 12, 1993, 5:00 p.m.: 16 IR 1807; readopted filed Jul 12, 2001, 1:40 p.m.: 24 IR 4235; readopted filed Oct 24, 2007, 11:25 a.m.: 20071121-IR-470070448RFA; readopted filed Aug 23, 2013, 3:36 p.m.: 20130918-IR-470130306RFA)