Except as provided in

Chapter 3 (commencing with

Section 12000) of this part and

Section of this code, applications for public social services or public assistance by any person, or in behalf of any person, shall be made to the county department in the county in which the applicant is living. The application may be made in writing or reduced to writing upon the standard form prescribed in regulations of the department and a copy shall be furnished to each applicant at the time of the application. The state is responsible for maintaining uniformity in the public social service programs provided for in

Part 3 (commencing with

Section 11000) of this division, and in order to promote and insure such uniformity, the department shall be responsible for the control of administering the payment of grants for all aid programs.

The department may contract with any county for the performance of eligibility and grant determinations for applicants or recipients within the jurisdiction of the contracting county, or for applicants or recipients within the jurisdiction of another county which has not contracted with the department to perform such functions or whose contract with the department has been terminated or in the absence of such contract the department may act in the place of the county and assume direct responsibility for the administration of such eligibility and grant determinations.

The department shall have the right to terminate any such contract immediately if the contracting county fails to carry out its contractual obligations.