81-3128. Program administration; staffing; considerations; caseworkers; activities; appointments; equipment.

(1) The Department of Health and Human Services shall staff multiple, integrated access points for economic assistance programs administered by the department in order to assure that Nebraskans who rely on such programs will be able to utilize them effectively.

(2) The department shall staff existing local offices that provide access to economic assistance programs throughout the state with caseworkers to provide in-person services to department clients. The department shall provide sufficient numbers and hours of staff to perform the activities described in this section and section 81-3129.

(3) The department shall determine appropriate numbers and hours of staff for each existing local office based on a review of the need in each service area. In determining the appropriate numbers and hours of staff, the department shall, at a minimum, consider: (a) The need for staff to travel to community-based organizations as provided in section 81-3131; (b) the volume of economic assistance cases in the counties served by the existing local office; (c) the number of community-based organizations in the counties served by the existing local office; (d) the volume of call-center calls originating in the counties served by the existing local office; and (e) the requirements of sections 81-3127 to 81-3131.

(4) Caseworkers at existing local offices shall perform the following activities by appointment and on a drop-in basis:

(a) Help clients complete assistance and renewal applications;

(b) Screen clients for program eligibility;

(c) Interview clients for assistance eligibility and assistance renewal eligibility;

(d) Determine program eligibility of the client; and

(e) Answer client questions in person.

(5) Department call centers for economic assistance programs shall take appointments for face-to-face help for clients regarding or relating to such assistance upon request of the client.

(6) Each existing local office shall be equipped with a reasonable number of computers, telephones, and scanning equipment for client use.

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