BC 2011 08 15 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 15, 2011 (Regular Meeting) Page 558 Intervention Program anticipated, to cap the benefit level collectively should help meet the needs of the citizens while maintaining costs. The Work First Plan is a document that provides the model of practice used by Cabarrus County for services within the program. Changes requested for this plan must receive both county and state approval. The DSS Board of Directors approved this amendment at its June 23, 2011 meeting. The amendment, with new text underlined is as follows: A. General Emergency Assistance (EA) policy: Cabarrus County DSS will operate an Emergency Assistance program that is designed to get families through a crisis situation. It will only get them through the crisis, and it will be up to the family in consultation with social work staff, to build upon the EA, and use it to move them toward a more stable living situation. EA will be for short -term assistance only and will meet that guideline in that it is: • Non- recurring, and designed to deal with a specific episode of need. • Not intended to meet recurring or ongoing needs. • Not extending beyond four (4) months. The main aspects of the Cabarrus County EA program are as follows: 1. All funding for EA will be used for a documented crisis situation. A crisis situation is defined as follows: a household has experienced a change in situation beyond its control, or has experienced an unusual and /or unexpected expense, or has decreased income during the 30 days preceding the Emergency Assistance application. 2. In order to receive EA, there must be a minor child residing in the home. The definition of age, kinship, and citizenship will be the same as in the Work First program requirements. 3. Eligibility for EA will be based on 150% of the Federal poverty level. See income table below: Family size* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Max. Monthly Income (2011 $1,3 $1,8 $2,3 $2,7 $3,2 $3,7 $4,22 $4,70' levels) 62 39 17 94 72 49 7 4 *For each additional member, add $478.00. 4. The base period for computing gross income is the month prior to the application for EA, unless a change has occurred in hours, employment, or pay. 5. The cash payment limit using County funding (GA, AA, EA, or 200%) will be limited to a total amount not exceeding $300.00 in any 12 -month period, per household. (i.e. Household receives $300.00 from Adult Assistance therefore cannot receive additional funds from GA, EA, or 200 %). The applicant must be within the 150% poverty limit, except in the case of 200% funds Consecutive year beginning from when last EA payment was received. 6. The family budget must show that the family can maintain ongoing bills once EA is given. If this is not the case, EA may not be appropriate. 7. Individuals who have received crisis assistance (General Assistance, Adult Assistance, Emergency Assistance, 200% and /or Crisis Intervention Program) in the amount of $300.00 will be required to attend budget classes before future assistance may be provided. Worker will register individual for budget class when household has reached the $300.00 funding limit for any of the above financial assistance programs. Worker will advise the individual that they must attend budget class before any future assistance can be provided. Failure to attend the budget classes will result in denial of future County funded crisis assistance for anv period beyond the current 12 months.