Temporary Assistance Source Book

1 Temporary Assistance Source Book Employment and Income Support Programs TASB 06/27/2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance i TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: FORWARD A. General Introduction B. Acronym/Terminology Listing CHAPTER 2: OVERVIEW OF Temporary Assistance PROGRAMS A. Introduction B. Family Assistance C. Emergency Assistance to Families (EAF) D. Safety Net Assistance (SNA) E. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) F. Emergency Assistance for Adults (EAA) Reference Section CHAPTER 3: APPLICATION PROCESSING A. Definitions B. Right to Apply C. Date of Application D. Applicant Interview E. Required Use of State-Prescribed Application Forms F. When State-Prescribed Application is NOT Required G. Required Application Signatures H. Eligibility Documents for TA-MA-SNAP I. Non-Parent Caregiver Cases Reference Section CHAPTER 4: RECIPIENT/APPLICANT RIGHTS A.

2 Inquiries and Complaints: Definitions B. Inquiries and Complaints: Handling C. Fair Hearing Definitions D. Right to a Fair Hearing E. Priority Hearings F. Appellant Rights G. Requests for a Fair Hearing H. Aid Continuing I. Examination of Case Record J. Authorization of Representative K. Local District Responsibilities L. Office Responsibilities M. Decision and Compliance N. Agency Conferences TASB 06/27/2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance ii O. Civil Rights P. ADA Access by Persons with Physical and/or Mental Disabilities Q. Access by Persons with LEP R. Constitutional Rights S. Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information T. Professional Standards for Dealing with Applicants/Residents Reference Section CHAPTER 5: INITIAL ELIGIBILITY A. Investigation B. Front End Detection System (FEDS) C. Responsibility for Furnishing Information D. Sources of Information E.

3 Verification F. Computer Matches G. Supervisory Review and Approval H. Acceptance/Denial or Termination of Initial Eligibility I. Responsibility for Prompt Determinations J. Immediate Needs K. Photo Identification Cards L. Notification M. Case Record N. Social Security Number Requirement Reference Section CHAPTER 6: CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY A. Definition: Recertification B. Required Contacts and Investigation C. Actions Based on Required Contacts D. Disqualification for Intentional Program Violation Reference Section CHAPTER 7: Temporary Assistance EMPLOYMENT/PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS CHAPTER 8: NOTICE OF AGENCY DECISION A. Definitions B. Adequate Notice C. Mass Changes D. Notice of Action E. Exceptions to Timely Notice Requirements F. Factors Common to all Notices G. Combined Manual Notices TASB 06/27/2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance 3 H. Manual Notices Used at Application I.

4 Manual Notices Used at Recertification J. Manual Notices Used to Advise a TA Recipient of Changes to Eligibility (T & A) K. Manual Notices Used for Intent to Change TA Benefits (A) L. Other Manual Notices M. TA Only Manual Notices N. ABEL Budget Narratives for Manual Notice Only O. Transfers, Reclassifications & Withdrawal Reference Section CHAPTER 9: FAMILY Assistance A. Definitions B. Applications for FA C. Applications as an Assignment D. Determination of Initial Eligibility E. Financial Need F. Age G. Welfare of Child or Minor H. Residence Within State I. Living Arrangements J. Relationship of Child to Relative K. Time Limits L. Pregnancy M. Grantee N. Change of Grantee O. Utilizing Federal Categories of Assistance P. Utilizing the FA Essential Person Category Q. WMS for Essential Person Instructions R. Determination of Continuing Eligibility S. Compliance with Child Support Enforcement Program T. Participation in a Strike U.

5 Individual Development Accounts (IDAS) Reference Section CHAPTER 10: SAFETY NET Assistance (SNA) A. General B. Persons Eligible for SNA C. Persons Not Eligible for SNA D. Financial Requirements E. General Requirements F. Non-Financial Requirements G. Determination of Continuing Eligibility H. Determination and Payment of the SNA I. Emergency SNA and Short-Term SNA J. Supplemental Safety Net Assistance K. Treatment of SSI In-Kind Income TASB 06/27/2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance 4 L. Interim Assistance to SSI Applicants M. Presumptive SSI Payments N. SSI Application Protective Filing Date O. SSI Alien Deeming Period P. National Case Correction Q. SNA Inter-Jurisdictional Disputes R. Veteran Assistance Reference Section CHAPTER 11: EMERGENCY Assistance TO NEEDY FAMILIES (EAF) A. Definition B. Application C. Eligibility D. Loss or Theft of Grant Check E. Loss or Theft of Cash F.

6 Loss of Theft of Electronic Benefits G. Sanctioned Persons H. Scope/Limitation I. Shelter Arrears and EAF J. Authorization - EAF K. Decisions L. Fair Hearings Reference Section CHAPTER 12: EMERGENCY Assistance TO ADULTS (EAA) A. Definitions B. Application C. Determination of Eligibility D. Granting of EAA E. Fair Hearings F. Authorization G. Indicators of Possible Mental or Physical Health Problems H. Grants of Assistance for Guide Dogs Reference Section CHAPTER 13: CALCULATING THE GRANT A. The Budgetary Method B. Determining the Amount of the Grant C. Use of the Budget Worksheet D. Filing Unit - Persons Included in the TA Household E. Failure to Comply with Filing Unit Requirements F. Co-Op Cases G. Special Cases H. Special Instructions TASB 06/27/2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance 5 I. Federal Reporting Requirements J. Allen Budgeting K. "Three Generation Household" Budgeting L.

7 Children Visiting Temporary Assistance Households Not Having Legal Custody M. Persons not Included in the TA Household or Case Count Reference Section CHAPTER 14: STANDARD OF NEED A. General B. Statewide Standard of Monthly Need Reference Section CHAPTER 15: ENERGY Assistance /SERVICES A. Energy Assistance /Services Reference Section CHAPTER 16: ADDITIONAL/SPECIAL NEEDS A. Establishment of a Home B. Replacement of Furniture or Clothing C. Equipment Repairs D. Chattel Mortgage-Conditional Sales Contract E. Supplemental Jobs Allowance F. Storage of Furniture & Personal Belongings G. Camp Fees H. Restaurant Allowances I. Home Delivered Meals J. Burial Costs for Indigent Deceased Persons K. Burial of Deceased FA Related Individuals L. Budgeting TA Allowances M. Removal of an Individual to Other States or Countries N. Hospitalization of Children After Medically Ready For Discharge O. Brokers or Finders Fees, Household Moving Expenses and Security Deposit Reference Section CHAPTER 17: SHELTER A.

8 Security Deposits B. Shelter Costs for Applicant/Recipient (Client) Owned Property C. Welfare of Temporary Assistance Recipients D. Assistance & Allowances for Persons Not Living in Their Own Homes (Care & Maintenance) E. Personal Needs Allowance for Persons Not Living in Their Own Homes Reference Section TASB 06/27/2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance 6 CHAPTER 18: BUDGETING OF INCOME A. Verification of Income B. Limitations on Gross Income C. Computation of the Standard of Need for the Gross Income Test D. Income Included in the Gross Income Test E. Deeming of a Step-Parent's Income to Determine Whether the Temporary Assistance Household Passes the Gross Income Test F. Computation of Earned Income G. Variable Wages/Salaries & Contractual Income H. OPWDD Family Care Payments I. Earned Income Disregards J. Special Situations K. Exemptions and Disregards - Training Incentives Payments L.

9 Income Exemptions M. Child Support Disregard and Pass-Through N. Income from Boarder/Lodger O. Deeming P. Step-Parent Deeming Q. Budgeting of Social Security Benefits R. Net Income From Assigned Assets S. Treatment of Educational Grants T. Lump Sum Payments U. Income & Benefits Related to Military Services V. Contributions from Relatives W. Self-Employment/Small Business/Farms/Client Owned Property X. Self-Employment - Establishing the Facts Y. Microenterprises Reference Section CHAPTER 19: RESOURCES A. General B. Resource Limits (Cash, Automobiles, Real Property, Burial Plots, EITC, in Trust Accounts, SNA, Gifts to Minors) C. Interpretation D. Exemptions and Disregards of Resources Other Than Recurring Income Policy Restricted Benefits E. Real Property F. Liquid Resources (Personal Property) G. Transfer of Real of Personal Property in Safety Net Assistance Cases H. Relatives I. Work Related Benefits J.

10 Enrollment in Employer Group Health Insurance as Condition of Eligibility for Assistance K. Income Tax Refunds L. Offer of a Home M. Offer of a Job TASB 06/27/2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance vii N. New York State Worker's Compensation O. Veterans Benefits P. Servicemen's Allotments Q. Social Security Benefits, Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance (RSDI) Reference Section CHAPTER 20: METHOD OF PAYMENT OF GRANTS A. General Policy B. Definitions C. Reasons for Restrictions D. Payment in Closed Cases E. Use of Restricted Payment in FA F. Restrictions on SNA G. Electronic Benefit Reference Section CHAPTER 21: REPLACEMENT OF BENEFITS RECEIVED A. Replacement of Lost or Stolen Checks B. Replacement of Lost, Stolen, or Mismanaged Cash C. Replacement Allowance to Pay for Supplies Already Received by a Recipient D. Replacement of Electronic Benefits E. Payment for Shelter Needs Prior to Case Openings Reference Section CHAPTER 22: RECOUPMENT PROCEDURES A.