1. Determine the identifying need of the applicant and whether it is under the Seniors, Community and Social Services mandate to provide this service.
   
2. Establish whether the applicant belongs to a group that is eligible or ineligible for Seniors, Community and Social Services. 
   
3. Refer the applicant to the appropriate internal or external resources/services. 
   
4. If the need is Income Support (IS), establish IS eligibility based on the applicant’s income, assets, and resources. 
   
5. Apply all policy requirements to determine needs and services. 
   
6. Advise the applicant of the variety of program services available to them to meet their needs and assist them to be as independent as they are able.

Client Type

Workers must ensure clients are appropriately assessed and categorized so that the following can be determined.

• Core Essential benefits
• Allowable assets
• Supplementary benefits
• Support services
• Health benefit coverage
• Employment or training expectations
  
  

Adding a Spouse/Partner to an Active File

When an IS client reports the addition of a spouse/partner to their household, the worker asks the spouse/partner to declare their income and assets and sign the EMP 2004 Notice of Eligibility to re-establish eligibility and ensure they are aware of program responsibilities. The completion of a new EMP 3428 Income Support Application is not required. An Individual Plan should also be completed with the spouse/partner.

Note
If it is not practical to meet in person, the requirement to sign the EMP 2004 Notice of Eligibility can be deferred.

Record the reason that the form was not signed in Compass Comments. Include details about any substitutions to these requirements that are being temporarily used.

Set a Compass Reminder to complete, at a later date, the policy requirement to sign the form, if the client is still on the caseload.