4200, Client Eligibility Screening Process

Revision 23-2; Effective Sept. 15, 2023

For a person to receive PHC program services, three criteria must be met:

  • Gross family income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
  • Texas resident
  • Not eligible for other programs or benefits providing the same services

Residency is self-declared. Grantees may require residency verification, but such verification should not jeopardize delivery of services. Grantees must require income verification for countable income, except in cases when submitting the income verification jeopardizes the client's right to confidentiality or imposes a barrier to receipt of services, the grantee must waive this requirement. Reasons for waiving verification of income must be noted in the client record.

Eligibility determinations for PHC can be made by conducting interviews over the phone or in person for new applicants and to re-certify current clients. Phone interviews for eligibility determinations must comply with all eligibility guidelines outlined in program policy.

In lieu of a client’s signature on the application in the Acknowledgment section of the Application for Program Benefits or on the Statement of Applicant’s Rights and Responsibilities, the eligibility staff person must read the statements to the applicant and document that the applicant affirms the statements. The documentation must include the date and time of the applicant’s affirmation and the eligibility staff person’s signature. The client must sign the document at the time of their next visit to the clinic.