Enter the application in the name of the child for âKâ type of assistance. Eligibility Specialists in Children’s Services take applications for children in the custody of DYS or a Juvenile Court. Income Maintenance caseworkers only take applications for children for whom DMH has custody or financial responsibility (these children would also be eligible for MC+ for children non-CHIP). Accept applications from:
- A parent if the parents retain custody and can be located (If the parents cannot be located the custodial agency may apply for the child); or
- The DYS Regional Administrator if the child is in the custody of DYS and currently residing in DYS foster care; or
- The DYS Unit Manager if the child is in the custody of DYS and currently residing in eligible DYS living arrangements other than foster care; or
- The appropriate representative of the Juvenile Office if the child is in the custody of a Juvenile Court; or
- The DMH Resource Investigator if the child is in the custody of DMH and residing in an eligible living arrangement.
A list of the DYS/DMH contact persons is included in Appendix D.
The parent or appropriate contact person may complete and sign all necessary forms for the child. Normal verification procedures apply when the parent applies. If the contact person applies for the child and claims knowledge of the financial situation of the child, accept their statement as verification. If the contact person states they do not have complete information about the financial situation of the child, the caseworker and the contact person will work together to obtain necessary information.
If the parents make application, use their address and send the Medicaid card to them. If the DYS/DMH/Juvenile Court contact person makes application for the child, use the address of the facility or foster home where the child resides.
If DYS/DMH/Juvenile Court has custody or the parents cannot be located, the DYS/DMH/Juvenile Court contact person will:
- sign the application forms;
- furnish the information necessary to determine the claimant’s eligibility determination;
- provide verification of DYS/DMH/Juvenile Court support/maintenance payments;
- furnish a copy of the custody order;
- provide any necessary release of information forms for the processing of the claimant’s application;
- provide on-going information regarding any changes of circumstances and/or facility status that affects the claimant’s continued eligibility; and
- if DMH is the custodial agency, provide the name of the Case Manager who will be the ongoing case contact person.
If the parents have custody and can be located, the DYS/DMH/Juvenile Court contact person will:
- provide verification of DYS/DMH/Juvenile Court support/maintenance payments;
- furnish a copy of the custody order, if applicable;
- inform FSD if the DMH/DYS/Juvenile Court case is closed, if the claimant is moved to another facility/foster home, or if there is any other change in facility status that affects the continued eligibility of the child; and
- if DMH is the custodial agency, provide the name of the Case Manager who will be the ongoing case contact person.
In cases involving legal guardians, the parents are still held financially responsible for the care of the child, unless parental rights have been terminated.
NOTE: File a copy of any applicable guardianship/legal custody order in the case record.