Cooperating With the Eligibility Process
All participants must cooperate with the eligibility process.
Policy
Participants, including budgetary unit members who are disqualified or have an ineligible status, must cooperate with the eligibility process. The eligibility process consists of, and is not limited to, all of the following:
●Completing and signing an application.
●Completing the interview process.
●Providing mandatory verification.
●Cooperating in any review or audit of eligibility. This includes cooperating with Quality Control (QC) or a federal review.
●Providing requested information needed to prepare overpayments.
FAA must document refusal to cooperate when the participant meets all of the following conditions:
●Is able to cooperate
●Does not take the actions necessary to comply with cooperation requirements
For NA, FAA denies the application or stops the budgetary unit’s benefits allowing for Notice of Adverse Action(g).
For CA, FAA denies the application or stops benefits only for the responsible participant who refuses to cooperate and for the participant whose eligibility cannot be verified.
When the application has been denied or the case closed for refusal to cooperate, the participant must comply with cooperation requirements before FAA determines eligibility.
Procedures
Determine and document refusal to cooperate when the participant meets all of the following conditions:
●Is able to cooperate
●Does not take the actions necessary to comply with cooperation requirements
NOTE See PRAP for keying Program and Person Alerts Codes when a participant has not cooperated.
Do not deny the application or close the case when the participant cooperates but outside sources fail to verify needed information.
Do not deny the application or close the case for failure to cooperate with the Office of Special Investigation (OSI).
When the application has been denied or the case closed for refusal to cooperate, the participant must comply with cooperation requirements, before FAA determines eligibility.
Cooperation from the budgetary unit is required to complete the eligibility process. Participants must also cooperate with the Quality Control (QC) review process. See Cooperating with Quality Control (QC) for QC Cooperation instructions.
Legal Authorities
7 CFR 273.2(d)
7 CFR 273.2(d)(1)
7 CFR 273.2(d)(2)
7 CFR 273.2(f)(1)(viii)(B)
AAC R6-12-302
last revised 03/28/2022