Section 755.115  Application Procedure and Processing

a)         Application packets shall be made available to the public at all regional maintenance/training centers and at designated offices of the social service agencies, as identified in Section 755.110(b)(3), and at the request of audiologists or any other similar entity.  The application packets shall contain: 

1)         An explanation of the obligations of ITAC, on behalf of the carrier, to the recipient;

2)         A description of the rights and obligations of the recipient under ITAP;

3)         A description of the application process for service under this Part;

4)         A description of the Advisory Council and its role as liaison to persons with disabilities;

5)         The office telephone number of the Staff Liaison;

6)         An eligibility form to be filled out according to the provisions of Section 755.200, certifying the applicant as a person with a disability.  Printed on the eligibility form shall be an explanation of its purpose, the definitions of disability contained in Section 755.10 and the certification requirements of Section 755.200;

7)         A form for the prospective recipient to sign indicating that he/she understands and agrees with the rights and obligations created under this Part, and that he/she desires service under this Part;

8)         A standard application form requesting that the prospective recipient provide his/her full name, address, social security number, age, and telephone number, and the name of the person to whom telephone service is billed; and

9)         A form for the prospective recipient to sign indicating that, if the prospective recipient is acting for a minor user, the equipment received under this program will be transferred to the user on the user's eighteenth birthday.

b)         Carriers will provide assistance in completing application forms to those who desire assistance at regional maintenance/training centers and through ITAC.

c)         Applicants shall complete (or have completed) all forms, attach all necessary documentation, and mail the completed application packet as directed by ITAC, on behalf of the carriers.

d)         Upon receipt of completed application packets, ITAC, on behalf of the carrier, shall acknowledge by postcard (addressed by applicant) and process all applications.  In no event shall the ITAC, on behalf of the carriers, take more than 21 calendar days to verify an applicant's eligibility.  If ITAC, on behalf of the carrier, determines that it cannot make a decision within 21 days because the application is incomplete or contains inaccurate information, it must immediately notify the applicant upon making this determination and solicit clarification and additional information from the applicant in order to determine the applicant's eligibility. 

e)         Processing of applications by ITAC, on behalf of the carriers, shall consist of a review for completeness and the assignment of priority status for distribution in the order of receipt of the completed applications.

(Source:  Amended at 28 Ill. Reg. 859, effective January 1, 2004)