State General Assistance Programs1996

Cori E. UccelloHeather R. McCallumL. Jerome Gallagher

Assessing the New Federalism

In 1996 the Urban Institute began a major study of devolution and its consequencesentitled Assessing the New Federalism, of which this report is a part. Funded principally by theAnnie E. Casey Foundation with major support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Henry J.Kaiser Family Foundation, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, this studywill monitor the changes in state and local policies and child and family well-being that followfrom federal devolution during the 1990s. The goal is to provide policy makers and localcommunities with objective information about the social implications of new federal-staterelationships, in order to expand the nation’s capacity to make informed choices and directchange for the betterment of families, children, and communities. The Institute will disseminatethe project’s findings through a variety of mechanisms, including policy briefs, research papers,annual reports, issues forums, and public briefings.

THE URBAN INSTITUTE 2100 M Street N.W. / Washington, D.C. 20037 / (202) 833-7200

State General Assistance Programs1996

Cori E. UccelloHeather R. McCallumL. Jerome Gallagher

October 1996

This report has been prepared as part of the Urban Institute's Assessing the New Federalism project,which has received funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, theW.K. Kellogg Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Commonwealth Fund, theCleveland Foundation, the Fund for New Jersey, and the McKnight Foundation. All errors are theresponsibility of the authors. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed tothe Urban Institute or its funders.

The authors owe special thanks to the many state and county welfare administrators who respondedto our survey. The authors also wish to thank Marion Nichols and Cindy Mann of the Center on Budget andPolicy Priorities for their assistance with the survey instrument. Within the Urban Institute, we thank SheilaZedlewski for her guidance throughout this project, Kyna Rubin and Scott Forrey for their editorial assistance,and the numerous persons who provided comments on earlier drafts of this report.

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Steven D. Gold, who was co-director of Assessing the NewFederalism until his death in August 1996.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Gaps in the Federal Safety Net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1What Is the Role of General Assistance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3Table 1.1: General Assistance Programs at a Glance, by Number of StatesHow Are State General Assistance Programs Administered?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4Table 1.2: Summary of General Assistance Programs, by StateWho Is Eligible?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6How Much Assistance Is Provided?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7How Many Persons Are Helped?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8How Stable Has GA Been Over the Last Four Years?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8

CHAPTER 2: GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS,ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL, AND FUNDING SOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

States with GA Programs Throughout the State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1Figure 2.1: States With General Assistance ProgramsStates That Do Not Require a GA Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2

Table 2.1: General Assistance Program Requirements, Administration, and Funding

CHAPTER 3: GENERAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Categorical Eligibility Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1Financial Eligibility Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4Citizenship and Residency Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5Drug Screening and Treatment Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6Work Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7

Table 3.1: General Assistance Categories of EligibilityTable 3.2: General Assistance Financial Eligibility CriteriaTable 3.3: Other General Assistance Eligibility CriteriaTable 3.4: General Assistance Work Requirements

CHAPTER 4: GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS AND DURATION . . 4-1

Form of Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1Benefit Maximums. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1Duration of Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2Medical Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

Table 4.1: General Assistance Monthly Benefits and Duration of AssistanceTable 4.2: General Assistance Medical Assistance Programs

CHAPTER 5: GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CASELOADS ANDEXPENDITURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Uniform Statewide General Assistance Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1Other General Assistance Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

Table 5.1: General Assistance Program Caseloads and Expenditures, Uniform StatewidePrograms

Table 5.2: General Assistance Program Caseloads and Expenditures, County-Based StatewidePrograms

Table 5.3: General Assistance Program Caseloads and Expenditures, States Without MandatedPrograms

CHAPTER 6: MAJOR CHANGES TO GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SINCE1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Benefit Level Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1Contractions in Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1Miscellaneous Other Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2

Table 6.1: Major Changes to General Assistance Programs Since 1992

APPENDIX A: DATA COLLECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

1. President Clinton signed into law the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 onAugust 22, 1996.

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

Benefit decreases and tightening eligibility rules in recently enacted welfare reform

legislation will put greater pressure on non-federally funded government and other programs to

fill the void in assistance to those in need. Among the most important of these non-federally1

funded government programs are the General Assistance (GA) programs. GA programs provide

cash and/or in-kind benefits to low-income persons who are not eligible for federally funded cash

assistance. Each program is financed and administered entirely through the state, county, and/or

locality in which it operates. These programs are the last resort for many in need. However, GA

coverage is incomplete and shrinking, and GA benefits are generally low and decreasing.

This report provides information on the availability of GA across the states, and for states

with programs, the characteristics of those programs, including program eligibility requirements,

benefit levels, and caseload and expenditure data. We also report on significant program

changes made since the last comprehensive survey of GA programs conducted in 1992 by the

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the National Conference of State Legislatures. The

information for this study was collected through a telephone survey of each state and the District

of Columbia between June and August 1996.

This information will be critical for evaluating the impacts of federal welfare reform

legislation. In particular, it can be used to gauge the extent to which persons no longer eligible

for federally funded programs can be assisted through GA. It will also provide a baseline against

which to measure any changes states make to their GA programs in the future.

Gaps in the Federal Safety Net

The federal safety net includes several federally funded programs that provide assistance

to low-income persons or families. These programs generally benefit particular groups in need,

including disabled persons and families with children. Gaps in the federal safety net, however,

leave some persons in need without federal cash assistance.

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Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides cash payments to needy aged, blind, and

disabled persons. However, among low-income persons with disabilities, SSI is available only to

those with a permanent disability expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in death, and

that is severe enough to prevent "substantial gainful activity." Persons with temporary or less

severe disabilities are ineligible. Furthermore, the program's lengthy certification process results

in some persons waiting 12 or more months before receiving benefits.

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) provides cash grants for needy children

(and their parents or caretakers) who have been deprived of parental support or care because one

parent is absent from the home, incapacitated, or deceased, or the parent who is the principal

earner is unemployed. A portion of needy children and families with children is ineligible for

AFDC. This ineligible group includes two-parent intact families that meet AFDC financial

eligibility criteria but whose principal wage earner does not meet the state's work history or hours

requirements. In addition, women pregnant with their first child cannot become eligible for

AFDC until their third trimester, leaving them without assistance during their first two trimesters.

Able-bodied employable individuals without children are not typically eligible for either AFDC

or SSI.

In addition to cash assistance provided through SSI and AFDC, other federal programs

provide in-kind assistance. Medicaid provides medical assistance to low-income persons, and

eligibility is generally linked to SSI and AFDC. Low-income households may also be eligible to

receive food stamps.

Recently passed welfare reform legislation will widen existing gaps in the federal safety

net. Welfare reform transfers much of the responsibility for assisting persons in need from the

federal government to the states. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), a state-run

assistance program for low-income children that will be funded by a federal block grant, will

replace AFDC. Federal welfare assistance will be limited to a lifetime total of five years, and

most able-bodied adults must work after two years of assistance. In addition, most legal

immigrants will lose their eligibility for SSI and food stamps. Furthermore, unemployed childless

couples will have their food stamp benefits limited to three months over a three-year period.

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What Is the Role of General Assistance?

The majority of states currently attempt to fill the gaps in the federal safety net by

providing cash or in-kind assistance to at least a portion of needy persons ineligible for federally

funded cash assistance programs. However, there is no uniform definition of General Assistance.

Indeed, program names, eligibility criteria, and benefits falling under the rubric of General

Assistance vary widely by state, and in many cases program elements also vary within states.

For the purposes of this report, we define General Assistance programs as cash or in-kind

assistance programs for low-income individuals and families that are funded solely with state,

county, or local funds (or a combination of these). This definition includes interim assistance

programs available for persons waiting to become eligible for SSI. Although several states also

have state-funded emergency assistance programs that typically consist of a one-time grant, we

limit our definition to programs providing assistance on a more ongoing basis.

Table 1.1 summarizes state GA programs. Forty-two states have a GA program in at least

some localities. Of these, 33 states have programs throughout the state, and 9 states have

programs in a portion of the state only. The populations served by GA programs vary widely by

state, and we've divided the populations served into three groups: (1) persons who are disabled,

elderly, and/or otherwise unemployable, (2) children and/or families with children, and (3)

employable individuals without children. All 42 states with a GA program provide benefits to

persons who are disabled, elderly, and/or otherwise unemployable. Thirty-one GA programs

assist children and/or families with children. Only 16 programs assist employable individuals

without children.

The form and amount of GA benefits also vary widely across programs. Twenty-eight

states provide cash benefits to all recipients and 11 states provide in-kind benefits for all

recipients, either through vendor payments or vouchers. The GA programs in the remaining

three states provide either cash or vendor payments/vouchers, depending on the eligible group.

Among the states with cash benefits, benefit maximums as a percentage of the federal poverty

threshold average about 40 percent, with maximum benefits ranging from 12 to 100 percent of

poverty for individuals. The duration of benefits also varies by state. Three-quarters of the GA

programs either impose no time limits or impose limits on only a portion of recipients.

2. For the purposes of this paper, the District of Columbia is considered a state.

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General Assistance Programs at a Glance, by Number of States, Summer 1996

Availability of GA ProgramsStates with GA Programs 42

Program throughout entire state 33Program in only portion of the state 9

States with no GA Program 9

Populations Served by GA ProgramsDisabled, elderly, and/or unemployable individuals 42Children and/or families with children 31Employable individuals without children 16

Form of GA BenefitsCash 28Vendor Payments/Vouchers 11Mix of Cash and Vendor Payments/Vouchers 3

Maximum Cash Benefits as a Percentage of Poverty (individual recipients)Average 39%Low (Missouri) 12%High (Nebraska) 100%

Duration of GA BenefitsNo time limits 18Time limits for a portion of beneficiaries 15Time limits for all beneficiaries 9

Source: Urban Institute 1996

Table 1.1

How Are State General Assistance Programs Administered?

As mentioned, 42 states have a General Assistance program in at least some localities; 33

states operate a program throughout the state and in 9 states the program operates only in some

counties. Table 1.2 indicates that of the 33 states with statewide programs, 25 have uniform2

eligibility rules across the state. Benefit schedules are also primarily uniform across these states,

although some states set benefit levels that vary by the cost of living in different regions of the

state. Typically, the state provides the administrative control and funding for these programs.

Categorical Eligibility2

Where Disabled, Children/ Employable IndividualGA Programs Elderly, and/or Families Adults Cash Benefit

Operate Other with Without as a Percent MedicalState (County/Locality)1 Wi thin State Unemployable Children Children of Poverty3 Assistance4

New EnglandConnecticut Uniform Statewide X X X 54% XMaine Uniform Statewide X X X vp/v XMassachusetts Uniform Statewide X X 53% XNew Hampshire (City of Manchester) Statewide/County Variability X X X vp/v XRhode Island Uniform Statewide X X 51% XVermont Uniform Statewide X X X vp/v X

Mid AtlanticDelaware Uniform Statewide X X 19% X*District of Columbia Uniform Statewide X X 41% X*Maryland Uniform Statewide X X 19% XNew Jersey Uniform Statewide X X X 33% XNew York Uniform Statewide X X X 55% XPennsylvania Uniform Statewide X 33% X

Great LakesIl linois (City of Chicago) Statewide/County Variability X X 33% XIndiana (Center Township of Marion County) Statewide/County Variability X X X vp/v XMichigan Uniform Statewide X X 38% XOhio Uniform Statewide X X 18% XWisconsin (Dane County) Some Counties X 38% X

PlainsIowa (Polk County) Statewide/County Variability X X X vp/vKansas Uniform Statewide X X 30% XMinnesota Uniform Statewide X X 31% XMissouri Uniform Statewide X X 12% XNebraska (b) Uniform Statewide X X X 100% XNorth Dakota (Cass County) Some Counties X vp/vSouth Dakota (Minnehaha County) Statewide/County Variability X X X vp/v X

SoutheastAlabama No ProgramArkansas No ProgramFlorida (Dade County) Some Counties X 34%Georgia (Fulton County) Some Counties X 35%Kentucky (Jefferson County) Some Counties X X vp/vLouisiana No ProgramMississippi No ProgramNorth Carolina (Durham County) Some Counties X vp/v XSouth Carolina No ProgramTennessee No ProgramVirginia (Fairfax County) Some Counties X X 34% XWest Virginia No Program

SouthwestArizona Uniform Statewide X 27%New Mexico Uniform Statewide X X 36%Oklahoma No ProgramTexas (Harris County) Some Counties X 17%

Rocky MountainColorado (City and County of Denver) (a) Uniform Statewide X X X 36%Idaho (Ada County) Statewide/County Variability X X X vp/v XMontana (Yellowstone County) Some Counties X vp/v XUtah Uniform Statewide X X 45% XWyoming No Program

Far WestAlaska Uniform Statewide X X X 43% XCalifornia (Los Angeles County) Statewide/County Variability X X X 34% XHawaii Uniform Statewide X X 71% X*Nevada (Clark County) Statewide/County Variability X X X 43% XOregon Uniform Statewide X 44% X*Washington Uniform Statewide X X 54% X

Table 1.2: Summary of General Assistance Programs, by State, Summer 1996

Source: Urban Institute 1996

Notes: Thirty-three states have GA programs throughout the entire state. Of these, 25 have uniform eligibility rules and benefit schedules. The remaining 8 states with statewide1

programs have county-based programs, with eligibility rules and benefit levels that vary by county. Information in this table for these 8 states along, with the 9 states in which GAprograms operate only in some counties, reflects the GA program in the specific county indicated.

States indicated as covering persons in a specific category may cover one or more of its subcategories. The category of children/families with children includes women pregnant2

with their first child. The category of employable adults without children includes able-bodied adults with some barriers to employment.

Figures were determined by using Poverty Thresholds for 1995 published by the Bureau of the Census ($7,763 for one person).3

vp/v=most benefits are in the form of vendor payments or vouchers

X*=Medical Assistance is provided through the state’s Medicaid program.4

(a) Nebraska has a statewide GA program for disabled persons; GA programs for other persons may vary by county. Information in table reflects state model guidelines.

(b) Colorado has a statewide GA program for disabled persons, although all other GA programs are left to local discretion, including whether to have a program.

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The remaining eight statewide programs have eligibility rules and benefit schedules that vary by

county or locality. Although state law in those states requires each county or locality to provide

for its needy residents through a GA program, specific GA eligibility rules, benefit levels,

administrative control, and funding are left largely to the county/locality.

Eighteen states do not mandate a GA program at either the state or local level. In nine of

these states, some towns or counties have chosen to operate their own GA program. These

localities tend to be located in the larger, more urban areas of the state. Programs vary widely

from one county to the next. The remaining nine states have no GA program, and most of these

states are located in the South.

Who Is Eligible?

Each General Assistance program has a set of eligibility criteria that serve to limit

benefits to that portion of the population the state defines as most in need. These eligibility rules

can generally be divided into five classifications: (1) categorical requirements, (2) financial

requirements, (3) citizenship and residency requirements, (4) drug screening and treatment

requirements, and (5) work requirements.

C Categorical Requirements. Twelve states provide assistance to all financially needypersons who do not qualify for federally funded cash assistance programs yet meet thestate's financial and other eligibility requirements. In contrast, 30 states provideassistance to certain categories of persons only. Among those programs, all provideassistance to at least one subcategory of persons who are disabled, elderly, or otherwiseunemployable. Nineteen provide assistance to low-income children or families withchildren, including women pregnant with their first child. Four provide assistance to able-bodied employable adults or able-bodied adults with some barriers to employment.

C Financial Requirements. Income limits typically vary according to family size, andsometimes according to location of residence and/or the eligibility category. Incomelimits range from zero in Florida, Kentucky, and New Hampshire, to $2,109 per month fora family of three in Hawaii. Generally, asset limits do not vary by family size. Themajority of states set asset limits between $1,000 and $2,000.

C Citizenship and Residency Requirements. Thirty-six states limit eligibility to citizens andlegal aliens. Three states (Idaho, New York, and North Carolina) have no citizenshiprequirements for all eligible persons; the District of Columbia and Minnesota have nocitizenship requirements for persons under age 18, and Maine requires citizenship or legal

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alien status of its able-bodied applicants only. Nearly all programs include residencyrequirements, requiring applicants to be state (or county) residents. Seven programs alsoinclude a durational residency requirement ranging from 15 days to 9 months.

C Drug Screening and Treatment Requirements. Seven states require drug and alcoholabuse treatment if the applicant or recipient is found to be drug- or alcohol- dependent. Rather than screening all applicants for drugs, most of these programs refer personssuspected or known to be chemically dependent to an appropriate facility for assessment. Assistance is then provided on the condition that the recipient enroll in and continue toreceive treatment.

C Work Requirements. Twenty-one states require participation in work or trainingprograms in order for employable adults to maintain benefits. Although nine statesprovide some opportunities for job training, counseling, or education, the emphasis inmost states is on finding a job or working off the benefit amount.

How Much Assistance Is Provided?

The most common form of GA benefits is “cash” or a check payable directly to the

recipient, and 28 of the states with GA programs provide cash assistance. Eleven GA programs

provide only vendor payments or vouchers for all recipients. Vendor payments are made by the

GA agency to a person or business such as a landlord or utility company in exchange for services

provided to the GA recipient, while vouchers can be used by recipients only for specific items,

such as food or transportation. The GA programs in the remaining three states provide either

cash or vendor payments/vouchers depending on the individual's eligibility group. In each of

these three states, disabled recipients receive cash payments and all other recipients receive

vendor payments or vouchers.

Benefit maximums differ among recipients according to their family size, eligibility

category, and/or living arrangement. Among the states that provide cash benefits, benefit

maximums as a percentage of the poverty threshold average about 40 percent. Missouri has the

lowest cash benefit maximum for individual recipients, at 12 percent of poverty. Except for

Hawaii and Nebraska, whose maximum benefits for individuals are 71 and 100 percent of

poverty, respectively, all states set benefit maximums for individuals at or below 55 percent of

poverty.

General Assistance benefits also vary in the duration of assistance. Eighteen states

provide assistance on an ongoing basis; 15 impose time limits on a portion of recipients; and 9

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states impose time limits on all recipients. States are more likely to exclude entire categories of

recipients (usually employable adults) rather than provide GA for a limited period.

In addition to financial assistance, many GA recipients receive medical assistance through

a variety of avenues. In four states (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, and Oregon), all

GA recipients are eligible for medical assistance under that state’s Medicaid program. Of the

remaining 37 states with GA programs, 29 provide medical assistance to some or all GA

recipients, either through a formal state or county GA medical program or by providing benefits

through the regular GA program that cover certain medical expenses. Among the 29 states that

provide medical assistance outside of Medicaid, benefits vary widely. Benefits are usually more

limited than those provided by Medicaid. In addition, some states without GA cash assistance

programs provide alternative medical care programs for some or all of their needy residents who

do not qualify for Medicaid.

How Many Persons Are Helped?

Although General Assistance caseloads vary widely across states, most state programs are

relatively small. Among states with uniform statewide GA programs, the number of recipients

assisted each month ranges from less than 0.1 percent of persons in Oregon and Utah to just over

1.8 percent of persons in New York. Even when comparing the number of recipients to the

number of persons in poverty, GA programs assist only a portion of those in need. For instance,

in New York, GA program recipients represent only about 11 percent of those living in poverty.

How Stable Has GA Been Over the Last Four Years?

In real terms, benefit levels have decreased over the past four years. Only eight states

enacted benefit increases, although none of these increases exceeded inflation. Six states

reduced benefit levels. In one of these states, California, the state gave counties the right to seek

state mandate relief by reducing GA benefit levels. (The California county surveyed for this

report, Los Angeles County, responded by lowering benefits by about 25 percent for individuals

in 1996.) The remaining states, two-thirds of those with GA programs, have held constant

benefit levels set during or prior to 1992.

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Other recent trends point to continued contraction of GA programs. In January 1996

Wisconsin replaced its state required county-based GA program with a block grant under which

counties can choose whether to have a program. Several Wisconsin counties have chosen not to

provide GA, some have narrowed the populations eligible for assistance, and some now provide

only medical assistance. In addition, Montana eliminated the state-run GA program that was

administered in 12 of its 56 counties, although some counties continue to administer their own

programs.

Other states have recently eliminated assistance for certain categories of individuals.

Connecticut, Hawaii, Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania eliminated benefits for able-bodied

employable individuals without children. Pennsylvania eliminated benefits for families as well.

Except for persons no longer eligible for GA in Ohio, a portion of persons losing eligibility for

cash assistance may continue to be eligible for medical assistance. Arizona and Rhode Island

eliminated benefits for pregnant women. Four states tightened the eligibility criteria for persons

with disabilities (Arizona, Florida, Oregon, and Rhode Island), and three states (Arizona, Hawaii,

and New Mexico) decreased the duration for which benefits are available to disabled recipients.

In addition, Vermont tightened eligibility criteria for able-bodied employable individuals without

children. It is necessary to watch these patterns and to determine if they continue in the face of

significant changes in federal welfare programs.

3. The following states have statewide GA programs with uniform eligibility rules across the state: Alaska, Arizona,Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.

4. The following states mandate that each county or locality provide GA: California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Dakota.

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CHAPTER 2: GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS,

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL, AND FUNDING SOURCES

General Assistance (GA) programs vary widely throughout the country. Although 42

states have GA programs in at least some localities, these states differ in respect to GA program

requirements, administration, and funding sources. This chapter provides a general overview of

GA program requirements, administration, and funding, which are detailed in Table 2.1.

For the purposes of this report, we define General Assistance programs as cash or in-kind

assistance programs that are funded solely with state, county, or local funds (or a combination of

these) and are designed to meet the needs of persons ineligible for federally funded cash

assistance programs. This definition includes interim assistance programs available for persons

waiting to become eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Although several states also

have state-funded emergency assistance programs that typically consist of a one-time grant, we

limit our definition to programs providing assistance on a more ongoing basis.

States with GA Programs Throughout the State

Figure 1.1 summarizes the variation in GA programs across the country. GA programs

exist throughout 33 states. Twenty-five of these programs have uniform eligibility rules across

the state. In addition, benefit schedules are primarily uniform within these states, although some3

states set benefit amounts that vary by the cost of living in different areas of the state. Typically,

the state provides the administrative control and funding for these programs, and the same office

that administers AFDC usually also administers GA.

The remaining eight states with statewide programs have eligibility rules and benefit

schedules that vary by county or locality. Although these states require each county or locality4

to provide for its needy residents through a GA program, specific GA eligibility rules, benefit

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States with General Assistance Programs, Summer 1996

Source: Urban Institute 1996

5. The following states have a GA program in some counties or localities only: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Montana,North Carolina, North Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

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Figure 2.1

levels, administrative control, and funding are left largely to the county/locality. However, in

California and New Hampshire, the state provides guidelines or basic requirements for the

counties or towns to follow in developing their GA programs.

States That Do Not Require a GA Program

Eighteen states do not mandate a GA program. In nine of these states, some towns or

counties have chosen to run their own GA program. These localities tend to be in the larger,5

more urban areas of the state. Programs vary widely from one county to the next. In Virginia

and Wisconsin, localities choosing to run a GA program must operate it within flexible state

6. The following states have no GA program: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina,Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

2-3

guidelines, and funding occurs jointly through the state and county/locality. All other county-

based programs are solely county-funded and are not subject to any state constraints. The

remaining nine states have no GA program. As indicated by Figure 2.1, most states without GA6

programs are located in the South.

Program Names

Many General Assistance programs are officially called “General Assistance.” However, some

programs have different official names such as General Relief, General Public Assistance, Poor

Relief, Direct Assistance Service, Direct Financial Assistance, City Welfare, and Home Relief.

Some program names specify who is eligible for assistance such as Aid to the Needy Disabled,

Disability Assistance, Family and Children Assistance, and Emergency Aid to the Elderly,

Disabled and Children. Other program names specify the purpose of the assistance, for

example, Transitional Assistance; Transitional Emergency, Medical, and Housing Assistance; and

GA Self Sufficiency. In this report, we use the term General Assistance to include all of these

programs.

Tab

le 2

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

, Adm

inis

trat

ion,

and

Fun

ding

(Su

mm

er

19

96

)

Sta

teS

tate

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

tsS

tate

Pro

gram

Adm

inis

trat

ive

Fun

ding

N

ame

C

ontr

olS

ourc

e

Ala

bam

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ala

ska

1. G

ener

al R

elie

fU

nifo

rm s

tate

wid

e be

nefit

sch

edul

e an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es.

Sta

teS

tate

Ass

ista

nce1

2. In

terim

Ass

ista

nce

Ariz

ona

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Uni

form

sta

tew

ide

bene

fit s

ched

ule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

.S

tate

Sta

te

Ark

ansa

sN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Cal

iforn

iaG

ener

al R

elie

fS

tate

req

uire

s co

untie

s to

pro

vide

Gen

eral

Rel

ief p

rogr

ams.

The

sta

te m

aint

ains

Sta

te/C

ount

yC

ount

ypo

licy

cont

rol,

deci

des

prog

ram

sco

pe a

nd s

ets

basi

c be

nefit

leve

ls. T

heco

untie

s se

t spe

cific

ben

efit

sche

dule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

.

Col

orad

o1.

Aid

to th

e N

eedy

1. U

nifo

rm s

tate

wid

e be

nefit

sch

edul

e an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es.

1.

Sta

te/C

ou

nty

1

. S

tate

/Co

un

ty

Dis

able

d

2. O

ther

GA

and

Cou

nty

of D

enve

r ha

s th

e la

rges

t pro

gram

.P

rogr

ams

2.

No

sta

te r

eq

uir

em

en

ts.

On

ly a

bo

ut

six

cou

ntie

s h

ave

GA

pro

gra

ms.

Th

e C

ity2

. C

ou

nty

2.

Co

un

ty

Con

nect

icut

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Uni

form

sta

tew

ide

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

; ben

efits

for

fam

ilies

var

y by

livi

ng c

osts

inS

tate

/Loc

alS

tate

/Loc

alth

ree

regi

ons

of th

e st

ate.

Del

awar

eG

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

eU

nifo

rm s

tate

wid

e be

nefit

sch

edul

e an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es.

Sta

teS

tate

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia

1. G

ener

al P

ublic

Uni

form

dis

tric

t-w

ide

bene

fit s

ched

ule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

.D

istr

ict

Dis

tric

tA

ssis

tanc

e (G

PA

)2

2. G

ener

al P

ublic

Ass

ista

nce

for

Chi

ldre

n (G

C)

Flo

rida

No

Sta

tew

ide

GA

No

stat

e re

quire

men

ts.

Mos

t co

untie

s do

not

hav

e G

A p

rogr

ams.

M

etro

-Dad

eC

ount

yC

ount

yP

rogr

amC

ount

y ru

ns D

irect

Fin

anci

al A

ssis

tanc

e (in

clud

es s

hort

-ter

m a

ssis

tanc

e an

din

terim

ass

ista

nce)

Tab

le 2

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

, Adm

inis

trat

ion,

and

Fun

ding

(co

nt.)

Sta

teS

tate

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

tsS

tate

Pro

gram

Adm

inis

trat

ive

Fun

ding

N

ame

C

ontr

olS

ourc

e

Geo

rgia

No S

tate

wid

e G

AN

o st

ate

requ

irem

ents

. M

ost

coun

ties

do n

ot h

ave

GA

pro

gram

s.C

ount

yC

ount

yP

rogr

amF

ulto

n C

ount

y ha

s a

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

prog

ram

.

Haw

aii

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Uni

form

sta

tew

ide

bene

fit s

ched

ule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

.S

tate

Sta

te

Idah

oG

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

eS

tate

cod

e m

anda

tes

that

cou

ntie

s pr

ovid

e fo

r th

e ne

cess

ities

of l

ife a

ndC

ount

yC

ount

yn

ece

ssa

ry m

ed

ica

l se

rvic

es,

an

d t

ha

t th

e c

ou

nty

be

th

e r

eso

urc

e o

f la

st r

eso

rt.

Cou

ntie

s se

t spe

cific

ben

efit

sche

dule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

.

Illin

ois

1. S

tate

Tra

nsiti

onal

Sta

te r

equi

res

all l

ocal

uni

ts to

hav

e G

A p

rogr

ams.

C

ity o

f Chi

cago

:C

ity o

f Chi

cago

Ass

ista

nce

Sta

te

and

2. F

amily

and

60)

mus

t fol

low

the

bene

fit s

ched

ule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

est

ablis

hed

by th

eLo

calit

ies

othe

r lo

calit

ies:

Chi

ldre

n A

ssis

tanc

eIll

inoi

s D

epar

tmen

t of P

ublic

Aid

.re

ceiv

ing

stat

eS

tate

/Loc

al

3

The

City

of C

hica

go a

nd a

ll ot

her

loca

l uni

ts w

hich

rec

eive

sta

te fu

nds

(app

rox.

appr

oxim

atel

y 60

The

rem

aini

ng lo

calit

ies,

whi

ch d

o no

t rec

eive

sta

te fu

nds

(app

rox.

1,4

00),

Sta

te/L

ocal

All

othe

res

tabl

ish

thei

r st

anda

rds

and

polic

ies

loca

lly.

loca

litie

s: L

ocal

fund

s:

All

othe

rlo

calit

ies:

Loc

al

Indi

ana

Poo

r R

elie

fS

tate

req

uire

s to

wns

hip

trus

tees

to p

rovi

de fo

r pe

rson

s in

nee

d. E

ligib

ility

rul

esLo

cal

Cou

nty

and

bene

fit s

ched

ule

are

left

to lo

cal d

iscr

etio

n.

Iow

aG

ener

al R

elie

fS

tate

law

req

uire

s ea

ch c

ount

y to

hav

e a

GA

pro

gram

. P

rogr

am d

esig

n, b

enef

itC

ount

yC

ount

ysc

hedu

le, a

nd e

ligib

ility

rul

es a

re d

eter

min

ed b

y ea

ch c

ount

y.

Kan

sas

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Uni

form

sta

tew

ide

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

. B

enef

it sc

hedu

les

diffe

r by

reg

ion

depe

ndin

gS

tate

Sta

teon

cos

ts o

f liv

ing.

Ke

ntu

cky

No

Sta

tew

ide

GA

No

sta

te r

eq

uir

em

en

ts.

On

ly t

wo

co

un

ties

- Je

ffe

rso

n a

nd

Fa

yett

e -

ha

veC

ou

nty

Co

un

tyP

rogr

ampr

ogra

ms.

Jef

fers

on C

ount

y ru

ns E

mer

genc

y F

inan

cial

Ass

ista

nce.

Loui

sian

aN

o G

A p

rogr

am

Tab

le 2

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

, Adm

inis

trat

ion,

and

Fun

ding

(co

nt.)

Sta

teS

tate

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

tsS

tate

Pro

gram

Adm

inis

trat

ive

Fun

ding

N

ame

C

ontr

olS

ourc

e

Mai

neG

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

eS

tate

law

req

uire

s th

at m

unic

ipal

ities

hav

e or

dina

nces

to g

over

n th

eir

gene

ral

Sta

te/L

ocal

Sta

te/L

ocal

ass

ista

nce

pro

gra

ms.

H

ow

eve

r, n

ine

ty-f

ive

pe

rce

nt

of

tow

ns

ha

ve a

do

pte

d a

stan

dard

ord

inan

ce d

evel

oped

by

the

Mai

ne M

unic

ipal

Ass

ocia

tion,

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

are

sim

ilar

in m

ost l

ocal

ities

. B

enef

it sc

hedu

les

vary

bas

ed o

nlo

cal c

osts

.

Mar

ylan

d1.

Tra

nsiti

onal

Uni

form

sta

tew

ide

bene

fit s

ched

ule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

. S

tate

Sta

teE

mer

genc

y, M

edic

al,

and

Hou

sing

Ass

ista

nce

(TE

MH

A)

2.

GA

fo

r P

reg

na

nt

Wom

en

Mas

sach

uset

tsE

mer

genc

y A

id to

the

Uni

form

sta

tew

ide

bene

fit s

ched

ule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

.S

tate

Sta

teE

lder

ly, D

isab

led,

and

Chi

ldre

n(E

AE

DC

)

Mic

higa

n1.

Sta

te D

isab

ility

1. U

nifo

rm s

tate

wid

e be

nefit

sch

edul

e an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es.

Sta

teS

tate

Ass

ista

nce

(SD

A)

2. S

tate

Fam

ilydi

ffere

nces

in h

ousi

ng c

osts

. A

ssis

tanc

e (S

FA

)

2. U

nifo

rm s

tate

wid

e el

igib

ility

rul

es; b

enef

its v

ary

by r

egio

n in

acc

orda

nce

with

Min

neso

taG

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

eU

nifo

rm s

tate

wid

e be

nefit

sch

edul

e an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es.

Sta

te/C

ount

yS

tate

Mis

siss

ippi

No

GA

Pro

gram

Mis

sour

iG

ener

al R

elie

fU

nifo

rm s

tate

wid

e be

nefit

sch

edul

e an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es.

Sta

teS

tate

Mon

tana

No

Sta

tew

ide

GA

No

stat

e re

quire

men

ts. S

ome

coun

ties

have

gen

eral

ass

ista

nce

prog

ram

s.C

ount

yC

ount

yP

rogr

amY

ello

wst

one

Cou

nty

runs

Gen

eral

Rel

ief.

Tab

le 2

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

, Adm

inis

trat

ion,

and

Fun

ding

(co

nt.)

Sta

teS

tate

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

tsS

tate

Pro

gram

Adm

inis

trat

ive

Fun

ding

N

ame

C

ontr

olS

ourc

e

Neb

rask

a1.

Sta

te D

isab

ility

1. U

nifo

rm s

tate

wid

e be

nefit

sch

edul

e an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es.

1.

Sta

te1

. S

tate

Pro

gra

m (

SD

P)

2. C

ount

y G

ener

alot

her

assi

stan

ce p

rogr

ams

will

be

met

. 56

cou

ntie

s co

ntra

ct w

ith th

e st

ate

Ass

ista

nce

Dep

artm

ent o

f Soc

ial S

ervi

ces

(DS

S)

for

adm

inis

trat

ion

of th

eir

GA

pro

gram

s.

2. S

tate

law

req

uire

s co

untie

s to

def

ine

how

the

need

s of

per

sons

not

elig

ible

for

2.

Sta

te/C

ount

y2.

Sta

te/C

ount

y

For

thes

e co

untie

s, D

SS

set

s be

nefit

sch

edul

e an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es a

ccor

ding

toun

iform

gui

delin

es.

The

rem

aini

ng 3

7 co

untie

s re

tain

adm

inis

trat

ive

resp

onsi

bilit

y an

d se

t the

ir ow

n be

nefit

sch

edul

e an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es.

Nev

ada

Dire

ct A

ssis

tanc

eS

tate

law

man

date

s th

at c

ount

ies

prov

ide

Dire

ct A

ssis

tanc

e S

ervi

ces.

Ben

efits

Cou

nty

Cou

nty

Ser

vice

(D

AS

)an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es a

re d

eter

min

ed b

y ea

ch c

ount

y. C

lark

Cou

nty

has

70%

of

the

stat

e’s

popu

latio

n an

d th

e m

ost e

xten

sive

GA

pro

gram

.

New

Ham

pshi

reC

ity W

elfa

reS

tate

law

man

date

s th

at lo

calit

ies

care

for

the

poor

. T

he s

tate

als

o se

ts b

road

Sta

te/L

ocal

Loca

l

elig

ibili

ty c

riter

ia.

Spe

cific

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

and

ben

efit

sche

dule

s ar

e de

term

ined

loca

lly.

New

Jer

sey

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Uni

form

sta

tew

ide

bene

fit s

ched

ule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

.S

tate

/Loc

alS

tate

/Loc

al

New

Mex

ico

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Uni

form

sta

tew

ide

bene

fit s

ched

ule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

.S

tate

Sta

te

Ne

w Y

ork

Hom

e R

elie

fE

ligib

ility

rul

es a

nd b

enef

it sc

hedu

les

vary

by

coun

ty d

epen

ding

upo

n sh

elte

r an

dS

tate

/Cou

nty

Sta

te/C

ount

yhe

atin

g co

sts.

Nor

th C

arol

ina

No

Sta

tew

ide

GA

No

stat

e re

quire

men

ts.

Som

e co

untie

s ha

ve G

A p

rogr

ams.

Dur

ham

Cou

nty

Cou

nty

Cou

nty

Pro

gram

runs

Em

erge

ncy

Ass

ista

nce.

Nor

th D

akot

aN

o S

tate

wid

e G

AN

o st

ate

requ

irem

ents

. C

ass

Cou

nty

runs

a G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e pr

ogra

m.

Cou

nty

Cou

nty

Pro

gram

Ohi

oD

isab

ility

Ass

ista

nce

Uni

form

sta

tew

ide

bene

fit s

ched

ule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

.S

tate

/Cou

nty

Sta

te/C

ount

y

Okl

ahom

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ore

gon

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Uni

form

sta

tew

ide

bene

fit s

ched

ule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

.S

tate

S

tate

Tab

le 2

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

, Adm

inis

trat

ion,

and

Fun

ding

(co

nt.)

Sta

teS

tate

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

tsS

tate

Pro

gram

Adm

inis

trat

ive

Fun

ding

N

ame

C

ontr

olS

ourc

e

Pen

nsyl

vani

aG

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

eT

he s

tate

set

s el

igib

ility

rul

es a

nd b

enef

it sc

hedu

les

that

var

y by

livi

ng c

osts

Sta

teS

tate

amon

g fo

ur c

ateg

orie

s of

cou

ntie

s.

Rho

de Is

land

Gen

eral

Pub

licU

nifo

rm s

tate

wid

e be

nefit

sch

edul

e an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es.

Sta

te

Sta

teA

ssis

tanc

e

Sou

th C

arol

ina

No

GA

Pro

gram4

Sou

th D

akot

aP

oor

Rel

ief

Sta

te r

equi

res

coun

ties

to p

rovi

de r

elie

f for

the

poor

. E

ligib

ility

rul

es a

nd b

enef

itC

ount

yC

ount

ysc

he

du

les

are

de

term

ine

d b

y e

ach

co

un

ty.

Te

nn

ess

ee

No

GA

Pro

gram

5

Tex

asN

o S

tate

wid

e G

AN

o st

ate

requ

irem

ents

. H

arris

Cou

nty

runs

a G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e pr

ogra

m.

Cou

nty

Cou

nty

Pro

gram

Uta

h1.

GA

Sel

fU

nifo

rm s

tate

wid

e be

nefit

sch

edul

e an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es.

Sta

teS

tate

Suf

ficie

ncy

(GA

-SS

)

2. G

A W

orki

ngT

ow

ard

Em

plo

yme

nt

Pro

gra

m (

GA

-WT

E)

Ver

mon

tG

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

eU

nifo

rm s

tate

wid

e be

nefit

sch

edul

e an

d el

igib

ility

rul

es (

exce

pt fo

r C

hitte

nden

Sta

teS

tate

coun

ty, w

hich

has

a h

ighe

r ho

usin

g m

axim

um u

sed

in c

alcu

latin

g be

nefit

s).

Virg

inia

Gen

eral

Rel

ief

Loca

litie

s m

ay c

hoos

e to

pro

vide

a G

ener

al R

elie

f (G

R)

prog

ram

. T

hose

that

Sta

te/L

ocal

Sta

te/L

ocal

prov

ide

a pr

ogra

m m

ust o

pera

te it

with

in s

tate

gui

delin

es.

The

gui

delin

es o

ffer

ara

nge

of o

ptio

ns fr

om w

hich

loca

litie

s m

ay fa

shio

n a

GR

pro

gram

that

sui

ts lo

cal

ne

ed

s.

Was

hing

ton

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Uni

form

sta

tew

ide

bene

fit s

ched

ule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

.S

tate

Sta

te

Wes

t Virg

inia

No

GA

prog

ram6

Wis

cons

inR

elie

f Blo

ck G

rant

Cou

ntie

s in

Wis

cons

in c

an c

hoos

e w

heth

er to

hav

e a

Gen

eral

Rel

ief p

rogr

am.

Sta

te/C

ount

yS

tate

/Cou

nty

Pro

gram

Cou

ntie

s th

at u

se s

tate

fund

s fo

r a

nonm

edic

al p

rogr

am m

ust a

lso

have

am

edic

al p

rogr

am.

Ben

efit

sche

dule

and

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

are

set

by

each

cou

nty.

7

Tab

le 2

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

, Adm

inis

trat

ion,

and

Fun

ding

(co

nt.)

Sta

teS

tate

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

tsS

tate

Pro

gram

Adm

inis

trat

ive

Fun

ding

N

ame

C

ontr

olS

ourc

e

Wyo

min

gN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Sou

rce:

Urb

an In

stitu

te 1

996

1.

Ala

ska.

Six

ty p

erce

nt o

f Gen

eral

Rel

ief A

ssis

tanc

e ex

pend

iture

s co

ver

dest

itute

bur

ials

. O

f the

rem

aini

ng b

udge

t, m

ost i

s us

ed to

pay

for

rent

and

pre

vent

evi

ctio

n.

2.

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia.

Gen

eral

Pub

lic A

ssis

tanc

e is

an

inte

rim a

ssis

tanc

e pr

ogra

m.

3.

Illin

ois.

In

addi

tion

to C

hica

go, t

here

are

1,4

55 lo

cal g

over

nmen

tal u

nits

, of w

hich

two

are

citie

s, 1

7 ar

e co

untie

s, a

nd th

e re

mai

ning

1,4

36 a

re to

wns

hips

.

4.

Sou

th C

arol

ina.

The

sta

te d

oes

have

a p

rogr

am r

efer

red

to a

s G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e. H

owev

er, i

t pro

vide

s on

e-tim

e-on

ly g

rant

s ra

ther

than

ong

oing

ass

ista

nce.

The

prog

ram

ser

ved

only

two

pers

ons

in 1

995.

5.

Te

nn

ess

ee

. S

om

e c

ou

ntie

s d

o h

ave

em

erg

en

cy a

ssis

tan

ce-t

ype

pro

gra

ms.

6.

Wes

t Virg

inia

. T

he s

tate

doe

s ha

ve a

n E

mer

genc

y A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am w

hich

pro

vide

s a

one-

time

gran

t (av

aila

ble

only

onc

e a

year

) to

nee

dy p

erso

ns o

r fa

mili

es to

assi

st in

pay

ing

med

ical

nee

ds, r

ent,

food

, clo

thin

g, fu

el, u

tiliti

es, e

tc.

7.

Wis

cons

in.

Milw

auke

e C

ount

y is

pro

hibi

ted

by s

tate

sta

tute

from

hav

ing

a no

nmed

ical

pro

gram

.

7. When making inter-state comparisons, we use the term "state" regardless of whether a state has a uniform statewideGA program or a GA program only in particular counties or localities. In addition, we use the term "program" torefer collectively to all of a state's GA programs.

3-1

CHAPTER 3: GENERAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Each General Assistance program sets eligibility criteria and program requirements to

target the particular populations considered most in need of assistance. Generally, these are low-

income persons or families who are ineligible for federally funded cash assistance programs.

Although some programs have flexible eligibility rules, most programs have a fixed set of

requirements. This chapter summarizes the various eligibility rules and describes how they vary

across states.7

Eligibility rules can generally be divided into five classifications: (1) categorical eligibility

requirements, which limit benefits to certain types of persons; (2) financial eligibility

requirements, which define financially needy; (3) citizenship and residency requirements; (4)

drug screening and treatment requirements; and (5) work requirements. In addition, several

states have a variety of other requirements such as requiring temporarily disabled persons to

participate in vocational rehabilitation or requiring all recipients to have a social security number.

Finally, all of the states expect or explicitly require General Assistance applicants to apply for

any related federal benefits for which they are eligible.

Categorical Eligibility Requirements

Categorical eligibility requirements restrict eligibility to specific categories of individuals

or families. Generally, this includes low-income persons who do not meet the categorical

eligibility requirements for federal cash assistance or who are involved in the sometimes lengthy

process of applying for federal assistance. Of the 42 states with general assistance programs, 30

have some set of categorical eligibility requirements. The remaining 12 states provide assistance

to all categories of financially needy people who do not qualify for federally funded cash

assistance programs.

States that limit assistance to certain categories of eligible persons generally define

eligibility according to family status and/or employability of the recipient: (1) disabled, elderly,

3-2

and other unemployable adults; (2) children and families with children; and (3) employable

adults without children. Table 3.1 contains detailed state-by-state descriptions of categorical

eligibility requirements delimited by these three categories of eligibility. More general

descriptions of the various categories are presented below. Although these general descriptions

may not capture the particular nuances of each state's requirements, the simplification and

generalization of these categories facilitate inter-state comparisons.

Disabled, Elderly, and Other Unemployable Persons. Each of the 42 states with GA

programs provide assistance to at least a portion of persons who are disabled, elderly, or

otherwise unemployable, including all 30 with categorical eligibility requirements and 12 without.

The states differ, however, with respect to the extensiveness of the sub-categories they include,

as well as by their exact specification. In addition, states may have contrasting definitions of

“unemployable” persons. For instance, although both Connecticut and Vermont provide

assistance to elderly persons over age 55, Connecticut considers all such persons unemployable,

while Vermont considers some of them employable and subjects them to work requirements.

Generally, eligible sub-categories include:

C Persons with a permanent disability. All 42 states with GA programs offerassistance to persons who meet the Social Security Administration's definition ofdisabled (i.e., persons with a medically verified disability--physical or mental--which is expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in death, and which issevere enough to prevent the individual from engaging in “substantial gainfulactivity”). This group includes persons who may be eligible for SSI and areawaiting SSI eligibility determination. Because it sometimes takes 12 or moremonths to determine SSI eligibility, states provide GA to SSI applicants during theinterim, and typically refer to this assistance as “interim assistance.” Once thesepersons are accepted for SSI, they receive a lump sum SSI payment retroactive tothe application date. States may require that this payment be used to repay thestate for any interim assistance received. In addition to persons awaiting SSIdetermination, some states provide assistance to those who have a permanentdisability as defined by the state but who do not qualify for SSI. Other states endassistance once all SSI appeals have been exhausted.

C Persons with a temporary disability. To a lesser degree, states with categoricaleligibility requirements also offer assistance to persons who have a disability butare unable to collect SSI benefits because the disability is temporary (i.e.,

3-3

expected to last less than 12 months). States vary, however, as to the minimumexpected duration of the disability required to be eligible for benefits. Requirements range from 30 days to 9 months.

C Elderly persons. SSI also awards benefits to persons age 65 or older who meet

the income eligibility criteria. A number of states, however, provide GA toelderly persons who, for whatever reasons, do not meet the SSI criteria or areawaiting SSI determination. Some of these states have a less restrictive definitionof “elderly” and award benefits to persons over 55 or 60 until they becomeeligible for SSI. In other states, persons 55 to 65 may still be eligible, but areclassified as “employable” persons subject to work requirements.

C Caretakers of an incapacitated spouse or child. A smaller number of statesexplicitly identify caretakers as a category of persons eligible for GA. These arepersons who are unable to engage in work activity because of time commitmentsto caring for an incapacitated spouse or child.

C Persons in a drug or alcohol abuse treatment program. A few states provide GAto persons considered “unemployable” due to current enrollment in a drug oralcohol abuse treatment program, usually a state approved or licensed facility. Rigid time limits and additional requirements are often imposed on persons in thissub-category.

Children/Families with Children. Thirty-one of the 42 states with GA programs (19

with categorical eligibility requirements, 12 with no categorical eligibility requirements) provide

assistance to low-income children or families with children. States providing categorical

eligibility for children or families with children generally include some or all of the following sub-

categories:

C Families with children. Most often mentioned by states that provide GA tochildren and families with children, this category usually consists of two-parent“intact” families that meet the state's income and asset limits but are not eligiblefor AFDC. Often this is due to the principal wage earner not meeting the state'swork history or hours requirements. Some states also provide limited assistance tofamilies that are currently receiving AFDC, but usually only in emergencysituations.

3-4

C Pregnant women in first two trimesters. Under AFDC program rules, states havethe option of defining AFDC eligibility to include women pregnant with their firstchild in the final trimester of pregnancy. In addition to electing this option, a fewstates identify pregnant women in their first two trimesters as eligible for GA.

C Unattached children. A number of states explicitly identify unattached childrenas eligible for GA. This includes children who are ineligible for AFDC becausethey live with an adult who is not a parent or caretaker relative as specified infederal regulations or state provisions.

C Emancipated minors. A few states also provide GA to low-income personscommonly referred to as emancipated minors. These are minors, generallybetween the ages of 16 and 18, who no longer live with a parent, and, thus are noteligible for AFDC.

Employable Adults Without Children. Sixteen of the 42 states with GA programs

(4 with categorical eligibility requirements, 12 without requirements) provide assistance to

employable adults without children. This category generally consists of able-bodied persons who

the state deems able to find employment on their own or with some help provided by the state.

States that provide assistance to this category of persons usually provide assistance to at least

some persons in the previous two categories as well. New Jersey and Utah, the only exceptions,

provide assistance to both employable and unemployable individuals, but not to families. Sub-

categories in the able-bodied adults without children category include:

C All employable adults. Generally, this group includes able-bodied employableadults between 18 and 65. Only one state that has categorical eligibilityrequirements provides GA to persons in this category (New Jersey).

C Able-bodied adults with some barriers to employment. Three of the states withcategorical eligibility requirements that provide assistance to employable adultslimit eligibility to those able-bodied persons who have some barriers toemployment, such as lack of education or inability to speak English (Connecticut,Utah, and Vermont).

Financial Eligibility Requirements

All states consider the financial status of the applicant by assessing the applicant's income

and assets. Each state sets specific income and/or asset limits. These are usually calculated after

3-5

deducting or exempting certain income or assets. Table 3.2 provides a detailed listing of state

financial eligibility requirements.

Most states vary income limits according to the type of applicant. In states where couples

and families may apply for benefits, income limits vary according to family size. To a lesser

extent, statewide programs vary income limits according to location of residence, with higher

limits in places with higher costs of living. As shown in Table 3.2, states may also vary income

by the living arrangements of the applicant or by the eligibility category of the applicant. In

contrast to income limits, asset limits typically do not vary by family size or eligibility category.

Across states, income and asset limits vary considerably. In three states (Florida,

Kentucky, and New Hampshire), only those who have no income at all are eligible for benefits.

In contrast, Hawaii’s program has the most generous income limits, and awards financial

eligibility to individuals who have a monthly income up to $1,239 and to families of three with a

monthly income up to $2,109. Several states set asset limits at zero. The majority of states,

however, model the asset limits after the AFDC and SSI programs (allowing $1,000-$2,000 in

assets).

States usually exempt certain types of income and assets when determining the applicant's

income and asset level. Income exemptions may include all or certain types of unearned income,

a portion of earned income, or some combination of the two. Unearned income generally

includes a wide range of federally provided income benefits including Low-Income Home

Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) payments, benefits from the supplemental food program

for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and income from tribal land settlements. Asset

exemptions typically include a home and/or auto. States often model both income and asset

exemptions after the AFDC or SSI exemptions.

Citizenship and Residency Requirements

Most GA programs also set citizenship and residency criteria (Table 3.3). Thirty-six

states explicitly restrict eligibility to U.S. citizens or legal aliens. Typically, these states follow

AFDC or SSI program rules when determining which categories of aliens are eligible for

assistance. These categories include aliens who are lawfully admitted for permanent residency

(e.g., “immigrants” or green card holders) or legally present on a permanent basis (e.g., refugees).

8. For more information, see U.S. Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service. "Alien Eligibility forFederal Assistance." CRS Report for Congress 94-73 EPW, by Larry M. Eig and Joyce C. Vialet. Washington,D.C. Feb. 2, 1994.

9. States that currently provide benefits to illegal aliens may soon be required to limit benefits to citizens and legalaliens only. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, enacted on August 22,1996, bars states from providing benefits to illegal aliens. States must pass a law to make illegal aliens eligible forbenefits.

3-6

Excluded categories include undocumented, or illegal, aliens, temporary aliens (e.g., tourists and

students), and some smaller categories of aliens. Three states (Idaho, New York, and North8

Carolina) have no citizenship requirements; the District of Columbia and Minnesota have no

citizenship requirements for persons under age 18, and Maine requires citizenship or legal alien

status of its able-bodied applicants only.9

Nearly all programs include residency requirements. State programs require applicants to

currently reside in the state, and county programs require residence in the county or local

municipality where they are applying for benefits. Often these are accompanied by a

requirement for a written or verbal indication of an intent to remain in the state, county, or local

municipality. In addition, seven programs include a durational residency requirement. These

specify an amount of time ranging from 15 days to 9 months for which applicants must prove

residency prior to receiving benefits.

Drug Screening and Treatment Requirements

None of the 42 states with a GA program currently includes drug screening as a

requirement for eligibility (Table 3.3). Two states, however, have drug screening requirements

pending. Colorado will test all applicants for drug use starting January 1, 1997, and Los Angeles

County is developing a drug screening program that may begin as early as January 1, 1997. In

addition, seven states require drug or alcohol abuse treatment if the applicant or recipient is

found to be drug- or alcohol-dependent. Rather than screening all applicants for drugs, most of

these programs refer persons suspected of or known to be chemically dependent to an

appropriate facility for assessment. Assistance is then provided on the condition that the

recipient continues to receive treatment, usually in a state-sponsored or -licensed treatment

3-7

facility. Often payments to these recipients are made only through vendors for specific services

provided, or through protective payees.

Work Requirements

In addition to requirements that must be met at the time of initial application, many states

impose requirements necessary to maintain benefits. Participation in work or training programs

is perhaps the most common of these. Twenty-one states have some type of work program

requirement (see Table 3.4).

Generally, work requirements are found only in those states that provide assistance to

families with children or employable adults without children, although not all of these states

impose work requirements. Those required to meet work requirements or participate in work

programs generally include all able-bodied recipients, with some exemptions for caretakers,

mothers with small children, students, and persons already employed.

The types of work requirements and programs vary by state. Although nine states

provide some opportunities for job training, counseling, or education, the emphasis in most states

is on finding a job or "working off" the benefit amount through public sector employment. In

addition, many GA recipients are also receiving Food Stamps and are, thus, subject to Food

Stamp work requirements. However, only ten of the programs with work requirements

coordinate their requirements with Food Stamp work programs.

Tab

le 3

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e C

ateg

orie

s of

Elig

ibili

ty(S

um

me

r 1

99

6)

Sta

teC

hild

ren/

Fam

ilies

with

Chi

ldre

nD

isab

led,

Eld

erly

, and

Oth

erE

mpl

oyab

le A

dults

Une

mpl

oyab

le P

erso

nsw

ithou

t Chi

ldre

n

Ala

bam

a N

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ala

ska

1. A

ll ca

tego

ries

of fi

nanc

ially

nee

dy p

eopl

e1.

All

cate

gorie

s of

fina

ncia

lly n

eedy

peo

ple

1. A

ll ca

tego

ries

of fi

nanc

ially

nee

dy p

eopl

e1.

Gen

eral

Rel

ief

who

do

not q

ualif

y fo

r fe

dera

lly fu

nded

cas

hw

ho d

o no

t qua

lify

for

fede

rally

fund

ed c

ash

who

do

not q

ualif

y fo

r fe

dera

lly fu

nded

cas

hA

ssis

tanc

eas

sist

ance

pro

gram

s.as

sist

ance

pro

gram

s.as

sist

ance

pro

gram

s.

2. In

terim

Ass

ista

nce

2. P

erso

ns o

ver

age

18 a

wai

ting

SS

I2.

N

ot e

ligib

le2.

Not

elig

ible

dete

rmin

atio

n w

ho a

re e

ither

blin

d, d

isab

led,

or a

ged.

Ariz

ona

Per

sons

at l

east

18

year

s ol

d w

ho a

re d

isab

ledN

ot e

ligib

leN

ot e

ligib

lefo

r at

leas

t 12

mon

ths;

car

etak

ers

of d

isab

led

indi

vidu

als.

Ark

ansa

sN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Cal

iforn

ia L

os A

ngel

esA

ll ca

tego

ries

of fi

nanc

ially

nee

dy p

eopl

e w

ho d

o no

t qua

lify

for

fede

rally

fund

ed c

ash

assi

stan

ce p

rogr

ams.

C

ou

nty

Col

orad

o 1.

Per

sons

who

are

dis

able

d at

leas

t six

1.

Not

elig

ible

1. N

ot e

ligib

le1

. A

id t

o t

he

Ne

ed

ym

on

ths.

Dis

able

d (S

tate

wid

e)

2. G

A (

City

and

who

do

not q

ualif

y fo

r fe

dera

lly fu

nded

cas

hw

ho d

o no

t qua

lify

for

fede

rally

fund

ed c

ash

who

do

not q

ualif

y fo

r fe

dera

lly fu

nded

cas

hC

ount

y of

Den

ver)

assi

stan

ce p

rogr

ams.

assi

stan

ce p

rogr

ams.

assi

stan

ce p

rogr

ams.

2. A

ll ca

tego

ries

of fi

nanc

ially

nee

dy p

eopl

e2.

All

cate

gorie

s of

fina

ncia

lly n

eedy

peo

ple

2. A

ll ca

tego

ries

of fi

nanc

ially

nee

dy p

eopl

e

Con

nect

icut

Per

sons

una

ble

to w

ork

for

at le

ast s

ixF

amili

es a

pply

ing

for

AF

DC

; una

ttach

edP

erso

ns w

ho a

re e

mpl

oyab

le b

ut n

ot “

job

mon

ths;

car

etak

ers

of in

capa

cita

ted

spou

se o

rch

ildre

n.re

ady”

due

to: s

ubst

ance

abu

se; d

omes

ticch

ild; p

erso

ns a

ge 5

5 or

old

er w

ho h

ave

not

viol

ence

or

trau

mat

ic e

vent

; hom

eles

snes

s,w

orke

d in

the

prev

ious

five

yea

rs.

lack

of t

rans

port

atio

n, a

nd n

on-E

nglis

hsp

eaki

ng; o

r sh

ort-

term

men

tal o

r ph

ysic

aldi

sabi

lity.

Tab

le 3

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e C

ateg

orie

s of

Elig

ibili

ty (

cont

.)

Sta

teC

hild

ren/

Fam

ilies

with

Chi

ldre

nD

isab

led,

Eld

erly

, and

Oth

erE

mpl

oyab

le A

dults

Une

mpl

oyab

le P

erso

nsw

ithou

t Chi

ldre

n

Del

awar

eP

erso

ns w

ho a

re il

l, in

capa

cita

ted,

ove

r ag

eIn

tact

fam

ilies

who

do

not q

ualif

y fo

r A

FD

C;

Not

elig

ible

55,

or c

aret

aker

s.un

atta

ched

chi

ldre

n; e

man

cipa

ted

min

ors

who

will

gra

duat

e fr

om h

igh

scho

ol w

ithin

two

yea

rs.

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia

1. P

erso

ns w

ith d

isab

ilitie

s aw

aitin

g S

SI

1. N

ot e

ligib

leN

ot e

ligib

le1.

Gen

eral

Pub

licde

term

inat

ion.

Ass

ista

nce

2. Una

ttach

ed c

hild

ren

2. G

ener

al P

ublic

Ass

t. fo

r C

hild

ren

2. N

ot e

ligib

le

Flo

rida

Per

sons

with

med

ical

dis

abili

ties;

fam

ilies

inN

ot e

ligib

leN

ot e

ligib

le

Da

de

Co

un

tyw

hic

h b

oth

or

on

ly p

are

nt(

s) a

re d

isa

ble

d o

ron

e pa

rent

is d

isab

led

and

the

othe

r is

aca

reta

ker.

Geo

rgia

Per

sons

who

are

eld

erly

or

disa

bled

.N

ot e

ligib

leN

ot e

ligib

le

Fu

lton

Co

un

ty

Haw

aii

Per

sons

with

a d

isab

ility

whi

ch p

recl

udes

Inta

ct fa

mili

es w

ith m

inor

chi

ldre

n w

ho a

re n

otNot

elig

ible

em

plo

yme

nt

for

at

lea

st 3

0 d

ays

.el

igib

le fo

r A

FD

C.

Idah

o

Ad

a C

ou

nty

All

cate

gorie

s of

fina

ncia

lly n

eedy

peo

ple

who

do

not q

ualif

y fo

r fe

dera

lly fu

nded

cas

h as

sist

ance

pro

gram

s.

Illin

ois

1. U

nem

ploy

able

per

sons

inel

igib

le fo

r1.

Not

elig

ible

Not

elig

ible

City

of C

hica

gofe

dera

lly fu

nded

cas

h as

sist

ance

pro

gram

s1

1. T

rans

ition

alin

clud

ing

the

disa

bled

, eld

erly

, car

etak

ers,

2. F

amili

es w

ith m

inor

chi

ldre

n w

ho a

reA

ssis

tanc

ece

rtai

n ho

mel

ess

pers

ons,

full-

time

high

inel

igib

le fo

r A

FD

C; p

regn

ant w

omen

in fi

rst

2. F

amily

and

pres

crip

tion

drug

s.C

hild

ren

Ass

ista

nce

scho

ol s

tude

nts,

and

per

sons

taki

ng c

erta

intw

o tr

imes

ters

.

2. N

ot e

ligib

le

Tab

le 3

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e C

ateg

orie

s of

Elig

ibili

ty (

cont

.)

Sta

teC

hild

ren/

Fam

ilies

with

Chi

ldre

nD

isab

led,

Eld

erly

, and

Oth

erE

mpl

oyab

le A

dults

Une

mpl

oyab

le P

erso

nsw

ithou

t Chi

ldre

n

Indi

ana

C

ente

r T

owns

hip

All

cate

gorie

s of

fina

ncia

lly n

eedy

peo

ple

who

do

not q

ualif

y fo

r fe

dera

lly fu

nded

cas

h as

sist

ance

pro

gram

s.

of

Ma

rio

n C

ou

nty

Iow

a

Po

lk C

ou

nty

All

cate

gorie

s of

fina

ncia

lly n

eedy

peo

ple

who

do

not q

ualif

y fo

r fe

dera

lly fu

nded

cas

h as

sist

ance

pro

gram

s.

Kan

sas

Dis

able

d pe

rson

s; c

aret

aker

s.F

amili

es in

elig

ible

for

AF

DC

; pre

gnan

tN

ot e

ligib

lew

omen

in fi

rst t

wo

trim

este

rs; u

natta

ched

child

ren.

Ken

tuck

yA

ll ca

tego

ries

of fi

nanc

ially

nee

dy fa

mili

es a

nd u

nem

ploy

able

indi

vidu

als

who

do

not q

ualif

y fo

rNot

elig

ible

Je

ffers

on C

ount

yfe

dera

lly fu

nded

cas

h as

sist

ance

pro

gram

s.

2

Loui

sian

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Mai

neA

ll ca

tego

ries

of n

eedy

peo

ple,

incl

udin

g pe

ople

who

rec

eive

fede

ral c

ash

assi

stan

ce.

Mar

ylan

d1.

Per

sons

with

a m

edic

al d

isab

ility

whi

ch1.

Not

elig

ible

1. N

ot e

ligib

le1.

Tra

nsiti

onal

prec

lude

s em

ploy

men

t for

at l

east

3 m

onth

s.E

mer

genc

y, M

edic

al,

2. P

regn

ant w

omen

in fi

rst t

wo

trim

este

rs.

2.

Not

elig

ible

and

Hou

sing

2. N

ot e

ligib

leA

ssis

tanc

e (T

EM

HA

)

2.

GA

fo

r P

reg

na

nt

Wom

en

Mas

sach

uset

tsP

erso

ns d

isab

led

at le

ast

60 d

ays

and

Fam

ilies

inel

igib

le fo

r A

FD

C.

Not

elig

ible

inel

igib

le fo

r S

SI;

elde

rly p

erso

ns o

ver

65;

3

stud

ents

und

er a

ge 2

1 an

d in

sch

ool o

rtr

aini

ng p

rogr

am; c

aret

aker

s.

Tab

le 3

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e C

ateg

orie

s of

Elig

ibili

ty (

cont

.)

Sta

teC

hild

ren/

Fam

ilies

with

Chi

ldre

nD

isab

led,

Eld

erly

, and

Oth

erE

mpl

oyab

le A

dults

Une

mpl

oyab

le P

erso

nsw

ithou

t Chi

ldre

n

Mic

higa

n1

. Pe

rso

ns

wh

o m

ee

t S

SI

crite

ria

exc

ep

t th

at

1.

Not

elig

ible

Not

elig

ible

1. S

tate

Dis

abili

tydu

ratio

n of

dis

abili

ty n

eed

be o

nly

90 d

ays

orA

ssis

tanc

elo

nger

.2.

Fam

ilies

inel

igib

le fo

r A

FD

C.

2. S

tate

Fam

ily2.

Not

elig

ible

Ass

ista

nce

Min

neso

taE

lder

ly; p

erso

ns w

ith a

men

tal o

r ph

ysic

alF

amili

es in

elig

ible

for

AF

DC

; pre

gnan

tN

ot e

ligib

leill

ness

that

is p

erm

anen

t or

tem

pora

ry;

wom

en in

firs

t tw

o tr

imes

ters

; una

ttach

edca

reta

kers

; wom

en in

bat

tere

d w

omen

’sch

ildre

n; e

man

cipa

ted

min

ors.

shel

ters

; per

sons

with

exc

essi

ve tr

avel

tim

e to

job;

per

sons

per

form

ing

cour

t-or

dere

dse

rvic

es; f

ull-t

ime

stud

ents

elig

ible

for

disp

lace

d ho

mem

aker

ser

vice

s; h

igh

scho

olst

uden

ts o

ver

age

18 w

hose

prim

ary

lang

uage

is n

ot E

nglis

h.

Mis

siss

ippi

No

GA

Pro

gram

Mis

sour

iP

erso

ns w

ith te

mpo

rary

dis

abili

ty e

xpec

ted

toE

man

cipa

ted

min

ors.

Not

elig

ible

last

at l

east

90

days

; per

sons

with

ape

rman

ent d

isab

ility

aw

aitin

g S

SI

dete

rmin

atio

n; c

aret

aker

s.

Mon

tana

Dis

able

d or

eld

erly

per

sons

.N

ot e

ligib

leN

ot e

ligib

le Y

ello

wst

one

Co

un

ty

4

Neb

rask

a1.

Per

sons

with

a d

isab

ility

exp

ecte

d to

last

at

1.

Not

elig

ible

1. N

ot e

ligib

le1.

Sta

te D

isab

ility

leas

t 6 m

onth

s.P

rogr

am2.

All

cate

gorie

s of

fina

ncia

lly n

eedy

peo

ple

2. A

ll ca

tego

ries

of fi

nanc

ially

nee

dy p

eopl

e

2. C

ount

y G

ener

alw

ho d

o no

t qua

lify

for

fede

rally

fund

ed c

ash

assi

stan

ce p

rogr

ams.

assi

stan

ce p

rogr

ams.

Ass

ista

nce

assi

stan

ce p

rogr

ams.

5

2. A

ll ca

tego

ries

of fi

nanc

ially

nee

dy p

eopl

ew

ho d

o no

t qua

lify

for

fede

rally

fund

ed c

ash

who

do

not q

ualif

y fo

r fe

dera

lly fu

nded

cas

h

Tab

le 3

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e C

ateg

orie

s of

Elig

ibili

ty (

cont

.)

Sta

teC

hild

ren/

Fam

ilies

with

Chi

ldre

nD

isab

led,

Eld

erly

, and

Oth

erE

mpl

oyab

le A

dults

Une

mpl

oyab

le P

erso

nsw

ithou

t Chi

ldre

n

Nev

ada

Cla

rk C

ount

yA

ll ca

tego

ries

of fi

nanc

ially

nee

dy p

eopl

e w

ho d

o no

t qua

lify

for

fede

rally

fund

ed c

ash

assi

stan

ce p

rogr

ams.

New

Ham

pshi

re

City

of

Ma

nch

est

er

All

cate

gorie

s of

fina

ncia

lly n

eedy

peo

ple

who

do

not q

ualif

y fo

r fe

dera

lly fu

nded

cas

h as

sist

ance

pro

gram

s.

New

Jer

sey

Une

mpl

oyab

le p

erso

ns a

t lea

st 1

8 ye

ars

old

Em

anci

pate

d m

inor

s at

leas

t 16

year

s ol

d.E

mpl

oyab

le p

erso

ns a

t lea

st 1

8 ye

ars

old.

due

to te

mpo

rary

or

perm

anen

t dis

abili

ty.

New

Mex

ico

Pe

rso

ns

with

a t

em

po

rary

or

pe

rma

ne

nt

Un

att

ach

ed

ch

ildre

n.

Not

elig

ible

disa

bilit

y.

New

Yor

kA

ll ca

tego

ries

of fi

nanc

ially

nee

dy p

eopl

e w

ho d

o no

t qua

lify

for

fede

rally

fund

ed c

ash

assi

stan

ce p

rogr

ams.

Nor

th C

arol

ina

Per

sons

dis

able

d fo

r at

leas

t 30

days

.N

ot e

ligib

leN

ot e

ligib

le

Du

rha

m C

ou

nty

6

Nor

th D

akot

aD

isab

led

pers

ons

awai

ting

SS

I det

erm

inat

ion.

Not

elig

ible

Not

elig

ible

C

ass

Co

un

ty

7

Ohi

oP

erso

ns d

isab

led

for

at le

ast n

ine

mon

ths;

Fam

ilies

with

min

or c

hild

ren

not e

ligib

le fo

r Not

elig

ible

pers

ons

aged

60

or o

lder

; per

sons

res

idin

g in

AF

DC

; pre

gnan

t wom

en in

firs

t tw

oa

trea

tmen

t cen

ter

cert

ified

by

the

Ohi

otr

imes

ters

, una

ttach

ed c

hild

ren.

Dep

artm

ent o

f Alc

ohol

and

Dru

g A

ddic

tion

Ser

vice

s.

8

Okl

ahom

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ore

gon

Dis

able

d pe

rson

s aw

aitin

g S

SI d

eter

min

atio

n.N

ot e

ligib

leN

ot e

ligib

le

Tab

le 3

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e C

ateg

orie

s of

Elig

ibili

ty (

cont

.)

Sta

teC

hild

ren/

Fam

ilies

with

Chi

ldre

nD

isab

led,

Eld

erly

, and

Oth

erE

mpl

oyab

le A

dults

Une

mpl

oyab

le P

erso

nsw

ithou

t Chi

ldre

n

Pe

nn

sylv

an

iaP

ers

on

s w

ith a

te

mp

ora

ry o

r p

erm

an

en

tN

ot e

ligib

leN

ot e

ligib

ledi

sabi

lity;

per

sons

with

act

ive

part

icip

atio

n in

a dr

ug o

r al

coho

l pro

gram

whi

ch p

recl

udes

empl

oym

ent;

care

take

r of

dis

able

d pe

rson

, if

the

care

take

r is

dee

med

nee

ded;

vic

tims

ofdo

mes

tic v

iole

nce;

and

per

sons

taki

ng h

ealth

-su

stai

ning

med

icat

ion.

Rho

de Is

land

Dis

able

d pe

rson

s aw

aitin

g S

SI d

eter

min

atio

n.F

amili

es n

ot e

ligib

le fo

r A

FD

C.

Not

elig

ible

9

Sou

th C

arol

ina

No

GA

Pro

gram

So

uth

Da

kota

M

inn

eh

ah

a C

ou

nty

All

cate

gorie

s of

fina

ncia

lly n

eedy

peo

ple

who

do

not q

ualif

y fo

r fe

dera

lly fu

nded

cas

h as

sist

ance

pro

gram

s.

Te

nn

ess

ee

No

GA

Pro

gram

Te

xas

Pe

rso

ns

with

a t

em

po

rary

or

pe

rma

ne

nt

Not

elig

ible

Not

elig

ible

H

arr

is C

ou

nty

disa

bilit

y; fa

mili

es in

whi

ch b

oth

or o

nly

pare

nt(s

) ar

e di

sabl

ed o

r on

e pa

rent

isdi

sabl

ed a

nd th

e ot

her

is a

car

etak

er.

Uta

h1.

Sin

gle

adul

ts o

r m

arrie

d co

uple

s w

ithou

tN

ot e

ligib

le1.

Not

elig

ible

1. G

A-S

elf

child

ren

who

face

bar

riers

to e

mpl

oym

ent f

orS

uffic

ienc

yat

leas

t 30

days

as

dete

rmin

ed b

y a

med

ical

2. A

ble-

bodi

ed s

ingl

e ad

ults

or

mar

ried

2. G

A-W

orki

ngT

ow

ard

s2.

Not

elig

ible

Em

plo

yme

nt

(WT

E)

exam

. co

uple

s w

ho la

ck s

kills

for

empl

oym

ent.

10

Tab

le 3

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e C

ateg

orie

s of

Elig

ibili

ty (

cont

.)

Sta

teC

hild

ren/

Fam

ilies

with

Chi

ldre

nD

isab

led,

Eld

erly

, and

Oth

erE

mpl

oyab

le A

dults

Une

mpl

oyab

le P

erso

nsw

ithou

t Chi

ldre

n

Ver

mon

tP

erso

ns d

isab

led

for

at le

ast 3

0 da

ys; e

lder

lyF

amili

es w

ith c

hild

ren.

Abl

e-bo

died

adu

lts w

ith tw

o of

the

follo

win

gin

divi

dual

s.

barr

iers

to e

mpl

oym

ent:

over

age

55,

eig

hth-

grad

e ed

ucat

ion

or c

an’t

read

or

writ

e, h

asbe

en e

mpl

oyed

few

er th

an s

ix m

onth

s in

the

last

5 y

ears

and

has

bee

n a

full-

time

stud

ent

less

than

six

mon

ths

in th

e la

st fi

ve y

ears

,re

leas

ed fr

om a

men

tal h

ealth

inst

itutio

n in

the

past

six

mon

ths,

or

in a

dru

g tr

eatm

ent

pro

gra

m f

or

no

mo

re t

ha

n 3

6 m

on

ths.

Virg

inia

Per

sons

aw

aitin

g S

SI d

eter

min

atio

n; p

erso

nsU

natta

ched

chi

ldre

n; e

man

cipa

ted

min

ors.N

ot e

ligib

le F

airf

ax C

ount

yin

elig

ible

for

SS

I or

AF

DC

and

une

mpl

oyab

lefo

r at

leas

t 30

days

due

to d

isab

ility

, age

or

lack

of t

rain

ing,

illn

ess

in th

e fa

mily

, or

hom

ere

spon

sibi

litie

s; p

erso

ns in

inst

itutio

nal c

are.

Was

hing

ton

Une

mpl

oyab

le p

erso

ns d

ue to

a p

erm

anen

tP

regn

ant w

omen

in fi

rst t

wo

trim

este

rs;

Not

elig

ible

disa

bilit

y or

a te

mpo

rary

dis

abili

ty w

hich

unat

tach

ed c

hild

ren

livin

g w

ith a

gua

rdia

n.p

reve

nts

wo

rk f

or

at

lea

st 9

0 d

ays

.

Wes

t Virg

inia

No

GA

Pro

gram

Wis

cons

inP

erso

ns u

nder

age

65

who

are

une

mpl

oyab

leN

ot e

ligib

leN

ot e

ligib

le

Da

ne

Co

un

tyd

ue

to a

tem

po

rary

or

pe

rma

ne

nt d

isa

bili

ty.

Wyo

min

gN

o G

A p

rogr

am

Sou

rce:

Urb

an In

stitu

te 1

996

1.

Illin

ois,

Chi

cago

. In

form

atio

n fo

r C

hica

go is

rep

rese

ntat

ive

of th

e ap

prox

imat

ely

60 o

ther

loca

l ent

ities

that

rec

eive

sta

te fu

nds.

2.

Ken

tuck

y, J

effe

rson

Cou

nty.

Em

ploy

able

per

sons

are

elig

ible

for

assi

stan

ce o

nly

one

time

each

yea

r. F

or th

e pu

rpos

e of

this

sur

vey,

we

cons

ider

this

to b

eE

mer

genc

y A

ssis

tanc

e, n

ot G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e.

Tab

le 3

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e C

ateg

orie

s of

Elig

ibili

ty (

cont

.)

3.

Mas

sach

uset

ts.

Offi

cial

ly th

ese

reci

pien

ts a

re a

wai

ting

SS

I det

erm

inat

ion.

In

rea

lity,

mos

t of t

hese

rec

ipie

nts

are

spon

sore

d le

gal a

liens

who

are

not

yet

elig

ible

for

SS

I.

4.

Mon

tana

, Yel

low

ston

e C

ount

y. A

lthou

gh te

chni

cally

, fam

ilies

not

elig

ible

for

AF

DC

are

elig

ible

for

Gen

eral

Rel

ief,

it ha

s be

en tw

o ye

ars

sinc

e an

y fa

mily

has

met

the

elig

ibili

ty r

equi

rem

ents

.

5.

Neb

rask

a. I

nfor

mat

ion

repr

esen

ts th

e gu

idel

ines

dev

elop

ed b

y th

e N

ebra

ska

Ass

ocia

tion

of C

ount

y O

ffici

als

and

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Soc

ial S

ervi

ces

used

in th

ead

min

istr

atio

n of

the

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

prog

ram

s fo

r th

e 56

of 9

3 co

untie

s th

at e

lect

to c

ontr

act w

ith th

e st

ate.

6.

Nor

th C

arol

ina.

Eld

erly

per

sons

who

hav

e m

inor

chi

ldre

n in

the

hom

e m

ay b

e el

igib

le fo

r a

one-

mon

th g

rant

. F

or th

e pu

rpos

e of

this

sur

vey,

we

cons

ider

this

to b

eE

mer

genc

y A

ssis

tanc

e, n

ot G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e.

7.

Nor

th D

akot

a, C

ass

Cou

nty.

Fam

ilies

(w

ith o

r w

ithou

t chi

ldre

n) in

fina

ncia

l cris

is d

ue to

fire

or

othe

r na

tura

l dis

aste

r ar

e el

igib

le fo

r on

e m

onth

’s r

ent.

8.

Ohi

o. A

ble-

bodi

ed a

dults

who

are

med

icat

ion

depe

nden

t may

rec

eive

med

ical

ben

efits

onl

y.

9.

Rho

de Is

land

. P

erso

ns w

ith a

tem

pora

ry d

isab

ility

are

aut

omat

ical

ly e

ligib

le fo

r m

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e an

d m

ay r

ecei

ve a

n as

sist

ance

gra

nt fo

r 1

to 2

mon

ths.

Cas

has

sist

ance

for

thos

e w

ith a

tem

pora

ry d

isab

ility

is m

ade

on a

cas

e by

cas

e ba

sis

depe

nden

t upo

n th

e ap

plic

ant’s

har

dshi

p an

d st

atem

ent o

f nee

d. I

t is

not a

nen

title

men

t and

no

appe

als

are

acce

pted

.

10

.U

tah.

Som

e fa

mili

es m

ay b

e re

ceiv

ing

bene

fits

from

the

GA

-WT

E p

rogr

am, b

ut o

nly

very

few

(an

ave

rage

cas

eloa

d of

two

per

mon

th).

Fam

ilies

who

wer

e el

igib

lefo

r G

A-W

TE

are

now

elig

ible

for

a pr

ogra

m o

pera

ting

unde

r an

AF

DC

wai

ver.

Tho

se fa

mili

es s

till r

ecei

ving

ben

efits

from

GA

-WT

E c

onst

itute

the

wai

ver

cont

rol

gro

up

.

Tab

le 3

.2: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e F

inan

cial

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia(S

um

me

r 1

99

6)

Sta

teM

onth

ly In

com

e E

ligib

ility

Lim

itsA

sset

Lim

its

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

nsIn

com

e E

xem

ptio

nsA

sset

Lim

itA

sset

Exe

mpt

ions

12

Ala

bam

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ala

ska

1. $

30

01

. $

50

01

. N

on

e1

. $

50

01

. H

om

e,

au

to1.

Gen

eral

Rel

ief

Ass

ista

nce

2. A

pplic

ants

: $47

0 2.

NA

2.

$2

0 d

isre

ga

rd,

$6

52

. $

2,0

00

2.

Ho

me

, $

4,5

00

au

to

2. In

terim

Ass

ista

nce

of r

emai

ning

, in-

kind

Rec

ipie

nts:

$87

3ea

rned

inco

me

plus

hal

f

supp

ort,

Ala

ska

Pe

rma

ne

nt

Fu

nd

Div

iden

d3

Ariz

ona

$173

if p

ayin

g re

ntN

A$2

4/m

onth

for

$1,0

00$

50

,00

0 h

om

e,

$1

,20

0$1

08 if

not

pay

ing

rent

empl

oym

ent-

rela

ted

auto

expe

nses

Ark

ansa

sN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Cal

iforn

iaA

pplic

ants

: $22

1A

pplic

ants

: $43

1N

one

Indi

vidu

al a

pplic

ant:

$50

$3

4,0

00

re

al p

rop

ert

y, L

os A

ngel

es C

ount

yE

mpl

oyed

Rec

ipie

nts:

Em

ploy

ed R

ecip

ient

s:F

amily

of 3

app

lican

ts:$4

,50

0 a

uto

$6

11

$

83

1$

10

0U

nem

ploy

ed R

ecip

ient

s:U

nem

ploy

ed R

ecip

ient

s:

Rec

ipie

nts:

$1,

500

$221

$431

4

Col

orad

o1

. $2

29

1. N

A1

. N

on

e1

. $

2,0

00

1.

Re

al p

rop

ert

y in

use

,1

. A

id t

o t

he

Ne

ed

yau

toD

isab

led

(Sta

tew

ide)

2. G

A (

City

and

Cou

nty

of

De

nve

r)

2.

$8

06

2.

$1

,35

22

. N

on

e2

. $

0

2.

Au

to5

Con

nect

icut

$350

une

mpl

oyab

le$5

43$1

50/m

onth

gro

ss w

ages

$250

/per

son,

up

toH

om

e,

$1

,50

0 a

uto

$300

em

ploy

able

, not

-$1

,000

tota

l($

4,50

0 au

to if

dis

able

d)jo

b-re

ady6

7

Tab

le 3

.2: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e F

inan

cial

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teM

onth

ly In

com

e E

ligib

ility

Lim

itsA

sset

Lim

its

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

nsIn

com

e E

xem

ptio

nsA

sset

Lim

itA

sset

Exe

mpt

ions

12

Del

awar

e$1

23$2

24$5

0 ea

rned

inco

me

$1

,00

0H

om

e,

$1

,50

0 a

uto

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia

$262

NA

Per

sons

with

full-

time

$2

,00

0H

om

e,

$1

,50

0 a

uto

empl

oym

ent:

$65.

50;

pers

ons

with

par

t-tim

eem

ploy

men

t: $5

1.50

Flo

rida

$0$0

Tra

inin

g al

low

ance

,$0

Ho

me

, a

uto

D

ad

e C

ou

nty

incl

udin

g tu

ition

,tr

ansp

orta

tion

and

lunc

h

Geo

rgia

$2

25

NA

No

ne

$4

00

$1

,00

0 a

uto

Ful

ton

Cou

nty

Haw

aii

$1

,23

9$

2,1

09

$3

0 e

arn

ed

inco

me

pe

r$

1,0

00

Ho

me

, $

1,5

00

au

tom

on

th f

or

12

mo

nth

spl

us 1

/3 o

f inc

ome

for

4co

nse

cutiv

e m

on

ths,

$

90

wo

rk e

xpe

nse

s, $

17

5-

$200

chi

ld c

are

expe

nses

,E

ITC

inco

me,

$50

chi

ldsu

pp

ort

pa

yme

nt

Ida

ho

De

term

ine

d o

n a

ca

se b

y ca

se b

asi

sN

on

e$

0H

om

e,

au

to

Ad

a C

ou

nty

8

Illin

ois

1.

$7

51.

NA

1.

$3

61

ea

rne

d in

com

eO

ne

mo

nth

’s p

aym

en

tH

om

e,

$1

,50

0 a

uto

C

ity o

f Chi

cago

per

mon

th f

or 3

mon

ths

leve

l. (

If ho

mel

ess:

9

1. T

rans

ition

al A

ssis

tanc

e2.

NA

2.

$9

0o

ut

of

12

.$

1,0

00

.)

2. F

amily

and

Chi

ldre

n2.

$17

5-$2

00 c

hild

car

eA

ssis

tanc

eex

pens

es.

Tab

le 3

.2: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e F

inan

cial

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teM

onth

ly In

com

e E

ligib

ility

Lim

itsA

sset

Lim

its

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

nsIn

com

e E

xem

ptio

nsA

sset

Lim

itA

sset

Exe

mpt

ions

12

Indi

ana

$342

$577

Non

e$0

Ho

me

, a

uto

C

en

ter

To

wn

ship

of

M

ari

on

Co

un

ty

10

Iow

a$3

43$4

26E

xem

ptio

ns m

ay b

eD

eter

min

ed o

n a

case

by

case

bas

is; o

nly

liqui

d as

sets

P

olk

Co

un

tyg

ran

ted

on

a c

ase

by

are

co

nsi

de

red

. ca

se b

asis

.

Ka

nsa

s$

19

6$

40

3$

30

ea

rne

d in

com

e p

er

$1

,00

0H

om

e,

$1

,50

0 a

uto

11

12

mo

nth

fo

r 1

2 m

on

ths

plus

1/3

of i

ncom

e fo

rfo

ur

con

secu

tive

mo

nth

s,

$9

0 w

ork

exp

en

ses,

$175

-$20

0 ch

ild c

are

exp

en

ses,

EIT

C in

com

e,

$50

child

sup

port

paym

ent

Ken

tuck

y$0

$0N

one

Det

erm

ined

on

a ca

se b

y ca

se b

asis

Je

ffe

rso

n C

ou

nty

Loui

sian

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Mai

neV

arie

s by

cou

nty.

V

arie

s by

cou

nty.

Tra

vel a

nd c

hild

car

eLi

quid

ass

ets

are

Hom

e, $

5,00

0 au

toA

vera

ge: $

353

Ave

rage

: $55

6ex

pens

es fo

r w

ork

or jo

bco

nsid

ered

as

inco

me

(unl

ess

publ

icse

arch

tran

spor

tatio

n is

suffi

cien

t)

Tab

le 3

.2: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e F

inan

cial

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teM

onth

ly In

com

e E

ligib

ility

Lim

itsA

sset

Lim

its

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

nsIn

com

e E

xem

ptio

nsA

sset

Lim

itA

sset

Exe

mpt

ions

12

Mar

ylan

d1.

$0

in e

arne

d in

com

e;1.

NA

1.

No

ne

1.

$1

,50

01

. H

om

e,

au

to1.

Tra

nsiti

onal

$157

in u

near

ned

inco

me

Em

erge

ncy,

Med

ical

, an

d2.

NA

2. $

30 e

arne

d in

com

e pe

r2

. $

1,0

00

2.

Ho

me

, a

uto

Hou

sing

Ass

ista

nce

2. $1

25

mo

nth

fo

r 1

2 m

on

ths

(TE

MH

A)

plus

1/3

of i

ncom

e fo

r

2.

GA

fo

r P

reg

na

nt

$9

0 w

ork

exp

en

ses,

Wom

en$1

75-$

200

child

car

e

fou

r co

nse

cutiv

e m

on

ths,

exp

en

ses,

EIT

C in

com

e,

$50

child

sup

port

paym

ent

Mas

sach

uset

ts$3

04 in

pub

lic h

ousi

ng

$487

in p

ublic

hou

sing

$90

earn

ed in

com

e; $

90$250

indi

vidu

alH

om

e,

$1

,50

0 a

uto

$339

in p

rivat

e ho

usin

g$5

22 in

priv

ate

hous

ing

wor

k ex

pens

es$5

00 fa

mily

Mic

higa

n1

. $2

96

(o

the

r b

en

efit

1.

NA

$2

00

plu

s 2

0%

of

$1

,00

0H

om

e,

$1

,50

0 a

uto

1. S

tate

Dis

abili

tym

axim

ums

appl

y if

rem

aini

ng e

arne

d in

com

eA

ssis

tanc

ere

cipi

ent i

s in

res

iden

tial

2. V

arie

s by

reg

ion

from

pe

r m

on

th p

er

pe

rso

n

2. S

tate

Fam

ilyA

ssis

tanc

e2.

NA

care

un

it)$

50

9 t

o $

58

7

Min

neso

taN

o lim

it on

gro

ss$9

84 g

ross

inco

me

Non

e$1

000

Ho

me

, a

uto

fo

rin

com

e; $

203

net i

ncom

e$5

32 n

et in

com

eem

ploy

men

t nee

ds

Mis

siss

ippi

No

GA

Pro

gram

Mis

sour

i$1

81 (

of w

hich

no

mor

eN

AIr

regu

lar

or u

npre

dict

able

$999

.99

indi

vidu

al $

2,00

0H

ome

tha

n $

80

ca

n b

e e

arn

ed

inco

me

fam

ily o

f 3in

com

e)

Tab

le 3

.2: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e F

inan

cial

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teM

onth

ly In

com

e E

ligib

ility

Lim

itsA

sset

Lim

its

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

nsIn

com

e E

xem

ptio

nsA

sset

Lim

itA

sset

Exe

mpt

ions

12

Mon

tana

$261

NA

Non

eA

sset

s co

unt a

gain

stH

om

e,

$1

,50

0 a

uto

Yel

low

ston

e C

ount

yin

com

e el

igib

ility

lim

it

13

Ne

bra

ska

1.

$6

45

1.

NA

1.

$2

0 d

isre

ga

rd,

$6

51

. $

2,0

00

1.

Ho

me

, $

4,5

00

au

to1.

Sta

te D

isab

ility

earn

ed in

com

e pl

us h

alf

Pro

gra

m2

. $

22

51

. $

35

0of

re

mai

ning

ear

ning

s2.

Ass

ets

coun

t aga

inst

2.

$5

,00

0 h

om

e,

$1

,50

0

2. C

ount

y G

ener

al2.

Rea

sona

ble

self-

Ass

ista

nce

empl

oym

ent e

xpen

ses,

14

$40

wor

k tr

ansp

orta

tion

allo

wan

ce

inco

me

elig

ibili

ty li

mit

auto

Ne

vad

a$

27

7$

46

6N

on

e$

0H

om

e,

au

to

Cla

rk C

ou

nty

New

Ham

pshi

re$0

$0N

one

$0H

ome,

aut

o fo

r m

edic

al

City

of

Ma

nch

est

er

or e

mpl

oym

ent n

eeds

Ne

w J

ers

ey

Em

ploy

able

: $14

0N

AF

irst $

60 o

f ear

ned

App

lican

ts: $

0H

om

e,

$5

00

au

to o

r a

uto

Une

mpl

oyab

le: $

210

inco

me.

If i

ncom

e af

ter

Rec

ipie

nts:

3 ti

mes

for

med

ical

or

the

$60

disr

egar

d is

less

bene

fitem

ploy

men

t nee

ds

than

the

gran

t ent

itlem

ent,

then

1/3

of t

he r

emai

ning

earn

ed in

com

e is

disr

egar

ded.

Tab

le 3

.2: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e F

inan

cial

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teM

onth

ly In

com

e E

ligib

ility

Lim

itsA

sset

Lim

its

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

nsIn

com

e E

xem

ptio

nsA

sset

Lim

itA

sset

Exe

mpt

ions

12

New

Mex

ico

$231

$389

$30

earn

ed in

com

e pe

r$

1,0

00

Ho

me

, $

1,5

00

au

tom

on

th f

or

12

mo

nth

spl

us 1

/3 o

f inc

ome

for

fou

r co

nse

cutiv

e m

on

ths,

$

90

wo

rk e

xpe

nse

s,$1

75-$

200

child

car

ee

xpe

nse

s, E

ITC

inco

me

,$5

0 ch

ild s

uppo

rtpa

ymen

t

Ne

w Y

ork

$3

52

$5

77

$9

0 w

ork

exp

en

ses.

F

or

$1

,00

0H

om

e,

$1

,50

0 a

uto

(Val

ues

for

New

Yor

k(V

alue

s fo

r N

ew Y

ork

fam

ilies

with

chi

ldre

nC

ity.

Am

ount

var

ies

byC

ity.

Am

ount

var

ies

byun

der

20: $

30 e

arne

dco

un

ty.)

cou

nty

.)in

com

e p

er

mo

nth

fo

r 1

2m

on

ths

plu

s 1

/3 o

fin

com

e fo

r 4

cons

ecut

ive

mon

ths,

chi

ld c

are

exp

en

ses.

Nor

th C

arol

ina

$422

NA

Non

e$0

Det

erm

ined

on

a ca

se b

y

Du

rha

m C

ou

nty

case

bas

is

No

rth

Da

kota

$2

87

$

57

0N

on

e$

30

0H

om

e

C

ass

Cou

nty

($33

7 if

rent

incl

udes

($62

0 if

rent

incl

udes

heat

)he

at)

Ohi

o$

11

5$

19

3$

25

0 o

f e

arn

ed

inco

me

$1

,00

0H

om

e,

$4

,60

0 a

uto

pe

r m

on

th p

lus

½ o

f th

ere

mai

nder

Okl

ahom

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Tab

le 3

.2: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e F

inan

cial

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teM

onth

ly In

com

e E

ligib

ility

Lim

itsA

sset

Lim

its

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

nsIn

com

e E

xem

ptio

nsA

sset

Lim

itA

sset

Exe

mpt

ions

12

Ore

gon

$286

NA

Non

e$1

,500

in to

tal r

esou

rces

,N

one

of

wh

ich

no

mo

re t

ha

n$

50

ca

n b

e in

ca

sh o

rot

her

liqui

d as

sets

Pen

nsyl

vani

a$2

15$4

21N

one

$250

indi

vidu

alH

ome,

aut

o fo

r m

edic

al1

5

$1,0

00 fa

mily

of 3

or e

mpl

oym

ent n

eeds

Rho

de Is

land

Dis

able

d ad

ults

: $20

0$5

54$2

0 di

sreg

ard,

$65

$400

Ho

me

, $

1,5

00

au

toO

ther

s: $

327

earn

ed in

com

e pl

us h

alf

of r

emai

ning

ear

ning

s

Sou

th C

arol

ina

No

GA

Pro

gram

So

uth

Da

kota

$5

52

$9

28

No

ne

$0

liq

uid

ass

ets

; $2

,00

0$

30

,00

0 h

om

e,

au

to

Min

ne

ha

ha

Co

un

tyno

n-liq

uid

asse

ts fo

r an

indi

vidu

al, $

4,00

0 no

n-liq

uid

asse

ts fo

r a

fam

ily.

Te

nn

ess

ee

No

GA

pro

gram

Tex

as$0

ear

ned

or A

FD

C/S

SI

$0 e

arne

d or

AF

DC

/SS

IN

one

Indi

vidu

al: $

27A

uto

for

spec

ial n

eeds

Har

ris C

ount

yin

com

e; $

109.

50 o

ther

inco

me;

$20

1 ot

her

Fam

ily o

f thr

ee: $

50un

earn

ed in

com

eun

earn

ed in

com

e

Uta

h$

24

6N

A$

90

ea

rne

d in

com

e

$1

,00

0$

1,5

00

au

to

Ver

mon

tC

atas

trop

hic

need

: no

Cat

astr

ophi

c ne

ed: n

oP

AS

S p

lan

mon

ey$1

,500

for

elde

rly o

rHo

me

, a

uto

limit.

Oth

er c

ases

: $43

6lim

it. O

ther

cas

es:

$636

disa

bled

peo

ple;

$2,

250

in C

hitte

nden

Cou

nty,

in C

hitte

nden

Cou

nty,

for

elde

rly o

r di

sabl

ed$

39

6 in

re

st o

f th

e s

tate

.$

59

7 in

re

st o

f th

e s

tate

.co

up

les.

Fo

r a

ll o

the

rs,

ass

ets

co

un

t to

wa

rdin

com

e lim

its.

Tab

le 3

.2: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e F

inan

cial

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teM

onth

ly In

com

e E

ligib

ility

Lim

itsA

sset

Lim

its

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

nsIn

com

e E

xem

ptio

nsA

sset

Lim

itA

sset

Exe

mpt

ions

12

Virg

inia

$2

20

$3

54

No

ne

$1

,00

0A

uto

Fai

rfax

Cou

nty

Was

hing

ton

Une

mpl

oyab

le: $

339

Chi

ldre

n w

ith g

uard

ian:

$3

0 e

arn

ed

inco

me

pe

r$

1,0

00

Ho

me

, $

1,5

00

au

toP

reg

na

nt

wo

ma

n o

r ch

ild$

54

6m

on

th f

or

12

mo

nth

sw

ith g

uard

ian:

$34

9 pl

us 1

/3 o

f inc

ome

for

fou

r co

nse

cutiv

e m

on

ths,

$

90

wo

rk e

xpe

nse

s,$1

75-$

200

child

car

ee

xpe

nse

s, E

ITC

inco

me

,$5

0 ch

ild s

uppo

rtpa

ymen

t

Wes

t Virg

inia

No

GA

Pro

gram

Wis

cons

in$

24

7$

51

7N

on

e$

30

0H

om

e,

au

to

Da

ne

Co

un

ty

Wyo

min

gN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Sou

rce:

Urb

an In

stitu

te 1

996

1.

Onl

y m

ajor

inco

me

exem

ptio

ns (

such

as

earn

ed in

com

e an

d ch

ild c

are

exem

ptio

ns)

are

liste

d. I

n ad

ditio

n to

thes

e ex

empt

ions

, sta

tes

may

exe

mpt

oth

er in

com

e,in

clud

ing

cert

ain

fede

rally

pro

vide

d in

com

e be

nefit

s su

ch a

s W

IC b

enef

its, L

IHE

AP

pay

men

ts, p

aym

ents

to V

ista

wor

kers

, stu

dent

loan

s, e

tc.

2.

In a

dditi

on to

the

equi

ty v

alue

of t

he a

pplic

ant’s

hom

e an

d au

to, o

ther

item

s th

at d

o no

t cou

nt a

gain

st th

e as

set l

imit

may

incl

ude

pers

onal

bel

ongi

ngs,

insu

ranc

e,in

com

e pr

oduc

ing

prop

erty

, too

ls u

sed

for

empl

oym

ent,

and

buria

l plo

ts.

3.

Ala

ska.

The

Ala

ska

Per

man

ent F

und

Div

iden

d is

a s

hare

of t

he s

tate

’s o

il pr

ofits

whi

ch a

re d

istr

ibut

ed a

nnua

lly to

sta

te r

esid

ents

.

4.

Los

Ang

eles

Cou

nty,

Cal

iforn

ia.

Inco

me

limits

for

reci

pien

ts m

ay b

e lo

wer

dep

endi

ng o

n liv

ing

arra

ngem

ents

.

5.

Col

orad

o, C

ount

y of

Den

ver.

Inc

ome

limits

ref

lect

125

% o

f the

pov

erty

leve

l.

6.

Con

nect

icut

. $3

00 in

com

e lim

it an

d be

nefit

leve

l app

lies

to e

mpl

oyab

le, n

ot-jo

b-re

ady

pers

ons

livin

g al

one.

Lev

els

are

$250

if a

pplic

ant l

ives

in s

hare

d ho

usin

g,$1

50 if

app

lican

t liv

es w

ith r

elat

ives

.

Tab

le 3

.2: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e F

inan

cial

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

7.

Con

nect

icut

. In

com

e lim

its a

nd b

enef

it le

vels

for

fam

ilies

of t

hree

var

y ac

cord

ing

to li

ving

cos

ts in

thre

e re

gion

s of

the

stat

e. A

ppro

xim

atel

y 90

% o

f the

cas

eloa

dre

side

s in

Reg

ion

B, w

here

the

inco

me

limit

and

bene

fit le

vel a

re $

543.

8.

Idah

o, A

da C

ount

y. E

ligib

ility

is d

eter

min

ed b

y co

mpa

ring

inco

me

to e

xpen

ses

for

nece

ssiti

es o

f life

. A

pplic

ants

are

exp

ecte

d to

use

all

curr

ent a

nd p

oten

tial

reso

urce

s be

fore

see

king

cou

nty

assi

stan

ce.

9.

Illin

ois,

City

of C

hica

go.

Info

rmat

ion

for

Chi

cago

is r

epre

sent

ativ

e of

the

appr

oxim

atel

y 60

oth

er lo

cal e

ntiti

es th

at r

ecei

ve s

tate

fund

s.

10

.In

dian

a, C

ente

r T

owns

hip

of M

ario

n C

ount

y. I

ncom

e lim

its r

efle

ct 5

5% o

f the

fede

ral p

over

ty le

vel.

11

.K

ansa

s. I

ncom

e lim

its r

efle

ct 8

0% o

f the

AF

DC

inco

me

limit,

whi

ch v

arie

s by

the

cost

of l

ivin

g in

eac

h co

unty

. In

com

e lim

its s

how

n ap

ply

to 7

0-80

per

cent

of

reci

pien

ts.

Inco

me

limits

are

red

uced

if r

ecip

ient

is in

a s

hare

d re

side

nce.

12

.K

ansa

s. I

ncom

e lim

its r

efle

ct 1

00%

of t

he A

FD

C in

com

e lim

it, w

hich

var

ies

by th

e co

st o

f liv

ing

in e

ach

coun

ty.

Inco

me

limits

sho

wn

appl

y to

70-

80 p

erce

nt o

fre

cipi

ents

. In

com

e lim

its a

re r

educ

ed if

rec

ipie

nt is

in a

sha

red

resi

denc

e.

13

.M

onta

na, Y

ello

wst

one

Cou

nty.

Alth

ough

tech

nica

lly, f

amili

es n

ot e

ligib

le fo

r A

FD

C a

re e

ligib

le fo

r G

ener

al R

elie

f, it

has

been

two

year

s si

nce

any

fam

ily h

as m

etth

e el

igib

ility

req

uire

men

ts.

14

.N

ebra

ska.

Inf

orm

atio

n re

pres

ents

the

guid

elin

es d

evel

oped

by

the

Neb

rask

a A

ssoc

iatio

n of

Cou

nty

Offi

cial

s an

d th

e D

epar

tmen

t of S

ocia

l Ser

vice

s us

ed in

the

adm

inis

trat

ion

of th

e ge

nera

l ass

ista

nce

prog

ram

s fo

r th

e 56

of 9

3 co

untie

s th

at e

lect

to c

ontr

act w

ith th

e st

ate.

15

.P

enns

ylva

nia.

Mon

thly

inco

me

elig

ibili

ty li

mits

list

ed a

re fo

r th

ose

coun

ties

in th

e hi

ghes

t cos

t of l

ivin

g ca

tego

ry.

Tab

le 3

.3: O

ther

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia(S

um

me

r 1

99

6)

Sta

teW

ork

Req

uire

men

tO

ther

Req

uire

men

tsR

esid

ency

Citi

zens

hip

Dru

gR

equi

rem

ent

Req

uire

men

tS

cree

ning

/Tre

atm

ent

1

Ala

bam

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ala

ska

1. S

tate

res

iden

t1.

Citi

zen,

lega

l alie

n, o

r1

. N

o1

. Y

es

1.

No

ne

1. G

ener

al R

elie

fte

mpo

rary

alie

nA

ssis

tanc

e2

. Sta

te r

esi

de

nt

2.

No

2.

No

2.

No

ne

2. In

terim

Ass

ista

nce

2. C

itize

n or

lega

l alie

n2

Ariz

ona

Sta

te r

esid

ent

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

No

Non

e

Ark

ansa

sN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Cal

iforn

iaC

ount

y re

side

nt fo

r at

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

Yes

App

lican

ts m

ust n

ot b

e L

os A

ngel

es C

ount

yle

ast 1

5 da

ysfu

lly e

mpl

oyed

3

Col

orad

o1.

Sta

te r

esid

ent

1.

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

1.

No

1.

No

1. R

ecip

ient

s m

ust h

ave

1.

Aid

to

th

e N

ee

dy

appl

ied

for

SS

I. D

isab

led

(Sta

tew

ide)

2. C

ount

y re

side

nt f

or a

t2.

C

itize

n or

lega

l alie

n2

. N

o2

. N

oV

ocat

iona

l Reh

abili

tatio

n

2. G

A (

City

and

ma

de

as

ap

pro

pri

ate

.C

ou

nty

of

De

nve

r)

leas

t 30

days

and

othe

r re

ferr

als

are

4

5

2.

No

ne

Con

nect

icut

Sta

te r

esid

ent

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No sc

reen

ing.

Sus

pect

edY

esN

one

drug

use

rs r

efer

red

for

eval

uatio

n. D

rug

addi

cted

reci

pien

ts m

ust b

e in

trea

tmen

t or

on w

aitin

g lis

tto

rem

ain

elig

ible

.

Del

awar

eS

tate

res

iden

tC

itize

n, le

gal a

lien,

or

No

No

Non

eun

empl

oyed

ref

ugee

Tab

le 3

.3: O

ther

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teW

ork

Req

uire

men

tO

ther

Req

uire

men

tsR

esid

ency

Citi

zens

hip

Dru

gR

equi

rem

ent

Req

uire

men

tS

cree

ning

/Tre

atm

ent

1

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia

Dis

tric

t res

iden

t1.

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

No

Non

e1.

Gen

eral

Pub

licA

ssis

tanc

e2.

No

citiz

ensh

ip

2. G

ener

al P

ublic

Ass

ista

nce

for

Chi

ldre

n

6

requ

irem

ent

Flo

rida

Cou

nty

resi

dent

C

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

oN

oA

pplic

ant’s

inco

me

mus

t

Da

de

Co

un

tyha

ve b

een

inte

rrup

ted

with

in th

e la

st 6

0 da

ys a

ndap

plic

ant m

ust h

ave

been

empl

oyed

12

of la

st 1

8m

on

ths.

Geo

rgia

Cou

nty

resi

dent

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

No

Non

e

Fu

lton

Co

un

ty

Haw

aii

Sta

te r

esid

ent

Citi

zen,

lega

l alie

n, o

rN

o sc

reen

ing.

If

Yes

Non

ere

fug

ee

aft

er

8 m

on

ths

of

reci

pien

ts a

re e

ligib

le fo

rre

fuge

e as

sist

ance

GA

bec

ause

of t

heir

sub

sta

nce

ab

use

, th

ey

are

requ

ired

to p

artic

ipat

e in

adr

ug tr

eatm

ent p

rogr

am.

Idah

oC

ount

y re

side

ntN

o ci

tizen

ship

No

Yes

Non

e

Ada

Cou

nty

requ

irem

ent

Illin

ois

Sta

te r

esid

ent

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

Yes

Car

etak

ers

mus

t pro

vide

City

of C

hica

gopr

oof o

f rel

atio

nshi

p to

7

child

or

lega

lgu

ardi

ansh

ip.

Tab

le 3

.3: O

ther

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teW

ork

Req

uire

men

tO

ther

Req

uire

men

tsR

esid

ency

Citi

zens

hip

Dru

gR

equi

rem

ent

Req

uire

men

tS

cree

ning

/Tre

atm

ent

1

Indi

ana

Tow

nshi

p re

side

ntC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

o scre

enin

g.

Yes

Non

e

Ce

nte

r T

ow

nsh

ip o

fC

hem

ical

ly d

epen

dent

Mar

ion

Cou

nty

reci

pien

ts m

ust s

eek

and

mai

ntai

n m

edic

altr

ea

tme

nt.

Iow

aC

ount

y re

side

ntC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

oN

oN

one

P

olk

Co

un

ty

Kan

sas

Sta

te r

esid

ent

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

Yes

Non

e

Ken

tuck

yC

ount

y re

side

ntC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

oN

oN

one

Je

ffe

rso

n C

ou

nty

Loui

sian

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Mai

neS

tate

res

iden

tA

ble-

bodi

es r

ecip

ient

s:N

o scre

enin

g. N

o co

stY

esN

one

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

trea

tmen

t req

uire

d if

8

Oth

ers:

No

citiz

ensh

ipad

dict

ion

prev

ents

wor

k.re

quire

men

t

Mar

ylan

dS

tate

res

iden

tC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

o sc

reen

ing.

Che

mic

ally

No

1.

No

ne

1. T

rans

ition

alde

pend

ent r

ecip

ient

s m

ust

Em

erge

ncy,

Med

ical

,ei

ther

par

ticip

ate

in a

dru

g2

. P

reg

na

nt

wo

me

n w

ho

and

Hou

sing

trea

tmen

t pro

gram

or

have

are

min

ors

mus

t res

ide

Ass

ista

nce

(TE

MH

A)

thei

r pa

ymen

ts m

ade

tow

ith a

car

etak

er r

elat

ive

or

2.

GA

fo

r P

reg

na

nt

pa

yee

.W

omen

vend

ors

or p

rote

ctiv

ein

a s

uper

vise

d se

tting

.

Mas

sach

uset

tsS

tate

res

iden

tC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

oN

oC

aret

aker

s ar

e el

igib

leon

ly if

the

disa

bled

pers

on’s

mon

thly

inco

me

is $

1,50

0 or

less

and

ass

ets

are

$2

,00

0 o

r le

ss.

Tab

le 3

.3: O

ther

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teW

ork

Req

uire

men

tO

ther

Req

uire

men

tsR

esid

ency

Citi

zens

hip

Dru

gR

equi

rem

ent

Req

uire

men

tS

cree

ning

/Tre

atm

ent

1

Mic

higa

nS

tate

res

iden

tC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

n1

. N

o

scre

en

ing

. I

f1

. N

oN

on

e1.

Sta

te D

isab

ility

subs

tanc

e ab

use

is th

eA

ssis

tanc

epr

imar

y ca

use

of2

. Y

es

2. S

tate

Fam

ilyin

elig

ible

for

Dis

abili

tyA

ssis

tanc

eA

ssis

tanc

e. I

f abu

se is

a

disa

bilit

y, p

erso

n is

seco

ndar

y fa

ctor

indi

sabi

lity,

rec

ipie

nt m

ust

rece

ive

trea

tmen

t to

beel

igib

le fo

r D

isab

ility

Ass

ista

nce.

2.

No

Min

neso

taS

tate

res

iden

t fo

r at

leas

tP

erso

ns u

nder

18:

No

No

scre

enin

g.

Per

sons

Yes

All

reci

pien

ts a

ge 1

8 or

30

da

ysci

tizen

ship

req

uire

men

tsu

spec

ted

of d

rug

over

mus

t hav

e a

Soc

ial

91

0

Per

sons

18+

: Citi

zen

oras

sess

men

t.le

gal a

lien

de

pe

nd

en

cy

refe

rre

d f

or

Se

curi

ty N

um

be

r.

Mis

siss

ippi

No

GA

Pro

gram

Mis

sour

iS

tate

res

iden

tC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

oN

oA

pplic

ant c

an n

ot h

ave

tran

sfer

red

prop

erty

inor

der

to b

ecom

e el

igib

le.

Rec

ipie

nts

may

be

refe

rred

to v

ocat

iona

lre

habi

litat

ion.

Mon

tana

Cou

nty

resi

dent

for

atC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

oN

oN

one

Yel

low

ston

e C

ount

yle

ast 3

0 da

ys

Tab

le 3

.3: O

ther

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teW

ork

Req

uire

men

tO

ther

Req

uire

men

tsR

esid

ency

Citi

zens

hip

Dru

gR

equi

rem

ent

Req

uire

men

tS

cree

ning

/Tre

atm

ent

1

Neb

rask

a1.

Sta

te r

esid

ent

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

1.

No

Non

e1.

Sta

te D

isab

ility

Pro

gra

m2

. C

ou

nty

re

sid

en

t 2

. Y

es

2.

Co

un

ty G

en

era

lA

ssis

tanc

e11

Nev

ada

Cou

nty

resi

dent

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

Yes

Non

e

Cla

rk C

ou

nty

New

Ham

pshi

reN

o re

side

ncy

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

Yes

Non

e

City

of

Man

ches

ter

requ

irem

ent

Ne

w J

ers

ey

Res

iden

t of m

unic

ipal

ityC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

oY

esN

one

whe

re b

enef

its a

rere

ceiv

ed

New

Mex

ico

Sta

te R

esid

ent

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

No

Rec

ipie

nts

elig

ible

due

todi

sabi

lity

mus

t pur

sue

reha

bilit

atio

n th

roug

h th

eD

ivis

ion

of V

ocat

iona

lR

ehab

ilita

tion.

Ne

w Y

ork

Sta

te r

esi

de

nt.

F

or

first

No citiz

ensh

ipN

o sc

reen

ing.

If d

rug

orY

esN

one

six

mon

ths

in th

e st

ate,

requ

irem

ent

alco

hol a

buse

isth

e m

axim

um b

enef

it is

dete

rmin

ed to

be

equa

l to

wha

t the

ben

efit,

cont

ribut

ing

to n

eed,

if an

y, w

ould

be

in th

ere

cipi

ent m

ay b

e re

quire

dre

cipi

ent’s

sta

te o

fto

par

ticip

ate

in d

rug

orfo

rmer

res

iden

ce.

alco

hol t

reat

men

t cen

ter

or p

rogr

am.

Tab

le 3

.3: O

ther

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teW

ork

Req

uire

men

tO

ther

Req

uire

men

tsR

esid

ency

Citi

zens

hip

Dru

gR

equi

rem

ent

Req

uire

men

tS

cree

ning

/Tre

atm

ent

1

Nor

th C

arol

ina

Cou

nty

resi

dent

No

citiz

ensh

ipN

oN

oC

risis

mus

t exi

st th

at w

ill

Du

rha

m C

ou

nty

req

uir

em

en

tre

sult

in lo

ss o

r la

ck o

fes

sent

ial s

helte

r, u

tiliti

es,

me

dic

al n

ee

ds,

or

foo

d.

R

ecip

ient

mus

t be

able

tove

rify

the

use

of a

t lea

st85

% o

f ava

ilabl

e in

com

e.

Nor

th D

akot

aC

ount

y re

side

ntC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

oN

oN

one

C

ass

Co

un

ty

Ohi

oS

tate

res

iden

tC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

oN

oN

one

Okl

ahom

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ore

gon

Sta

te r

esid

ent

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

No

Non

e

Pen

nsyl

vani

aS

tate

res

iden

t for

at l

east

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

Yes

Non

e12

mon

ths,

unl

ess

left

pre

vio

us

sta

te d

ue

to

an

abus

ive

rela

tions

hip

Rho

de Is

land

Sta

te r

esid

ent

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

Yes

Per

sons

mus

t firs

t app

lyfo

r m

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e,th

en

th

ey

can

ap

ply

fo

rca

sh a

ssis

tanc

e.

Sou

th C

arol

ina

No

GA

Pro

gram

Sou

th D

akot

aC

ount

y re

side

ntC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

o dr

ug s

cree

ning

.Y

esN

one

M

inn

eh

ah

a C

ou

nty

Pe

rso

ns

un

ab

le t

o w

ork

beca

use

of c

hem

ical

de

pe

nd

en

cy a

re r

efe

rre

dto

a t

rea

tme

nt

pro

gra

m.

Tab

le 3

.3: O

ther

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teW

ork

Req

uire

men

tO

ther

Req

uire

men

tsR

esid

ency

Citi

zens

hip

Dru

gR

equi

rem

ent

Req

uire

men

tS

cree

ning

/Tre

atm

ent

1

Te

nn

ess

ee

No

GA

Pro

gram

Tex

asC

ount

y re

side

ntC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

oN

oN

one

H

arr

is C

ou

nty

Uta

hS

tate

res

iden

t or

inte

nt to

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

1.

No

1.

Rec

ipie

nts

are

asse

ssed

1. G

A-S

elf S

uffic

ienc

ybe

com

e re

side

ntto

det

erm

ine

wha

t

2. G

A-W

orki

ngpa

rtic

ipat

e in

to b

ecom

eT

ow

ard

s E

mp

loym

en

tse

lf-su

ppor

ting

or

2.

Ye

sac

tiviti

es th

ey c

an

incr

ease

thei

r in

com

e.

Thi

s m

ay r

esul

t in

requ

irem

ents

for

med

ical

or m

enta

l hea

lth tr

eatm

ent

or a

dult

basi

c ed

ucat

ion

cou

rse

s.

2.

No

ne

Ver

mon

tS

tate

res

iden

tC

itize

n or

lega

l alie

nN

oY

esA

ble-

bodi

ed r

ecip

ient

sel

igib

le d

ue to

hav

ing

anei

ghth

-gra

de e

duca

tion

orbe

low

or

inab

ility

to r

ead

or w

rite

mus

t par

ticip

ate

in a

n ad

ult b

asic

edu

catio

npr

ogra

m.

Virg

inia

Cou

nty

resi

dent

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

No

Non

e F

airf

ax C

ount

y

Tab

le 3

.3: O

ther

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

Sta

teW

ork

Req

uire

men

tO

ther

Req

uire

men

tsR

esid

ency

Citi

zens

hip

Dru

gR

equi

rem

ent

Req

uire

men

tS

cree

ning

/Tre

atm

ent

1

Was

hing

ton

Sta

te r

esid

ent

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No sc

reen

ing.

If r

ecip

ient

No

Une

mpl

oyab

le r

ecip

ient

sis

une

mpl

oyab

le d

ue to

may

be

refe

rred

to lo

cal

alco

hol o

r dr

ug a

buse

,or

sta

te r

ehab

ilita

tive

reci

pien

t mus

t par

ticip

ate

serv

ices

if s

uch

serv

ices

in a

n ap

prop

riate

are

avai

labl

e.tr

eatm

ent p

rogr

am.

Wes

t Virg

inia

No

GA

Pro

gram

Wis

cons

inC

ount

y re

side

nt fo

r at

Citi

zen

or le

gal a

lien

No

No

Non

e

Da

ne

Co

un

tyle

ast

6 m

on

ths.

Wyo

min

gN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Sou

rce:

Urb

an In

stitu

te 1

996

1.

The

phr

ase

“lega

l alie

n” is

a s

umm

ariz

atio

n of

com

plex

cat

egor

ies

of a

liens

. F

or th

e pu

rpos

e of

this

pap

er it

ref

ers

to th

ose

cate

gorie

s of

alie

ns e

ligib

le fo

r A

FD

Can

d S

SI,

incl

udin

g al

iens

who

are

law

fully

adm

itted

for

perm

anen

t res

iden

cy (

e.g.

, “im

mig

rant

s” o

r gr

een-

card

hol

ders

) or

lega

lly p

rese

nt o

n a

perm

anen

t bas

is (

e.g.

,re

fuge

es).

It e

xclu

des

undo

cum

ente

d, o

r ill

egal

, alie

ns, t

empo

rary

alie

ns (

e.g.

, tou

rists

and

stu

dent

s), a

nd s

ome

smal

ler

cate

gorie

s of

alie

ns.

2.

Ala

ska.

Int

erim

Ass

ista

nce

is c

urre

ntly

pro

vide

d to

lega

l im

mig

rant

s. W

hen

chan

ges

in fe

dera

l law

are

impl

emen

ted,

exc

ludi

ng le

gal i

mm

igra

nts

from

SS

I, le

gal

imm

igra

nts

will

no

long

er b

e el

igib

le fo

r In

terim

Ass

ista

nce.

3.

Los

Ang

eles

Cou

nty,

Cal

iforn

ia.

Spo

nsor

ed a

liens

are

elig

ible

if 1

) th

ey p

rovi

de th

e na

me

and

addr

ess

of th

eir

spon

sor,

2)

the

spon

sor

prov

ides

inco

me

and

reso

urce

info

rmat

ion

and

verif

icat

ion,

and

3)

the

spon

sor

sign

s an

agr

eem

ent t

o re

pay

the

stat

e fo

r th

e G

ener

al R

elie

f pro

vide

d du

ring

the

spon

sors

hip

perio

d.

How

ever

, spo

nsor

s ca

n m

eet t

hese

req

uire

men

ts a

nd th

en le

gally

ref

use

to s

uppo

rt th

e al

ien.

4.

Co

lora

do

, C

ou

nty

of

De

nve

r.

Th

e 3

0-d

ay

resi

de

ncy

re

qu

ire

me

nt

is n

ot

alw

ays

en

forc

ed

. T

o p

reve

nt

ho

me

less

ne

ss,

pe

rso

ns

ma

y b

e p

rovi

de

d w

ith t

em

po

rary

lodg

ing

even

if th

ey h

ave

been

in r

esid

ence

less

than

30

days

.

5.

Col

orad

o. E

ffect

ive

1/1/

97, a

ll ap

plic

ants

will

be

drug

test

ed.

Rec

ipie

nts

who

se p

rimar

y di

sabi

lity

is c

hem

ical

dep

ende

ncy

will

be

requ

ired

to p

artic

ipat

e in

atr

eatm

ent p

rogr

am a

nd w

ill b

e li

mite

d to

a to

tal o

f 36

mon

ths

of b

enef

its.

Rec

ipie

nts

will

be

drug

test

ed p

erio

dica

lly, a

nd a

nyon

e w

ith m

ore

than

two

posi

tive

drug

test

s w

ill b

e pe

rman

ently

inel

igib

le fo

r be

nefit

s.

6.

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia.

Alth

ough

ther

e ar

e no

res

tric

tions

aga

inst

ille

gal a

liens

, SS

I app

lican

ts m

ust b

e ci

tizen

s or

lega

l alie

ns.

Bec

ause

Gen

eral

Pub

lic A

ssis

tanc

e(G

PA

) re

quire

s re

cipi

ents

to b

e aw

aitin

g S

SI d

eter

min

atio

n, il

lega

l alie

ns c

anno

t rec

eive

GP

A.

Tab

le 3

.3: O

ther

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

Elig

ibili

ty C

riter

ia (

cont

.)

7.

Illin

ois,

Chi

cago

. In

form

atio

n fo

r C

hica

go is

rep

rese

ntat

ive

of th

e ap

prox

imat

ely

60 o

ther

loca

l ent

ities

that

rec

eive

sta

te fu

nds.

8.

Mai

ne.

Alth

ough

ille

gal i

mm

igra

nts

are

tech

nica

lly e

ligib

le, t

hey

cann

ot m

eet t

he p

rogr

am's

wor

k re

quire

men

t and

are

ther

efor

e ef

fect

ivel

y in

elig

ible

.

9.

Min

neso

ta.

Dur

atio

nal r

equi

rem

ent i

s w

aive

d fo

r pe

rson

s bo

rn in

Min

neso

ta, p

erso

ns w

ho a

t som

e tim

e liv

ed in

Min

neso

ta fo

r 36

5 co

nsec

utiv

e da

ys, p

erso

nsco

min

g to

sta

te to

join

a r

elat

ive,

or

pers

ons

acce

ptin

g of

fer

of e

mpl

oym

ent.

10

.M

inne

sota

. E

ffect

ive

7/97

, the

req

uire

men

t tha

t per

sons

hav

e a

Soc

ial S

ecur

ity N

umbe

r w

ill b

e ex

tend

ed to

thos

e un

der

age

18, t

here

by e

ffect

ivel

y el

imin

atin

gun

docu

men

ted

alie

ns u

nder

age

18

from

elig

ibili

ty.

11

.N

ebra

ska.

Inf

orm

atio

n re

pres

ents

the

guid

elin

es d

evel

oped

by

the

Neb

rask

a A

ssoc

iatio

n of

Cou

nty

Offi

cial

s an

d th

e D

epar

tmen

t of S

ocia

l Ser

vice

s us

ed in

the

adm

inis

trat

ion

of th

e ge

nera

l ass

ista

nce

prog

ram

s fo

r th

e 56

of 9

3 co

untie

s th

at e

lect

to c

ontr

act w

ith th

e st

ate.

Tab

le 3

.4: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e W

ork

Req

uire

men

ts(S

um

me

r 1

99

6)

Sta

teW

ork

Pro

gram

Com

pone

nts

Wor

k P

rogr

amW

ork

Pro

gram

Coo

rdin

ated

with

Par

ticip

ants

Foo

d S

tam

p W

ork

Pro

gram

s

Ala

bam

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ala

ska

1. A

ble-

bodi

ed r

ecip

ient

s ag

es1.

Reg

istr

atio

n w

ith D

epar

tmen

t of L

abor

1.

No

1. G

ener

al R

elie

f18

-59,

unl

ess

care

take

r or

full-

Ass

ista

nce

time

high

sch

ool s

tude

nt2.

NA

2. In

terim

Ass

ista

nce

2. N

A2.

NA

Ariz

ona

No

Wor

k P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

(em

ploy

able

per

sons

are

not

elig

ible

for

assi

stan

ce)

Ark

ansa

sN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Cal

iforn

iaA

ll pe

rson

s w

ithou

t a p

hysi

cal

Job

Se

arc

h a

nd

wo

rkfa

re.

Re

cip

ien

ts m

ust

re

gis

ter

with

th

eY

es,

th

e t

wo

pro

gra

ms

are

th

e s

am

e.

Los

Ang

eles

Cou

nty

or m

enta

l dis

abili

tyE

mpl

oym

ent D

evel

opm

ent D

epar

tmen

t. A

pplic

ants

and

reap

plic

ants

mus

t hav

e so

ught

wor

k at

24

job

site

s in

the

eigh

tw

eeks

prio

r to

thei

r (r

e)ap

plic

atio

n fo

r be

nefit

s. R

ecip

ient

s m

ust

wor

k of

f the

ir gr

ant a

t the

min

imum

wag

e fo

r si

x da

ys e

ach

mon

th.

As

an a

ltern

ativ

e to

wor

kfar

e, r

ecip

ient

s m

ay e

nrol

l in

a JT

PA

trai

ning

pro

gram

, an

educ

atio

nal p

rogr

am, o

r ot

her

cert

ified

pro

gra

m o

f a

t le

ast

20

ho

urs

pe

r w

ee

k.

Col

orad

o1.

No

Wor

k P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

(em

ploy

able

per

sons

are

not

elig

ible

for

assi

stan

ce)

1.

Aid

to

th

e N

ee

dy

Dis

able

d (S

tate

wid

e)2.

No

Wor

k P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

2. G

A (

City

and

Co

un

ty o

f D

en

ver)

Tab

le 3

.4: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e W

ork

Req

uire

men

ts (

cont

.)

Sta

teW

ork

Pro

gram

Com

pone

nts

Wor

k P

rogr

amW

ork

Pro

gram

Coo

rdin

ated

with

Par

ticip

ants

Foo

d S

tam

p W

ork

Pro

gram

s

Con

nect

icut

Abl

e-bo

died

em

ploy

able

Wor

k re

quire

men

t is

tailo

red

to p

erso

n: jo

b se

rvic

e re

gist

ratio

n,N

ot c

urre

ntly

, but

are

ant

icip

atin

gre

cipi

ents

job

sear

ch, w

ork

relie

f, jo

b tr

aini

ng a

nd e

xper

ienc

e, jo

b re

adin

ess

coor

dina

tion

in th

e fu

ture

.co

unse

ling,

edu

catio

nal s

ervi

ces,

and

wor

kfar

e. R

ecip

ient

s m

ust

acc

ep

t a

ny

job

off

ere

d.

Pe

na

lty f

or

qu

its,

fire

s, a

nd

re

fusa

ls t

opa

rtic

ipat

e in

job-

plan

act

iviti

es. R

ecip

ient

s m

ay a

lso

part

icip

ate

inJT

PA

trai

ning

.

Del

awar

eN

o W

ork

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

ts

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia

No

Wor

k P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

(em

ploy

able

per

sons

are

not

elig

ible

for

assi

stan

ce)

Flo

rida

D

ad

e C

ou

nty

No

Wor

k P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

(em

ploy

able

per

sons

are

not

elig

ible

for

assi

stan

ce)

Geo

rgia

F

ulto

n C

ou

nty

No

Wor

k P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

(em

ploy

able

per

sons

are

not

elig

ible

for

assi

stan

ce)

Haw

aii

Abl

e-bo

died

rec

ipie

nts

Job

Sea

rch,

job

read

ines

s co

unse

ling,

reg

istr

atio

n w

ith D

epar

tmen

tY

es, i

t is

the

sam

e w

ork

requ

irem

ent.

with

out c

hild

ren

unde

r ag

e 3

of L

abor

.

Idah

oA

ble-

bodi

ed e

mpl

oyab

leR

ecip

ient

s m

ust b

e ac

tivel

y se

ekin

g em

ploy

men

t. T

here

is n

oN

o

Ad

a C

ou

nty

reci

pien

tsfo

rmal

wor

k pr

ogra

m.

Illin

ois

Abl

e-bo

died

em

ploy

able

Job

sear

ch, w

ork

relie

f, jo

b tr

aini

ng a

nd e

xper

ienc

e, e

duca

tiona

lYes

, it i

s th

e sa

me

prog

ram

. C

ity o

f Chi

cago

reci

pien

ts n

ot a

lread

yse

rvic

es, w

orkf

are.

Wor

kfar

e as

sign

men

ts m

ay b

e fu

ll or

hal

f 8-

empl

oyed

full-

time

ho

ur

da

ys f

or

at

lea

st 3

da

ys p

er

mo

nth

, n

ot

to e

xce

ed

40

ho

urs

per

wee

k. W

age

rate

s ba

sed

on p

reva

iling

rat

e in

com

mun

ity.

1

Indi

ana

Abl

e-bo

died

em

ploy

able

Job

sear

ch, j

ob tr

aini

ng a

nd e

xper

ienc

e, jo

b re

adin

ess

coun

selin

g,N

o

Ce

nte

r T

ow

nsh

ip o

fre

cipi

ents

educ

atio

nal s

ervi

ces,

wor

kfar

e. W

orkf

are

part

icip

ants

wor

k of

f

Ma

rio

n C

ou

nty

the

am

ou

nt

of

the

ir a

ssis

tan

ce a

t a

ra

te o

f $

8/h

ou

r.

Iow

aN

o W

ork

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

ts

Tab

le 3

.4: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e W

ork

Req

uire

men

ts (

cont

.)

Sta

teW

ork

Pro

gram

Com

pone

nts

Wor

k P

rogr

amW

ork

Pro

gram

Coo

rdin

ated

with

Par

ticip

ants

Foo

d S

tam

p W

ork

Pro

gram

s

Kan

sas

Alth

ough

par

ticip

atio

n in

a w

ork

prog

ram

is r

equi

red,

ther

e is

no

fund

ing

to r

un s

uch

a pr

ogra

m.

Yes

, alth

ough

the

Foo

d S

tam

p pr

ogra

mH

owev

er, a

rec

ipie

nt w

ho q

uits

his

or

her

job

is p

enal

ized

by

losi

ng a

ssis

tanc

e fo

r 3

mon

ths

on th

eis

onl

y av

aila

ble

in th

e la

rger

citi

es.

first

two

inst

ance

s an

d fo

r 6

mon

ths

the

third

tim

e.

Ken

tuck

y

Jeff

ers

on

Co

un

tyN

o W

ork

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

ts (

empl

oyab

le p

erso

ns a

re n

ot e

ligib

le fo

r as

sist

ance

)

Loui

sian

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Mai

neA

ble-

bodi

ed r

ecip

ient

s, u

nles

sR

egis

trat

ion

with

Mai

ne J

ob S

ervi

ce a

nd p

artic

ipat

ion

in w

orkf

are

No,

alth

ough

par

ticip

atio

n in

the

Foo

dne

eded

in h

ome

to c

are

for

(in s

ome

tow

ns)

or e

duca

tion

or r

ehab

ilita

tion

prog

ram

.S

tam

ps/A

FD

C w

ork

prog

ram

may

anot

her

satis

fy th

e G

A w

ork

requ

irem

ent

Mar

ylan

dN

o W

ork

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

ts (

empl

oyab

le p

erso

ns a

re n

ot e

ligib

le fo

r as

sist

ance

)

Mas

sach

uset

tsN

o W

ork

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

ts (

empl

oyab

le p

erso

ns a

re n

ot e

ligib

le fo

r as

sist

ance

)

Mic

higa

nS

tate

Fam

ily A

ssis

tanc

eA

ll S

FA

rec

ipie

nts

are

requ

ired

to m

aint

ain

empl

oym

ent,

unle

ssY

es.

The

Mic

higa

n Jo

bs C

omm

issi

on(S

FA

) re

cipi

ents

exem

pt b

y A

FD

C c

riter

ia.

Som

e tr

aini

ng m

ay b

e pr

ovid

ed to

coor

dina

tes

all j

ob p

rogr

ams

in th

epr

epar

e re

cipi

ent f

or w

ork,

but

em

phas

is is

on

wor

k fir

st.

stat

e.

Min

neso

taA

ble-

bodi

ed a

dults

rec

eivi

ngP

artic

ipat

ion

in F

ood

Sta

mp

Em

ploy

men

t an

d T

rain

ing

(FS

ET

)Y

es,

FS

ET

is t

he G

A w

ork

GA

as

part

of a

fam

ilypr

ogra

m.

requ

irem

ent.

Mis

siss

ippi

No

GA

Pro

gram

Mis

sour

iN

o W

ork

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

ts (

empl

oyab

le p

erso

ns a

re n

ot e

ligib

le fo

r as

sist

ance

)

Mon

tana

Yel

low

ston

e C

ount

yN

o W

ork

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

ts (

empl

oyab

le p

erso

ns a

re n

ot e

ligib

le fo

r as

sist

ance

)

Neb

rask

aA

ble-

bodi

ed C

ount

y G

ener

alR

egis

trat

ion

with

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Lab

or.

Yes

. R

ecip

ient

s al

so r

ecei

ving

Foo

d2

Ass

ista

nce

reci

pien

ts e

xcep

tS

tam

ps w

ill g

o th

roug

h th

e F

ood

Sta

mp

thos

e w

orki

ng a

t lea

st 3

0w

ork

prog

ram

firs

t, if

avai

labl

e in

thei

rh

ou

rs p

er

we

ek

are

a.

Tab

le 3

.4: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e W

ork

Req

uire

men

ts (

cont

.)

Sta

teW

ork

Pro

gram

Com

pone

nts

Wor

k P

rogr

amW

ork

Pro

gram

Coo

rdin

ated

with

Par

ticip

ants

Foo

d S

tam

p W

ork

Pro

gram

s

Nev

ada

Abl

e-bo

died

em

ploy

able

Wor

kfar

e: r

ecip

ient

s w

ork

off t

heir

bene

fits

at th

e m

inim

um w

age

No

C

lark

Co

un

tyre

cipi

ents

rate

(tw

o da

ys/w

eek)

. Jo

b S

earc

h: r

ecip

ient

s ar

e al

so r

equi

red

tose

ek w

ork

at 4

0 es

tabl

ishm

ents

.

New

Ham

pshi

reA

ble-

bodi

ed r

ecip

ient

s ex

cept

Job

sear

ch, i

nfor

mal

job

trai

ning

and

rea

dine

ss c

ouns

elin

g.N

o, a

lthou

gh jo

b se

arch

thro

ugh

Foo

d C

ity o

f Man

ches

ter

thos

e ne

eded

in th

e ho

me

toW

orkf

are:

rec

ipie

nts

wor

k 2-

3 da

ys/w

eek

at $

5/hr

in c

ityS

tam

p pr

ogra

m m

ay s

atis

fy G

A jo

bca

re f

or

a p

ers

on

wh

o is

de

pa

rtm

en

ts,

no

n-p

rofit

s, f

oo

d b

an

ks,

an

d s

he

lters

.se

arc

h r

eq

uir

em

en

t.el

derly

, dis

able

d, o

r a

child

un

de

r 6

.

Ne

w J

ers

ey

Em

ploy

able

rec

ipie

nts

Job

sear

ch (

reci

pien

t mus

t go

on jo

b in

terv

iew

s), j

ob tr

aini

ngN

o. R

ecip

ient

s al

so r

ecei

ving

Foo

d(r

ecip

ient

mus

t acc

ept j

ob tr

aini

ng if

req

uest

ed),

or

wor

kfar

e.

Sta

mps

are

exe

mpt

ed fr

om e

nrol

ling

inF

ood

Sta

mps

em

ploy

men

t and

trai

ning

pro

gra

m (

FS

ET

).

New

Mex

ico

No

Wor

k P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

(em

ploy

able

per

sons

are

not

elig

ible

for

assi

stan

ce)

Ne

w Y

ork

Abl

e-bo

died

em

ploy

able

Wor

kfar

e; r

ecip

ient

s m

ust w

ork

off t

he a

mou

nt o

f the

ir be

nefit

at

Yes

, GA

wor

k re

quire

men

ts a

rep

ers

on

s.th

e m

inim

um

wa

ge

ra

te.

ma

tch

ed

to

Fo

od

Sta

mp

s w

ork

requ

irem

ents

.

Nor

th C

arol

ina

D

urh

am

Co

un

tyN

o W

ork

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

ts (

empl

oyab

le p

erso

ns a

re n

ot e

ligib

le fo

r as

sist

ance

)

No

rth

Da

kota

C

ass

Co

un

ty N

o W

ork

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

ts (

empl

oyab

le p

erso

ns a

re n

ot e

ligib

le fo

r as

sist

ance

)

Ohi

oN

o W

ork

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

ts (

empl

oyab

le p

erso

ns a

re n

ot e

ligib

le fo

r as

sist

ance

)

Okl

ahom

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ore

gon

No

Wor

k P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

(em

ploy

able

per

sons

are

not

elig

ible

for

assi

stan

ce)

Tab

le 3

.4: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e W

ork

Req

uire

men

ts (

cont

.)

Sta

teW

ork

Pro

gram

Com

pone

nts

Wor

k P

rogr

amW

ork

Pro

gram

Coo

rdin

ated

with

Par

ticip

ants

Foo

d S

tam

p W

ork

Pro

gram

s

Pen

nsyl

vani

aT

hose

rec

eivi

ng G

A a

s a

Dep

ends

on

circ

umst

ance

s of

rec

ipie

nt.

May

var

y fr

om s

elf-

No

resu

lt of

act

ive

part

icip

atio

n in

dire

cted

job

sear

ch to

job

trai

ning

pro

gram

.dr

ug o

r al

coho

l tre

atm

ent

prog

ram

, dep

endi

ng o

n tim

eco

mm

itmen

t to

prog

ram

.

Rho

de Is

land

Abl

e-bo

died

adu

lts r

ecei

ving

Wor

kfar

e co

mm

unity

ser

vice

jobs

. P

artic

ipat

ion

is d

epen

dent

Lim

ited

GA

ben

efits

as

part

of a

upon

citi

es a

nd to

wns

to p

rovi

de p

rogr

ams.

fam

ily, i

f pro

gram

s ar

eav

aila

ble

Sou

th C

arol

ina

No

GA

pro

gram

So

uth

Da

kota

Abl

e-bo

died

rec

ipie

nts

not i

nA

ll re

cipi

ents

are

exp

ecte

d to

hav

e jo

bs.

Une

mpl

oyed

rec

ipie

nts

No

Min

neha

ha C

ount

ydr

ug tr

eatm

ent p

rogr

amar

e gi

ven

info

rmal

job

sear

ch h

elp

and

are

requ

ired

to m

ake

3 jo

bco

ntac

ts e

ach

day.

Per

sons

who

qui

t the

ir jo

bs a

re in

elig

ible

for

be

ne

fits

for

the

ne

xt 3

0 d

ays

.

Te

nn

ess

ee

No

GA

Pro

gram

Tex

as

Ha

rris

Co

un

tyN

o W

ork

Pro

gram

Req

uire

men

ts (

empl

oyab

le p

erso

ns a

re n

ot e

ligib

le fo

r as

sist

ance

)

Uta

hG

A-W

orki

ng T

owar

ds32

hou

rs p

er w

eek

of w

orki

ng a

t a

com

mun

ity w

ork

site

, an

d 8

Yes

Em

ploy

men

t rec

ipie

nts

ho

urs

of

job

se

arc

h.

Ver

mon

tA

ble-

bodi

ed e

mpl

oyab

leP

art

icip

an

t m

ust

ma

ke t

hre

e jo

b c

on

tact

s p

er

we

ek,

do

cum

en

tN

ope

rson

s in

rec

ipie

nt h

ouse

hold

prog

ress

to th

e di

stric

t offi

ce, a

nd m

aint

ain

cont

act w

ith th

eex

cept

thos

e cu

rren

tlyD

epar

tmen

t of E

mpl

oym

ent a

nd T

rain

ing

(DE

T).

wor

king

Virg

inia

No

Wor

k P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

(em

ploy

able

per

sons

are

not

elig

ible

for

assi

stan

ce)

Was

hing

ton

No

Wor

k P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

(em

ploy

able

per

sons

are

not

elig

ible

for

assi

stan

ce)

Wes

t Virg

inia

No

GA

Pro

gram

Tab

le 3

.4: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e W

ork

Req

uire

men

ts (

cont

.)

Sta

teW

ork

Pro

gram

Com

pone

nts

Wor

k P

rogr

amW

ork

Pro

gram

Coo

rdin

ated

with

Par

ticip

ants

Foo

d S

tam

p W

ork

Pro

gram

s

Wis

cons

inN

o Wor

k P

rogr

am R

equi

rem

ents

(em

ploy

able

per

sons

are

not

elig

ible

for

assi

stan

ce)

Wyo

min

gN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Sou

rce:

Urb

an In

stitu

te 1

996

1.

Illin

ois.

Loc

aliti

es o

utsi

de C

hica

go (

both

thos

e re

ceiv

ing

and

not r

ecei

ving

sta

te fu

nds)

mus

t run

wor

kfar

e pr

ogra

ms.

2.

Neb

rask

a. I

nfor

mat

ion

repr

esen

ts th

e gu

idel

ines

dev

elop

ed b

y th

e N

ebra

ska

Ass

ocia

tion

of C

ount

y O

ffici

als

and

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Soc

ial S

ervi

ces

used

in th

ead

min

istr

atio

n of

the

gene

ral a

ssis

tanc

e pr

ogra

ms

for

the

56 o

f 93

coun

ties

that

ele

ct to

con

trac

t with

the

stat

e.

4-1

CHAPTER 4: GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS AND DURATION

There is great variability among the 42 General Assistance programs in terms of the form,

amount, and duration of benefits. Also, some GA programs provide medical assistance in

addition to financial assistance. This chapter describes how GA benefits vary across states.

More detailed information is available in Table 4.1.

Form of Benefits

Financial assistance provided through GA can be in the form of cash, in-kind benefits

through vendor payments or vouchers, or a combination of these. The most common form of GA

benefits is “cash,” or a check payable directly to the recipient, and two-thirds of the states with

GA programs provide cash assistance. Vendor payments, another form of financial assistance,

are payments made by the GA agency to a person or business such as a landlord or utility

company in exchange for services provided to the GA recipient. Similarly, recipients can use

vouchers for specific items only, such as food or transportation. The recipient presents the

voucher to the vendor, and the GA agency later pays the vendor directly.

Twenty-eight states provide cash benefits to nearly all recipients. Roughly half of these

cash assistance programs also provide benefits in the form of vendor payments or vouchers

rather than cash in certain circumstances. For example, recipients may request vendor payments

or vouchers as a cash management tool. Eleven states provide only vendor payments or

vouchers for all recipients. The GA programs in the remaining three states provide either cash or

in-kind assistance depending on the eligible group. In each of these three states, recipients with

disabilities receive cash payments and all other recipients receive vendor payments or vouchers.

Benefit Maximums

Nearly all GA programs, whether cash or voucher programs, limit the benefits given to

each recipient to a maximum monthly dollar amount. Only three states (Idaho, New Hampshire,

and South Dakota) do not have maximum dollar amounts; each provides benefits in the form of

vouchers that cover the actual costs of goods or services. In addition, Iowa does not have a

monthly maximum dollar amount but does have a yearly maximum. Programs that impose a

4-2

maximum benefit limit may set different limits according to family size, eligibility category,

and/or living arrangement.

Among the states that provide cash benefits, benefit maximums as a percentage of

poverty average about 40 percent. Missouri has the lowest cash benefit maximum for individual

recipients at 12 percent of poverty. Except for Hawaii and Nebraska, whose benefit maximums

for individuals are 71 and 100 percent of poverty, respectively, all states set benefit maximums

for individuals at or below 55 percent of poverty. Among the states that provide cash benefits to

a family of three, benefit maximums range from a low of 19 percent of poverty in Ohio to 70

percent of poverty in Hawaii.

Importantly, not all GA recipients receive the maximum monthly benefit. Most programs

determine a recipient’s monthly benefit by subtracting the amount of the recipient’s nonexempt

income from the maximum benefit level. Thus, for every dollar of non-exempt income added,

recipients lose an offsetting dollar of GA benefits. As a result, a state's average GA benefit falls

below its maximum benefit. (See tables 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3 for average GA benefits by state.)

Duration of Assistance

The duration of General Assistance benefits varies across the states. Eighteen states

provide assistance on an ongoing basis, thus imposing no time limits for any recipients as long as

other eligibility requirements are met. Fifteen states impose time limits on only a portion of

recipients, such as employable individuals and chemically dependent recipients, but provide

benefits to all other recipients on an ongoing basis. Only nine states impose time limits on all

recipients. Notably, states are more likely to exclude these categories of recipients entirely than

to assist them for a limited period of time. Therefore, when assistance is provided, it is more

likely to be provided on an ongoing basis.

Among the states without time limits, some periodically review each case or require that

recipients reapply every one, three, or six months. As long as persons continue to meet the

eligibility criteria, they may continue to receive benefits. States with time limits either limit

assistance to a certain number of months within a given time period or establish a lifetime time

limit. For example, Arizona and Maryland provide assistance for no more than 12 months in a

36-month period, while North Dakota limits assistance to six months each year. Other states

10. In states with GA medical assistance programs, some GA recipients may also be eligible for Medicaid. In suchcases, recipients receive medical assistance through Medicaid rather than through the GA medical assistanceprogram.

4-3

limit assistance to a total of 3, 9, or 24 months of benefits over the recipient’s lifetime. Still other

states do not impose time limits, but require persons to apply for vouchers for each separate

need. For example, persons in Vermont who need help paying the rent need to request a voucher

each time the rent is due. (Programs that provide assistance on a one-time basis, or for only one

month in a 12-month period, are considered Emergency Assistance programs and are not

included in this report.)

Medical Assistance

In addition to receiving financial assistance, many General Assistance recipients receive

medical assistance through a variety of avenues. Table 4.2 provides detailed information on

each state's GA medical assistance component. For instance, some states do not impose

categorical eligibility requirements for the receipt of medical assistance, and others set more

lenient financial eligibility criteria. In four states (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii,

and Oregon), all GA recipients are eligible for medical assistance under that state’s Medicaid

program. Of the remaining 38 states with GA programs, 29 provide medical assistance to some

or all GA recipients, either through a formal state or county GA medical program or by providing

benefits to cover certain medical expenses. In some states, eligibility requirements for GA10

medical assistance are less stringent than the eligibility requirements for GA financial assistance.

In these states, therefore, medical assistance coverage is available to needy persons not receiving

GA financial assistance. In a few states, medical coverage is limited to life-threatening

conditions. Among the 29 states which provide medical assistance outside of Medicaid, benefits

vary widely in both the number and types of services covered. Benefits are usually more limited

than Medicaid coverage.

Of the nine states whose GA programs do not include medical assistance components,

most have alternative medical assistance programs available to some or all GA recipients. For

example, some states and counties have indigent health care programs or charity hospital systems

that are independent of their GA programs, but for which some GA recipients are eligible. States

4-4

without GA programs may also have alternative medical care programs for some or all of their

residents. For instance, Tennessee operates a Medicaid waiver program that provides medical

assistance to a wide range of eligible recipients.

Tab

le 4

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e M

onth

ly B

enef

its a

nd D

urat

ion

of A

ssis

tanc

e(S

um

me

r 1

99

6)

Sta

teP

aym

ent F

orm

Dur

atio

n of

Ass

ista

nce

Max

imum

Mon

thly

Ben

efits

Dat

e B

enef

itLe

vels

Too

k E

ffect

1

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

ns

Ala

bam

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ala

ska

1. $

12

01

. $

36

01

. 1

98

51.

Vou

cher

/1.

30

days

(un

limite

d re

new

als)

1. G

ener

al R

elie

fV

endo

rA

ssis

tanc

e2

. $2

80

2. N

A2

. 1

98

22.

Unt

il fin

al S

SI d

eter

min

atio

n is

2. In

terim

Ass

ista

nce

hom

e re

side

nts)

($75

for

nurs

ing

2. C

ash

ma

de

Ariz

ona

$173

if r

entin

gN

AN

AC

ash

12 m

onth

s in

a r

ollin

g 36

-mon

th$1

08 if

not

ren

ting

perio

d

Ark

ansa

sN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Cal

iforn

ia$

22

1.2

5$

43

1M

arc

h 1

99

6C

ash

Ong

oing

Los

Ang

eles

Cou

nty

23

If re

cipi

ent r

eque

sts,

pa

yme

nts

ma

y b

e m

ad

e t

ove

nd

ors

.

Col

orad

o1

.$2

29

1. N

A1

. 1

96

0's

1.

Ca

sh1.

O

ngoi

ng, o

r un

til S

SI i

s gr

ante

d

1.

Aid

to

th

e N

ee

dy

Dis

able

d (S

tate

wid

e)

2. N

o do

llar

2. N

o do

llar

2.19

812.

Vou

cher

/2.

Dep

ends

on

spec

ific

vouc

her

2. G

A (

City

and

Cou

nty

of

De

nve

r)

max

imum

max

imum

Ven

dor

4

Con

nect

icut

$350

une

mpl

oyab

le$5

43Ju

ly 1

995

Cas

hF

amili

es a

nd u

nem

ploy

able

per

sons

:$3

00 e

mpl

oyab

le,

ongo

ing

not-

job-

read

y(e

mpl

oyab

le, n

ot-

If re

cipi

ent i

s ch

emic

ally

5

6

job-

read

y be

nefit

inde

pend

ent,

paym

ents

may

Em

ploy

able

, not

-job-

read

y pe

rson

s:ef

fect

sin

ce J

uly

be m

ade

to v

endo

rs o

r24

mon

ths,

incl

udin

g up

to 1

019

92)

prot

ectiv

e pa

yee.

mon

ths

in fi

rst 1

2-m

onth

per

iod

and

6 m

onth

s in

follo

win

g 12

-mon

thpe

riod7

Tab

le 4

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e M

onth

ly B

enef

its a

nd D

urat

ion

of A

ssis

tanc

e (c

ont.)

Sta

teP

aym

ent F

orm

Dur

atio

n of

Ass

ista

nce

Max

imum

Mon

thly

Ben

efits

Dat

e B

enef

itLe

vels

Too

k E

ffect

1

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

ns

Del

awar

e$1

23$2

2419

90C

ash

Ong

oing

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia

$262

NA

Jun

e 1

99

6C

ash

Gen

eral

Pub

lic A

ssis

tanc

e: u

ntil

final

SS

I det

erm

inat

ion

is m

ade

Gen

eral

Pub

lic A

ssis

tanc

e fo

rC

hild

ren:

unt

il ch

ildre

n ar

e 18

yea

rsol

d8

Flo

rida

$220

$300

July

199

5C

ash,

unl

ess

spec

ial

Sho

rt-t

erm

ass

ista

nce:

90

days

D

ad

e C

ou

nty

circ

umst

ance

sIn

terim

ass

ista

nce:

afte

r 90

day

s of

shor

t-te

rm a

ssis

tanc

e, if

SS

Iap

prov

al is

like

ly, a

ssis

tanc

e is

gran

ted

for

12 m

onth

s9

Geo

rgia

$2

25

NA

Ma

rch

19

83

Ca

sh, u

nle

ss s

pe

cia

l2

to

6 m

on

ths

(re

ne

wa

ls a

s n

ee

de

d

Fu

lton

Co

un

ty

circ

umst

ance

sor

unt

il S

SI s

tart

s)

Haw

aii

Pre

gnan

t wom

en:

$712

July

199

6C

ash,

unl

ess

spec

ial

Indi

vidu

al: 2

4 m

onth

s$4

60ci

rcum

stan

ces

Oth

ers:

$26

8F

amily

: ong

oing

Idah

oN

o M

axim

um.

Ven

dor/

vouc

her

paym

ents

NA

Vou

cher

/Ven

dor

Abl

e-bo

died

adu

lts (

incl

udin

g

Ad

a C

ou

nty

cove

r a

ctu

al c

ost

s.

Co

sts

mu

st b

efa

mili

es):

3 m

onth

s/ye

ar, u

nlim

ited

“rea

sona

ble.

”n

um

be

r o

f ye

ars

Dis

able

d pe

rson

s: o

ngoi

ng

Tab

le 4

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e M

onth

ly B

enef

its a

nd D

urat

ion

of A

ssis

tanc

e (c

ont.)

Sta

teP

aym

ent F

orm

Dur

atio

n of

Ass

ista

nce

Max

imum

Mon

thly

Ben

efits

Dat

e B

enef

itLe

vels

Too

k E

ffect

1

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

ns

Illin

ois

1. $

10

01

. N

AF

eb

rua

ry 1

99

6C

ity o

f Chi

cago

: Cas

h,O

ngoi

ng (

annu

al r

edet

erm

inat

ion)

City

of C

hica

goun

less

spe

cial

10

1. T

rans

ition

al A

ssis

tanc

e2

. $

21

22

. $

37

7ci

rcum

stan

ces

2. F

amily

and

Chi

ldre

nLo

calit

ies

rece

ivin

g S

tate

Ass

ista

nce

Fun

ds:

Vou

cher

/Ven

dor

Indi

ana

Ren

t : $45

0 (if

Ren

t (d

ep

en

ds

on

Oct

ob

er

19

95

Vou

cher

/Ven

dor

30

da

ys

Ce

nte

r T

ow

nsh

ip o

fin

clud

es u

tiliti

es)

nu

mb

er

of

be

dro

om

s)

(Re

ne

wa

ble

eve

ry 3

0 d

ays

fo

r u

p t

o

Ma

rio

n C

ou

nty

Util

ities

: $1

50

six

mon

ths.

Mus

t rea

pply

afte

r si

xF

ood :

$11

9T

wo

bedr

oom

s: $

508

mon

ths.

) P

oor

relie

f is

desi

gned

toH

ouse

hold

sup

plie

s :T

hre

e b

ed

roo

ms:

me

et

sho

rt-t

erm

ne

ed

s.$

19

.81

$6

35

All

amou

nts

are

Foo

d : $31

3su

bje

ct t

o t

he

Hou

seho

ld s

uppl

ies :

disc

retio

n of

the

$32.

63to

wns

hip

trus

tee.

Util

ities

: no

max

Iow

a$1

,029

/yea

r$1

,278

/yea

rA

ugus

t 198

9V

ouch

er/V

endo

rR

ecip

ient

s m

ust r

eapp

ly fo

r ea

ch

Po

lk C

ou

nty

new

nee

d. B

enef

it m

axim

um is

in

11

11

eff

ect

fo

r o

ne

ye

ar

sta

rtin

g f

rom

th

eda

te o

f app

licat

ion.

No

time

limits

.

Kan

sas

$196

$403

Ben

efit

leve

ls h

ave

Cas

hO

ngoi

ng, o

r un

til S

SI i

s gr

ante

d1

21

2

been

inde

xed

toA

FD

C fo

r m

any

yea

rs.

Ken

tuck

y$1

40$2

00M

id-1

980'

s V

ouch

er/V

endo

r 12

mon

ths

Je

ffe

rso

n C

ou

nty

13

13

Tab

le 4

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e M

onth

ly B

enef

its a

nd D

urat

ion

of A

ssis

tanc

e (c

ont.)

Sta

teP

aym

ent F

orm

Dur

atio

n of

Ass

ista

nce

Max

imum

Mon

thly

Ben

efits

Dat

e B

enef

itLe

vels

Too

k E

ffect

1

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

ns

Loui

sian

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Mai

neV

arie

s by

cou

nty.

V

arie

s by

cou

nty.

Oct

ober

199

5V

ouch

er/V

endo

r30

day

s (u

nlim

ited

rene

wal

s)A

vera

ge m

axim

um:

Ave

rage

max

imum

:$3

53$5

56

Mar

ylan

d1

. $1

00

1.

NA

1.

Jan

ua

ry 1

99

61

. C

ash

. I

f re

cip

ien

t is

1.

SS

I app

lican

ts:

1. T

rans

ition

alch

emic

ally

dep

ende

nt a

ndun

til fi

nal S

SI d

eter

min

atio

n is

mad

eE

mer

genc

y, M

edic

al, a

nd2.

$12

52.

NA

2. J

uly

1996

not i

n dr

ug tr

eatm

ent,

Hou

sing

Ass

ista

nce

pa

yme

nts

mu

st b

e m

ad

e t

oP

erso

ns in

elig

ible

for

SS

I: du

ratio

n(T

EM

HA

)ve

ndor

s or

pro

tect

ive

of m

edic

al d

isab

ility

, up

to a

2.

GA

fo

r P

reg

na

nt

mon

th p

erio

dW

omen

2.

Ca

sh.

Pa

yme

nts

fo

r

paye

e.m

axim

um o

f 12

mon

ths

in a

36

min

ors

mus

t be

mad

e to

2. U

ntil

third

trim

este

rpr

otec

tive

paye

e.

Mas

sach

uset

ts$3

04 p

ublic

hou

sing

$487

pub

lic h

ousi

ngJu

ly 1

988

Cas

h, u

nles

s sp

ecia

lO

ngoi

ng$3

39 p

rivat

e$5

22 p

rivat

eci

rcum

stan

ces

Mic

higa

n1

. $2

46

($

40

if n

ot

1.

NA

Jan

ua

ry 1

99

2C

ash

1.

No

mo

re t

ha

n 1

2 m

on

ths

1. S

tate

Dis

abili

tyliv

ing

inde

pend

ently

)A

ssis

tanc

e2.

Var

ies

by r

egio

nIf reci

pien

t req

uest

s, o

r if

2. O

ngoi

ng

2. S

tate

Fam

ilyre

cipi

ent i

s m

isus

ing

Ass

ista

nce

be

ne

fits,

pa

yme

nts

ma

y b

e

2.

NA

fro

m $

42

4 t

o $

48

9F

amily

Ass

ista

nce

ma

de

to

ve

nd

ors

.

Tab

le 4

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e M

onth

ly B

enef

its a

nd D

urat

ion

of A

ssis

tanc

e (c

ont.)

Sta

teP

aym

ent F

orm

Dur

atio

n of

Ass

ista

nce

Max

imum

Mon

thly

Ben

efits

Dat

e B

enef

itLe

vels

Too

k E

ffect

1

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

ns

Min

neso

ta$2

03$5

3219

90C

ash

Ong

oing

If re

cipi

ent r

eque

sts,

pa

yme

nts

ma

y b

e m

ad

e t

ove

ndor

s. I

f rec

ipie

nt is

chem

ical

ly d

epen

dent

, at

leas

t 85%

of p

aym

ents

mu

st b

e m

ad

e t

o v

en

do

rs.

Mis

siss

ippi

No

GA

Pro

gram

Mis

sour

i$8

0N

AJu

ly 1

985

Cas

hO

ngoi

ng, o

r du

ratio

n of

dis

abili

ty

Mon

tana

$261

NA

July

199

6V

ouch

er/V

endo

rS

SI a

pplic

ants

: unt

il fin

al S

SI

Yel

low

ston

e C

ount

yde

term

inat

ion

is m

ade

14

Tem

pora

rily

disa

bled

: 3 m

onth

s.

Th

e 3

-mo

nth

pe

rio

d m

ay

be

rene

wed

but

rec

ipie

nts

mus

t the

na

pp

ly f

or

SS

I.

Ne

bra

ska

1.

$6

45

1.

NA

1.

19

96

1.

C

ash

1. Le

ngth

of d

isab

ility

or

until

1. S

tate

Dis

abili

tyre

ceip

t of S

SI

Pro

gra

m2

. $

22

52

. $

35

02

. 1

98

62.

V

ouch

er/V

endo

r

2.

Co

un

ty G

en

era

lre

new

als)

Ass

ista

nce1

5

2. T

hree

mon

ths

(unl

imite

d

Nev

ada

$277

$466

1991

Cas

h, u

nles

s sp

ecia

l30

day

s

Cla

rk C

ou

nty

circ

umst

ance

s (

unlim

ited

rene

wal

s)

16

Tab

le 4

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e M

onth

ly B

enef

its a

nd D

urat

ion

of A

ssis

tanc

e (c

ont.)

Sta

teP

aym

ent F

orm

Dur

atio

n of

Ass

ista

nce

Max

imum

Mon

thly

Ben

efits

Dat

e B

enef

itLe

vels

Too

k E

ffect

1

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

ns

New

Ham

pshi

reN

o m

axim

umN

o m

axim

umN

AV

ouch

er/V

endo

rN

o lim

it. G

A is

see

n as

em

erge

ncy,

C

ity o

f M

an

che

ste

rsh

ort

-te

rm a

ssis

tan

ce,

bu

t it

can

be

used

long

term

if n

eces

sary

.

Ne

w J

ers

ey

Em

ploy

able

: $14

0N

A19

87C

ash

Ong

oing

Une

mpl

oyab

le: $

21017

New

Mex

ico

$231

$389

July

199

6C

ash

Per

sons

with

dis

abili

ties:

12

mo

nth

s; a

ssis

tan

ce m

ay

be

ren

ew

ed

on

ly a

fte

r 9

mo

nth

s o

ffa

ssis

tan

ce.

Chi

ldre

n: o

ngoi

ng

New

Yor

k$3

52

$577

19

90C

ash,

unl

ess

spec

ial

6 m

onth

s(V

alue

s fo

r N

ew(V

alue

s fo

r N

ewci

rcum

stan

ces

(unl

imite

d re

new

als)

Yor

k C

ity.

Am

ount

Yor

k C

ity.

Am

ount

varie

s by

cou

nty)

varie

s by

cou

nty)

Nor

th C

arol

ina

Max

imum

s se

t on

aN

A19

87V

ouch

er/V

endo

rT

hre

e m

on

ths

in a

ny

yea

r, b

ut

ma

y

Du

rha

m C

ou

nty

case

by

case

ba

sis

be

lon

ge

r o

n a

ca

se b

y ca

se b

asi

s.ac

cord

ing

toe

me

rge

ncy

ne

ed

s.

(Ren

t: $1

90,

pres

crip

tion

drug

s:$3

0, s

peci

al r

eque

st:

$100

)

Nor

th D

akot

a$1

75 (

$225

if r

ent

$275

($3

25 if

ren

t19

91V

ouch

er/V

endo

rS

ix m

onth

s

Ca

ss C

ou

nty

incl

udes

hea

t)in

clud

es h

eat)

Tab

le 4

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e M

onth

ly B

enef

its a

nd D

urat

ion

of A

ssis

tanc

e (c

ont.)

Sta

teP

aym

ent F

orm

Dur

atio

n of

Ass

ista

nce

Max

imum

Mon

thly

Ben

efits

Dat

e B

enef

itLe

vels

Too

k E

ffect

1

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

ns

Ohi

o$1

15$1

9319

91C

ash

Six

mon

ths

(unl

imite

d re

new

als)

Okl

ahom

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ore

gon

$286

NA

July

199

5C

ash

Unt

il fin

al S

SI d

eter

min

atio

n is

mad

e

Pen

nsyl

vani

a$2

15$4

21Ju

ne 1

990

Cas

hP

erso

ns u

nem

ploy

able

due

to a

ctiv

e1

81

8

part

icip

atio

n in

dru

g an

d al

coho

ltr

eatm

ent p

rogr

am:

9 m

onth

s in

lifet

ime

Tem

pora

rily

disa

bled

: dur

atio

n of

disa

bilit

y

Per

man

ently

dis

able

d: o

ngoi

ng

Rho

de Is

land

Dis

able

d ad

ults

: $20

0$5

5419

94C

ash

Fam

ilies

: ong

oing

Oth

ers:

$32

7S

SI a

pplic

ants

: unt

il fin

al S

SI

dete

rmin

atio

n is

mad

e

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

6 m

onth

s,re

ne

wa

ble

fo

r u

p t

o a

no

the

r 6

mon

ths

Sou

th C

arol

ina

No

GA

Pro

gram

Sou

th D

akot

aN

o m

axim

um to

tals

1992

Vou

cher

/Ven

dor

Ong

oing

M

inne

haha

Cou

nty

Max

imum

ren

t: $3

50/m

oM

axim

um u

tiliti

es: $

350/

year

Te

nn

ess

ee

No

GA

pro

gram

Tab

le 4

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e M

onth

ly B

enef

its a

nd D

urat

ion

of A

ssis

tanc

e (c

ont.)

Sta

teP

aym

ent F

orm

Dur

atio

n of

Ass

ista

nce

Max

imum

Mon

thly

Ben

efits

Dat

e B

enef

itLe

vels

Too

k E

ffect

1

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

ns

Te

xas

$1

09

.50

$2

01

Not

Ava

ilabl

eC

ash,

unl

ess

spec

ial

Tem

pora

rily

disa

bled

: dur

atio

n of

H

arr

is C

ou

nty

circ

umst

ance

sdi

sabi

lity.

Per

man

ently

dis

able

d: u

ntil

final

SS

Ide

term

inat

ion.

If r

ecip

ient

is d

enie

dS

SI,

cont

inua

tion

of b

enef

its is

ma

de

on

a c

ase

by

case

ba

sis.

Uta

h1

. $

24

6N

A1

99

4C

ash

1.

Ong

oing

unt

il re

cipi

ent

1. G

A-S

elf S

uffic

ienc

y2

. $2

91

over

com

es b

arrie

r or

rec

eive

s S

SI

2. G

A-W

orki

ng T

owar

d2

. 7

mo

nth

s o

ut

of

an

18

-mo

nth

Em

ploy

men

tpe

riod;

unl

imite

d re

appl

icat

ions

Ver

mon

tfir

st 6

0 da

ys: n

ofir

st 6

0 da

ys: n

oJu

ly 1

996

Vou

cher

/Ven

dor

for

mos

tR

ecip

ient

s m

ust a

pply

for

each

new

max

imum

max

imum

item

s; c

ash

for

groc

erie

sne

ed. D

urat

ion

is u

sual

ly m

onth

ly o

r

ther

eafte

r: $

436

inth

erea

fter:

$63

6 in

appl

icat

ions

may

be

gran

ted

as lo

ngC

hitte

nden

cou

nty;

Chi

ttend

en c

ount

y;as

the

need

exi

sts

and

elig

ibili

ty$

39

6 in

re

st o

f st

ate

$5

97

in r

est

of

sta

tecr

iteri

a a

re m

et.

less

bas

ed o

n ne

ed, b

ut a

dditi

onal

Virg

inia

$220

($7

4 if

reci

pien

t$3

54 (

$207

ifJu

ly 1

996

Cas

hU

nem

ploy

able

s: 9

mon

ths

in a

12-

Fai

rfax

Cou

nty

not r

espo

nsib

le fo

rre

cipi

ent n

otm

onth

per

iod,

unl

imite

d re

new

als

shel

ter)

resp

onsi

ble

for

If re

cipi

ent i

s ch

emic

ally

shel

ter)

de

pe

nd

en

t, p

aym

en

ts m

ust

Chi

ldre

n: o

ngoi

ngb

e m

ad

e t

o v

en

do

rs o

rpr

otec

tive

paye

e.

Tab

le 4

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e M

onth

ly B

enef

its a

nd D

urat

ion

of A

ssis

tanc

e (c

ont.)

Sta

teP

aym

ent F

orm

Dur

atio

n of

Ass

ista

nce

Max

imum

Mon

thly

Ben

efits

Dat

e B

enef

itLe

vels

Too

k E

ffect

1

One

Per

son

Thr

ee P

erso

ns

Was

hing

ton

Une

mpl

oyab

le: $

339

Chi

ldre

n w

ithU

nem

ploy

able

:C

ash

U

nem

ploy

able

: dur

atio

n of

Pre

gn

an

t w

om

an

or

If

reci

pien

t is

chem

ical

lych

ild w

ith g

uard

ian:

Pre

gnan

t w

oman

and

depe

nden

t, pa

ymen

ts m

ust

Pre

gnan

t wom

en: u

ntil

third

trim

este

r$

34

9

child

ren

with

be m

ade

to p

rote

ctiv

e

guar

dian

: $54

6 Ja

nuar

y 19

91di

sabi

lity

guar

dian

s:p

aye

e.

Chi

ld w

ith g

uard

ian:

ong

oing

unt

ilS

epte

mbe

r 19

94ch

ild tu

rns

18

Wes

t Virg

inia

No

GA

Pro

gram

Wis

cons

in$2

47N

A19

86C

ash,

alth

ough

she

lter

Thr

ee m

onth

s (u

nlim

ited

rene

wal

s)

Da

ne

Co

un

tyb

en

efit

s m

ay

be

vo

uch

ers

.

Wyo

min

gN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Sou

rce:

Urb

an In

stitu

te 1

996

1.

Vou

cher

s an

d ve

ndor

pay

men

ts ty

pica

lly c

over

ren

t, ut

ilitie

s, a

nd fo

od.

Sta

tes

may

als

o co

ver

tran

spor

tatio

n, c

loth

ing,

bur

ial,

hous

ehol

d su

pplie

s, a

nd o

ther

item

s.

2.

Cal

iforn

ia, L

os A

ngel

es C

ount

y. M

onth

ly b

enef

it of

$22

1.25

incl

udes

$21

2.00

in c

ash

and

$9.2

5 in

clo

thin

g al

low

ance

pai

d se

mi-a

nnua

lly in

a lu

mp-

sum

of $

55.5

0.

3.

Cal

iforn

ia, L

os A

ngel

es C

ount

y. M

onth

ly b

enef

it of

$43

1.00

incl

udes

$13

4.42

per

per

son

in c

ash

and

$9.2

5 pe

r pe

rson

in c

loth

ing

allo

wan

ce p

aid

sem

i-ann

ually

in a

lum

p-s

um

of

$5

5.5

0.

4.

Col

orad

o. E

ffect

ive

1/1/

97, r

ecip

ient

s w

hose

prim

ary

disa

bilit

y is

che

mic

al d

epen

denc

y w

ill b

e lim

ited

to a

life

time

tota

l of 1

2 m

onth

s of

ben

efits

.

5.

Con

nect

icut

. E

mpl

oyab

le: $

250

if sh

are

hous

ing;

$15

0 if

livin

g w

ith r

elat

ive.

6.

Con

nect

icut

. B

enef

it le

vels

for

fam

ilies

var

y ac

cord

ing

to li

ving

cos

ts in

thre

e re

gion

s of

the

stat

e. A

ppro

xim

atel

y 90

per

cent

of t

he c

asel

oad

resi

des

in R

egio

n B

,w

here

the

max

imum

mon

thly

ben

efit

is $

543.

7.

Con

nect

icut

. A

t end

of 2

4-m

onth

per

iod,

rec

ipie

nt c

an p

etiti

on fo

r a

six-

mon

th e

xten

sion

.

8.

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia.

Chi

ldre

n w

ho a

re 1

8 ye

ars

old

and

are

expe

cted

to g

radu

ate

from

hig

h sc

hool

bef

ore

turn

ing

19 m

ay c

ontin

ue to

rec

eive

ass

ista

nce.

Tab

le 4

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e M

onth

ly B

enef

its a

nd D

urat

ion

of A

ssis

tanc

e (c

ont.)

9.

Flo

rida,

Dad

e C

ount

y. A

fter

12 m

onth

s, a

ssis

tanc

e m

ay b

e ex

tend

ed if

SS

I app

licat

ion

is a

t the

hea

ring

leve

l and

rec

ipie

nt is

rep

rese

nted

by

an a

ttorn

ey.

10

.Ill

inoi

s, C

ity o

f Chi

cago

. In

form

atio

n fo

r C

hica

go is

rep

rese

ntat

ive

of th

e ap

prox

imat

ely

60 o

ther

loca

l ent

ities

that

rec

eive

sta

te fu

nds.

11

.Io

wa,

Pol

k C

ount

y. B

enef

its a

re d

eter

min

ed o

n a

case

by

case

bas

is.

Max

imum

ben

efit

leve

ls a

re s

et a

t the

inco

me

guid

elin

es fo

r a

perio

d of

one

yea

r ($

343

indi

vidu

al; $

426

fam

ily o

f thr

ee).

How

ever

, exe

mpt

ions

can

be

mad

e on

a c

ase

by c

ase

basi

s so

that

rec

ipie

nt c

an p

oten

tially

rec

eive

thre

e tim

es th

e in

com

egu

idel

ine

leve

l.

12

.K

ansa

s. I

ndiv

idua

l ben

efit

max

imum

s re

flect

80%

of t

he A

FD

C in

com

e lim

it an

d be

nefit

max

imum

s fo

r a

fam

ily o

f thr

ee r

efle

ct 1

00%

of t

he A

FD

C in

com

e lim

it,w

hich

var

ies

by th

e co

st o

f liv

ing

in e

ach

coun

ty.

Ben

efit

max

imum

s sh

own

appl

y to

70-

80 p

erce

nt o

f rec

ipie

nts.

Ben

efit

max

imum

s ar

e re

duce

d if

reci

pien

t is

in a

sha

red

re

sid

en

ce.

13

.K

entu

cky,

Jef

fers

on C

ount

y. B

enef

it am

ount

s m

ay b

e in

crea

sed

up to

dou

ble

the

regu

lar

amou

nt if

the

regu

lar

finan

cial

ass

ista

nce

amou

nt w

ill n

ot a

llevi

ate

the

reci

pien

t’s c

risis

.

14

.M

onta

na, Y

ello

wst

one

Cou

nty.

Alth

ough

tech

nica

lly, f

amili

es n

ot e

ligib

le fo

r A

FD

C a

re e

ligib

le fo

r G

ener

al R

elie

f, it

has

been

two

year

s si

nce

any

fam

ily h

as m

etth

e el

igib

ility

req

uire

men

ts.

15

.N

ebra

ska.

Inf

orm

atio

n re

pres

ents

the

guid

elin

es d

evel

oped

by

the

Neb

rask

a A

ssoc

iatio

n of

Cou

nty

Offi

cial

s an

d th

e D

epar

tmen

t of S

ocia

l Ser

vice

s us

ed in

the

adm

inis

trat

ion

of th

e ge

nera

l ass

ista

nce

prog

ram

s fo

r 56

of 9

3 co

untie

s w

hich

ele

ct to

con

trac

t with

the

stat

e.

16

.N

evad

a, C

lark

Cou

nty.

If r

ecip

ient

live

s re

nt-f

ree,

the

bene

fit w

ill b

e lo

wer

.

17

.N

ew J

erse

y. S

ome

GA

rec

ipie

nts

may

als

o be

elig

ible

to r

ecei

ve h

ousi

ng a

ssis

tanc

e if

they

fall

into

one

of t

he fo

llow

ing

thre

e ca

tego

ries:

1)

hous

ing

dest

roye

d by

fire

or n

atur

al d

isas

ter,

2)

requ

ire h

ousi

ng d

ue to

dom

estic

vio

lenc

e, 3

) ev

icte

d or

abo

ut to

bec

ome

evic

ted;

and

dem

onst

rate

a la

ck o

f rea

listic

cap

acity

to p

lan

for

subs

titut

e ho

usin

g (d

on’t

have

eno

ugh

time

to fi

nd h

ousi

ng o

r fu

nds

are

exha

uste

d du

e to

oth

er e

xpen

ses)

. If

in te

mpo

rary

hou

sing

(ho

tel o

r m

otel

) be

nefit

max

imum

is $

35 p

er d

ay fo

r an

indi

vidu

al, $

45 p

er d

ay fo

r tw

o pe

rson

s. I

f in

perm

anen

t hou

sing

, ben

efit

max

imum

is $

200

per

mon

th r

egar

dles

s of

uni

t siz

e.

How

ever

, spe

cial

per

mis

sion

may

be

gran

ted

to e

xcee

d th

e $2

00 p

er m

onth

max

imum

on

a ca

se b

y ca

se b

asis

. T

his

hous

ing

assi

stan

ce c

omes

in th

e fo

rm o

fve

nd

or

pa

yme

nts

.

18

.P

enns

ylva

nia.

Max

imum

Mon

thly

ben

efits

list

ed a

re fo

r th

ose

coun

ties

in th

e hi

ghes

t cos

t of l

ivin

g ca

tego

ry.

Tab

le 4

.2: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

(Su

mm

er

19

96

)

Sta

teP

erso

ns E

ligib

le fo

r G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

amG

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am B

enef

its1

2

Ala

bam

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ala

ska

All

GA

rec

ipie

nts

plus

oth

ers

mee

ting

GA

inco

me

and

asse

t elig

ibili

tyIn

patie

nt h

ospi

tal c

are

for

up to

8 d

ays

per

year

; pre

gnan

cy-r

elat

edre

quire

men

ts.

Per

sons

mus

t be

in e

mer

genc

y m

edic

al n

eed.

serv

ices

; phy

sici

an v

isits

(12

vis

its/y

r) a

nd p

resc

riptio

n dr

ugs

for

term

inal

illn

esse

s, c

hem

othe

rapy

, dia

bete

s, s

eizu

re d

isor

ders

, chr

onic

men

tal i

llnes

s, a

nd h

yper

tens

ion

only

; nur

sing

hom

e ca

re.

Inpa

tient

hos

pita

l car

e is

cov

ered

at 2

8%.

For

oth

er s

ervi

ces

cove

red

, th

e s

tate

pa

ys M

ed

ica

id r

ate

s.

Ariz

ona

No

GA

Med

ical

Ass

ista

nce

Pro

gram

Ark

ansa

sN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Cal

iforn

iaR

ecip

ient

s ar

e re

ferr

ed to

the

LA C

ount

y H

ealth

Dep

artm

ent f

orIn

patie

nt a

nd o

utpa

tient

car

e, p

hysi

cian

ser

vice

s, p

resc

riptio

n dr

ugs,

Los

Ang

eles

Cou

nty

heal

th s

ervi

ces.

(E

xcep

t per

man

ently

dis

able

d re

cipi

ents

, who

are

and

nurs

ing

hom

e ca

re.

typi

cally

elig

ible

for

Med

iCal

, Cal

iforn

ia's

Med

icai

d pr

ogra

m.)

Col

orad

oN

o G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am

Con

nect

icut

All

GA

rec

ipie

nts

mee

ting

med

ical

inco

me

elig

ibili

ty r

equi

rem

ents

.In

patie

nt a

nd o

utpa

tient

hos

pita

l car

e, p

hysi

cian

ser

vice

s, a

nd

Inco

me

limits

: $

47

3/p

ers

on

/mo

nth

Per

sons

mus

t firs

t app

ly fo

r M

edic

aid

if el

igib

le.

pres

crip

tion

drug

s.

Cov

erag

e is

com

para

ble

to M

edic

aid,

exc

ept G

A m

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

edo

es n

ot c

over

long

-ter

m c

onva

lesc

ent c

are,

rou

tine

ambu

lanc

etr

ansp

orta

tion,

or

rout

ine

dent

al c

are.

Del

awar

eA

ll G

A r

ecip

ient

s pl

us o

ther

s w

ithou

t med

ical

insu

ranc

e an

d w

hose

inco

me

is b

elow

the

fede

ral p

over

ty le

vel a

re e

ligib

le fo

r co

vera

ge u

nder

the

Dia

mon

d S

tate

Hea

lth P

lan

(Med

icai

d w

aive

r).

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia

GA

rec

ipie

nts

are

elig

ible

for

Med

icai

d.

Flo

rida

D

ad

e C

ou

nty

No

GA

Med

ical

Ass

ista

nce

Pro

gram

Geo

rgia

F

ulto

n C

ou

nty

No

GA

Med

ical

Ass

ista

nce

Pro

gram3

Tab

le 4

.2: G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

(con

t.)

Sta

teP

erso

ns E

ligib

le fo

r G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

amG

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am B

enef

its1

2

Haw

aii

All

GA

rec

ipie

nts

are

elig

ible

for

QU

ES

T (

Med

icai

d W

aive

r)

Idah

oC

ount

y re

side

nts

of a

t lea

st 3

0 da

ys, w

ho a

re in

em

erge

ncy

med

ical

Inpa

tient

and

out

patie

nt h

ospi

tal c

are,

phy

sici

an s

ervi

ces,

pre

scrip

tion

A

da

Co

un

tyn

ee

d a

nd

ha

ve n

o r

eso

urc

es

to c

ove

r th

e c

ost

.d

rug

s, a

nd

nu

rsin

g h

om

es.

G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e pa

ys M

edic

aid

rate

s.4

Illin

ois

All

GA

rec

ipie

nts,

unl

ess

they

rec

eive

Med

icai

d (p

erso

ns u

nder

18,

Inpa

tient

and

out

patie

nt h

ospi

tal c

are

(onl

y fo

r F

amily

and

Chi

ldre

n C

ity o

f Chi

cago

preg

nant

wom

en, a

nd p

erso

ns w

ith p

endi

ng S

SI a

pplic

atio

ns).

reci

pien

ts o

ver

18),

phy

sici

an s

ervi

ces,

pre

scrip

tion

drug

s re

quire

d5

for

life

mai

nten

ance

or

to a

vert

a li

fe-t

hrea

teni

ng s

ituat

ion.

Cov

erag

e is

mor

e lim

ited

than

Med

icai

d.

Indi

ana

All

GA

rec

ipie

nts

plus

oth

ers

mee

ting

GA

inco

me

elig

ibili

tyP

resc

riptio

n dr

ugs

and

long

-ter

m c

are

in a

cou

nty

hom

e. (

Hos

pita

ls

Cen

ter

Tow

nshi

p of

requ

irem

ents

.pr

ovid

e fr

ee in

patie

nt, o

utpa

tient

, and

phy

sici

an c

are

for

indi

gent

Mar

ion

Cou

nty

Mus

t be

in m

edic

al n

eed.

pers

ons.

)C

over

age

is m

ore

limite

d th

an M

edic

aid.

Iow

a

Po

lk C

ou

nty

No

GA

Med

ical

Ass

ista

nce

Pro

gram6

Kan

sas

All

GA

rec

ipie

nts.

Inpa

tient

and

out

patie

nt h

ospi

tal c

are,

phy

sici

an s

ervi

ces,

pre

scrip

tion

drug

s, a

nd n

ursi

ng h

omes

. C

over

age

is n

early

iden

tical

to M

edic

aid.

Ken

tuck

y

Jeff

ers

on

Co

un

tyN

o G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am

Loui

sian

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am7

Mai

neA

ll G

A r

ecip

ient

s pl

us o

ther

s m

eetin

g G

A in

com

e el

igib

ility

Ben

efits

pro

vide

d fo

r pr

ior-

appr

oved

trea

tmen

t of l

ife-t

hrea

teni

ngre

quire

men

ts.

cond

ition

s. C

over

ed s

ervi

ces

incl

ude

phys

icia

n se

rvic

es a

nd

Mus

t be

in m

edic

al n

eed.

Cov

erag

e is

mor

e lim

ited

than

Med

icai

d.pr

escr

iptio

n dr

ugs.

(H

ospi

tal c

are

cove

red

by c

harit

y ca

re.)

Tab

le 4

.2: G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

(con

t.)

Sta

teP

erso

ns E

ligib

le fo

r G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

amG

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am B

enef

its1

2

Mar

ylan

dA

bout

hal

f of a

ll G

A r

ecip

ient

s, in

clud

ing

preg

nant

wom

en a

re e

ligib

leP

rimar

y C

are

for

the

Med

ical

ly In

dige

nt c

over

s ba

sic

prim

ary

care

1. T

rans

ition

alfo

r M

edic

aid.

The

rem

aini

ng G

A r

ecip

ient

s pl

us o

ther

s w

ho m

eet

(phy

sici

an)

serv

ices

.E

mer

genc

y, M

edic

al,

med

ical

inco

me

elig

ibili

ty r

equi

rem

ents

are

elig

ible

for

Prim

ary

Car

eM

aryl

and

Pha

rmac

y A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am c

over

s a

limite

d se

t of

and

Hou

sing

Ass

ista

nce

for

the

Med

ical

ly In

dige

nt a

nd M

aryl

and

Pha

rmac

y A

ssis

tanc

e.pr

escr

iptio

n dr

ugs.

(TE

MH

A)

Cov

erag

e is

muc

h m

ore

limite

d th

an M

edic

aid.

2.

GA

fo

r P

reg

na

nt

Wom

en

Mas

sach

uset

tsA

ll G

A r

ecip

ient

s, u

nles

s th

ey h

ave

othe

r co

vera

ge s

uch

as M

edic

aid

Out

patie

nt h

ospi

tal c

are,

phy

sici

an s

ervi

ces,

and

pre

scrip

tion

drug

sor

priv

ate

insu

ranc

e.(I

npat

ient

hos

pita

l car

e is

pro

vide

d un

der

the

Sta

te F

ree

Car

e P

ool.)

C

over

age

sim

ilar

to b

ut s

omew

hat m

ore

limite

d th

an M

edic

aid.

Mic

higa

nP

erso

ns m

eetin

g m

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e fin

anci

al e

ligib

ility

crit

eria

.O

utpa

tient

hos

pita

l car

e, p

hysi

cian

ser

vice

s, a

nd p

resc

riptio

n dr

ugs.

Inco

me

limits

: $24

6 ($

90 e

arne

d in

com

e ex

empt

ion)

. A

sset

lim

it:C

over

age

is m

ore

limite

d th

an M

edic

aid.

$1

00

.

Min

neso

taA

ll G

A r

ecip

ient

s pl

us o

ther

s w

ho m

eet G

A in

com

e an

d as

set

Inpa

tient

and

out

patie

nt h

ospi

tal c

are,

phy

sici

an s

ervi

ces,

pre

scrip

tion

elig

ibili

ty r

equi

rem

ents

.dr

ugs.

C

over

age

is c

ompa

rabl

e to

Med

icai

d ex

cept

doe

s no

t cov

er n

ursi

ngh

om

es.

Mis

siss

ippi

No

GA

Pro

gram

Mis

sour

iA

ll G

A r

ecip

ient

s.In

patie

nt a

nd o

utpa

tient

hos

pita

l car

e, p

hysi

cian

ser

vice

s, a

ndpr

escr

iptio

n dr

ugs.

C

over

age

is m

uch

mor

e lim

ited

than

Med

icai

d.

Mon

tana

GA

rec

ipie

nts

in m

edic

al n

eed.

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce

cove

rs u

p to

$10

,000

for

trea

tmen

t of s

erio

us Y

ello

wst

one

Cou

nty

med

ical

con

ditio

ns.

Cov

ered

ser

vice

s in

clud

e in

patie

nt a

nd o

utpa

tient

hosp

ital c

are,

phy

sici

an s

ervi

ces,

and

pre

scrip

tion

drug

s.C

over

age

is m

ore

limite

d th

an M

edic

aid.

Tab

le 4

.2: G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

(con

t.)

Sta

teP

erso

ns E

ligib

le fo

r G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

amG

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am B

enef

its1

2

Neb

rask

a1.

All

Sta

te D

isab

ility

Pro

gram

rec

ipie

nts.

1. In

patie

nt a

nd o

utpa

tient

hos

pita

l car

e, p

hysi

cian

ser

vice

s,1.

Sta

te D

isab

ility

pres

crip

tion

drug

s, n

ursi

ng h

ome.

P

rogr

am2.

Per

sons

mee

ting

med

ical

inco

me

elig

ibili

ty r

equi

rem

ents

.C

over

age

is th

e sa

me

as M

edic

aid.

2.

Co

un

ty G

en

era

l2.

Cov

ered

ser

vice

s in

clud

e on

ly th

ose

that

are

req

uire

d to

pre

vent

Ass

ista

nce

mor

bidi

ty o

r in

stitu

tiona

lizat

ion.

8

Inco

me

limits

: If g

ross

inco

me

less

than

$2,

680

and

net i

ncom

e le

ssth

an $

1,70

0 ov

er a

six

-mon

th p

erio

d. I

f gro

ss in

com

e le

ss th

an$

2,6

80

an

d n

et

inco

me

be

twe

en

$1

,70

0 a

nd

$2

,68

0 o

ver

a s

ix-m

on

thpe

riod,

then

elig

ible

, but

res

pons

ible

for

paym

ents

in e

xces

s of

$28

3p

er

mo

nth

. F

or

fam

ily o

f 3

, if

gro

ss in

com

e le

ss t

ha

n $

4,5

60

an

d n

et

inco

me

less

than

$2,

700

over

a s

ix-m

onth

per

iod

then

elig

ible

. If

gro

ss in

com

e le

ss t

ha

n $

4,5

60

an

d n

et

inco

me

be

twe

en

$2

,70

0 a

nd

$4,5

60 o

ver

a si

x-m

onth

per

iod,

then

elig

ible

, but

res

pons

ible

for

pa

yme

nts

in e

xce

ss o

f $

45

0 p

er

mo

nth

.

Cov

erag

e is

mor

e lim

ited

than

Med

icai

d.

Nev

ada

Per

sons

mee

ting

med

ical

inco

me

and

asse

t elig

ibili

ty r

equi

rem

ents

.In

patie

nt a

nd o

utpa

tient

hos

pita

l car

e, p

resc

riptio

n dr

ugs,

nur

sing

C

lark

Co

un

tyh

om

e c

are

Inco

me

limits

: $55

2 (in

divi

dual

); $

928

(fam

ily o

f 3)

Inco

me

exem

ptio

ns: $

300

(indi

vidu

al);

$35

0 (f

amily

of 3

), a

s w

ell a

san

add

ition

al $

100

if re

cipi

ent i

s el

derly

or

disa

bled

, chi

ld c

are

cost

s(u

p to

$30

0 fo

r on

e ch

ild o

r $5

00 fo

r tw

o or

mor

e ch

ildre

n), a

limon

y,ch

ild s

uppo

rt, a

nd a

ny in

com

e ne

eded

for

med

ical

exp

ense

s.

Ass

et li

mits

: $50

0 pe

rson

al a

sset

s (o

r $1

000

if di

sabl

ed a

t lea

st 3

mon

ths;

$20

00 if

dis

able

d at

leas

t 12

mon

ths)

Med

ical

Ass

ista

nce

usua

lly p

ays

at M

edic

aid

rate

s.

New

Ham

pshi

reA

ll pe

rson

s in

nee

d of

med

ical

ass

ista

nce.

Phy

sici

an s

ervi

ces

and

pres

crip

tion

drug

s. (

Hos

pita

ls a

ccep

t nee

dy

City

of

Ma

nch

est

er

patie

nts

free

of c

harg

e. N

ursi

ng h

omes

are

cov

ered

by

Med

icai

d.)

Ne

w J

ers

ey

All

GA

rec

ipie

nts.

Phy

sici

an s

ervi

ces

and

pres

crip

tion

drug

s.

Cov

erag

e is

mor

e lim

ited

than

Med

icai

d.

New

Mex

ico

No

GA

Med

ical

Ass

ista

nce

Pro

gram9

Tab

le 4

.2: G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

(con

t.)

Sta

teP

erso

ns E

ligib

le fo

r G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

amG

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am B

enef

its1

2

Ne

w Y

ork

All

GA

rec

ipie

nts

plus

per

sons

elig

ible

for

GA

but

who

ele

ct to

Inpa

tient

and

out

patie

nt h

ospi

tal c

are,

phy

sici

an s

ervi

ces,

pre

scrip

tion

rece

ive

med

ical

ass

ista

nce

only

.dr

ugs,

nur

sing

hom

es.

Cov

erag

e is

com

para

ble

to M

edic

aid.

Nor

th C

arol

ina

D

urh

am

Co

un

tyA

ll G

A r

ecip

ient

s.$3

0/m

onth

for

pres

crip

tion

drug

s, li

mite

d to

4 m

onth

s pe

r ye

ar.

No

rth

Da

kota

C

ass

Co

un

tyN

o G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am

Ohi

oA

ll G

A r

ecip

ient

s, p

lus

able

-bod

ied

med

icat

ion-

depe

nden

t per

sons

Phy

sici

an s

ervi

ces

and

pres

crip

tion

drug

s. (

Inpa

tient

and

out

patie

ntw

ho m

eet t

he in

com

e el

igib

ility

crit

eria

and

wou

ld b

ecom

eho

spita

l car

e is

cov

ered

by

hosp

itals

und

er th

e O

hio

Hos

pita

l Car

ein

capa

cita

ted

if st

oppe

d ta

king

med

icat

ion.

Ass

uran

ce p

rogr

am.)

Cov

erag

e is

com

para

ble

to M

edic

aid.

Okl

ahom

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ore

gon

All

GA

rec

ipie

nts

are

elig

ible

for

cove

rage

und

er th

e O

rego

n H

ealth

Pla

n (M

edic

aid

wai

ver)

.

Pen

nsyl

vani

aA

ll G

A r

ecip

ient

s pl

us M

edic

al N

eed

Onl

y (M

NO

) re

cipi

ents

.In

patie

nt a

nd o

utpa

tient

hos

pita

l car

e, a

nd p

hysi

cian

ser

vice

s. G

A

MN

O E

ligib

ility

Crit

eria

: Rec

ipie

nts

mus

t be

empl

oyed

at l

east

30

not.

Nur

sing

hom

e se

rvic

es m

ay b

e av

aila

ble

if as

sess

ed a

s be

stho

urs

per

wee

k or

pre

gnan

t. In

com

e lim

its: $

425

for

indi

vidu

al, $

467

optio

n. T

here

is a

co-

pay

for

mos

t ser

vice

s an

d a

$150

ded

uctib

le.

for

fam

ily o

f 3.

Ass

et li

mits

: $2

,400

for

indi

vidu

al, $

3,50

0 fo

r th

ree

Cov

erag

e is

com

para

ble

to M

edic

aid.

pers

ons

(no

asse

t lim

its if

chi

ld in

hou

seho

ld).

reci

pien

ts a

re e

ligib

le fo

r pr

escr

iptio

n dr

ugs,

but

MN

O r

ecip

ient

s ar

e

Rho

de Is

land

All

GA

rec

ipie

nts,

plu

s ot

her

pers

ons

tem

pora

rily

or p

erm

anen

tlyP

hysi

cian

vis

its a

nd p

resc

riptio

n dr

ugs.

Hos

pita

ls a

re r

equi

red

todi

sabl

ed w

hose

inco

me

is le

ss th

an $

327

per

mon

th.

cove

r th

e co

sts

of in

patie

nt a

nd o

utpa

tient

car

e.

Sou

th C

arol

ina

No

GA

Pro

gram

So

uth

Da

kota

All

GA

rec

ipie

nts

plus

oth

ers

mee

ting

med

ical

inco

me

elig

ibili

tyIn

patie

nt a

nd o

utpa

tient

hos

pita

l car

e, p

hysi

cian

ser

vice

s, p

resc

riptio

n M

inne

haha

Cou

nty

requ

irem

ents

. Mus

t be

in m

edic

al n

eed.

drug

s, n

ursi

ng h

ome.

Inco

me

limits

: $1

,655

indi

vidu

al; $

2,78

5 fa

mily

of 3

(30

0% o

f the

Poo

r R

elie

f inc

ome

limits

)C

over

age

is c

ompa

rabl

e to

Med

icai

d.

Tab

le 4

.2: G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

(con

t.)

Sta

teP

erso

ns E

ligib

le fo

r G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

amG

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am B

enef

its1

2

Ten

ness

eeN

o G

A P

rogr

am.

Per

sons

with

inco

me

unde

r 40

0% o

f pov

erty

are

elig

ible

for

Ten

nCar

e (M

edic

aid

wai

ver)

. S

ince

199

4, h

owev

er, n

ewen

rollm

ent i

s lim

ited

to u

nins

urab

le p

erso

ns a

nd p

erso

ns w

ho w

ould

hav

e be

en e

ligib

le u

nder

prio

r M

edic

aid

elig

ibili

ty r

equi

rem

ents

.

Tex

as

Ha

rris

Co

un

tyN

o G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am10

Uta

hA

ll G

A R

ecip

ient

s pl

us p

erso

ns w

ho m

eet G

A in

com

e an

d as

set

limits

but

ele

ct to

rec

eive

med

ical

ass

ista

nce

only

.A

cute

car

e re

quire

d in

life

thre

aten

ing-

situ

atio

ns (

such

as

an

emer

genc

y ro

om v

isit)

. S

ome

pres

crip

tions

are

cov

ered

.C

over

age

is m

uch

mor

e lim

ited

than

Med

icai

d.

Ver

mon

tG

A r

ecip

ient

s in

'cat

astr

ophi

c' c

ircum

stan

ces.

Em

erge

ncy

phys

icia

n se

rvic

es a

nd p

resc

riptio

n dr

ugs

only

.C

over

age

is m

uch

mor

e lim

ited

than

Med

icai

d.

Virg

inia

All

GA

rec

ipie

nts

plus

oth

er c

ount

y re

side

nts

who

are

citi

zens

or

lega

lP

hysi

cian

ser

vice

s, p

resc

riptio

n dr

ugs,

and

nur

sing

hom

e ca

re.

All

Fai

rfax

Cou

nty

alie

ns.

Mus

t be

in e

mer

genc

y m

edic

al n

eed

for

whi

ch th

ey c

anno

tse

rvic

es m

ust b

e re

late

d to

an

emer

genc

y m

edic

al n

eed.

The

tota

lp

ay.

mon

thly

max

imum

is $

500.

(In

patie

nt a

nd o

utpa

tient

hos

pita

l car

e is

cove

red

by th

e S

tate

and

Loc

al H

ospi

tal P

rogr

am.)

Was

hing

ton

Tem

pora

rily

disa

bled

rec

ipie

nts.

Inpa

tient

and

out

patie

nt h

ospi

tal c

are,

phy

sici

an s

ervi

ces,

pre

scrip

tion

(All

othe

r re

cipi

ents

rec

eive

ben

efits

und

er th

e st

ate

Med

icai

ddr

ugs,

and

nur

sing

hom

e ca

re.

prog

ram

.)C

over

age

is s

imila

r to

but

som

ewha

t mor

e lim

ited

than

Med

icai

d.

Wes

t Virg

inia

No

GA

Pro

gram

Wis

cons

inA

ll G

A r

ecip

ient

s.In

patie

nt a

nd o

utpa

tient

hos

pita

l car

e, p

hysi

cian

ser

vice

s, a

nd

Da

ne

Co

un

typr

escr

iptio

n dr

ugs.

Nur

sing

hom

e ca

re fo

r up

to th

irty

days

.C

over

age

is c

ompa

rabl

e to

Med

icai

d.

Wyo

min

gN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Sou

rce:

Urb

an In

stitu

te 1

996

1.

Som

e G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e re

cipi

ents

may

be

elig

ible

for

Med

icai

d. I

n su

ch c

ases

, rec

ipie

nts

wou

ld r

ecei

ve m

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e th

roug

h M

edic

aid

rath

er th

an th

roug

hth

e G

A m

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e pr

ogra

m.

2.

Sur

vey

resp

onde

nts

wer

e as

ked

whe

ther

the

med

ical

ass

ista

nce

prog

ram

cov

ered

inpa

tient

and

out

patie

nt h

ospi

tal c

are,

phy

sici

an s

ervi

ces,

pre

scrip

tion

drug

s,an

d/or

nur

sing

hom

e ca

re.

Alth

ough

som

e pr

ogra

ms

may

cov

er a

dditi

onal

ser

vice

s, fo

r th

e pu

rpos

e of

con

sist

ency

this

add

ition

al in

form

atio

n is

not

incl

uded

in th

ere

po

rt.

Tab

le 4

.2: G

A M

edic

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

(con

t.)

3.

Geo

rgia

, Ful

ton

Cou

nty.

GA

rec

ipie

nts

are

refe

rred

to th

e G

eorg

ia P

artn

ersh

ip F

or C

are

prog

ram

, whi

ch p

rovi

des

care

thro

ugh

a ne

twor

k of

vol

unte

er p

rovi

ders

. In

com

e el

igib

ility

lim

it: 1

00%

of p

over

ty le

vel.

4.

Idah

o, A

da C

ount

y. T

he c

ount

y co

vers

the

first

$10

,000

of m

edic

al e

xpen

ses

per

case

(fir

st $

5,00

0 fo

r ill

egal

alie

n); t

he s

tate

cov

ers

any

addi

tiona

l exp

ense

s.

5.

Illin

ois,

Chi

cago

. In

form

atio

n fo

r C

hica

go is

rep

rese

ntat

ive

of th

e ap

prox

imat

ely

60 o

ther

loca

l ent

ities

that

rec

eive

sta

te fu

nds.

6.

Iow

a, P

olk

Cou

nty.

Rec

ipie

nts

are

refe

rred

to th

e co

unty

hos

pita

l tha

t has

an

indi

gent

car

e pr

ogra

m.

In a

dditi

on, s

ome

med

ical

nee

ds w

hich

are

not

cov

ered

by

the

indi

gent

car

e pr

ogra

m m

ay b

e co

vere

d th

roug

h G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e on

a c

ase

by c

ase

basi

s.

7.

Loui

sian

a. T

he s

tate

has

a C

harit

able

Hos

pita

l Sys

tem

whi

ch p

rovi

des

med

ical

car

e on

a s

lidin

g fe

e sc

ale.

8.

Neb

rask

a. I

nfor

mat

ion

repr

esen

ts th

e gu

idel

ines

dev

elop

ed b

y th

e N

ebra

ska

Ass

ocia

tion

of C

ount

y O

ffici

als

and

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Soc

ial S

ervi

ces

used

in th

ead

min

istr

atio

n of

the

gene

ral a

ssis

tanc

e pr

ogra

ms

for

56 o

f 93

coun

ties

whi

ch e

lect

to c

ontr

act w

ith th

e st

ate.

9.

New

Mex

ico.

The

sta

te o

ffers

med

ical

exa

ms

for

pers

ons

elig

ible

for

GA

due

to a

dis

abili

ty.

In a

dditi

on, s

ome

coun

ties

have

an

indi

gent

hea

lth c

are

prog

ram

for

unin

sure

d ne

edy

pers

ons.

10

.T

exas

, Har

ris C

ount

y. R

ecip

ient

s ar

e re

ferr

ed to

the

dist

rict h

ospi

tal t

hat h

as a

n in

dige

nt c

are

prog

ram

.

11. This figure was determined by using state poverty rate information in Eleanor Baugher and Leatha Lamison-White,U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P60-194, Poverty in the United States: 1995, U.S.Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1996.

5-1

CHAPTER 5: GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CASELOADS

AND EXPENDITURES

It is particularly difficult to obtain data on General Assistance caseloads and expenditures

that are comparable across states. Indeed, we were able to gather statewide caseload and

expenditure information only from those states with uniform GA programs across the state. For

the states with GA programs that vary by county, we have data only from the particular county

we contacted.

It is necessary to apply caution when comparing the caseload and expenditure data across

states. As indicated, reporting periods vary across states. Also, some states have implemented

program changes since these dates, and the caseload and expenditure data may not reflect

current program design. Reporting methods vary across states. Some states record their

caseloads as number of persons while others record them as cases, in which a single case may

include a family of three. Some caseload and expenditure figures include medical assistance

recipients while others do not, and most interim assistance expenditures do not reflect any

federal reimbursements from SSI.

Uniform Statewide General Assistance Programs

Among states with uniform statewide GA programs, caseloads and expenditures vary

widely (Table 5.1). Monthly caseloads range from about 1,000 persons in Alaska and Rhode

Island to over 130,000 persons in Pennsylvania and almost 340,000 persons in New York.

However, when compared to the total state population, the number of persons assisted by GA is

quite small. The number of recipients assisted each month ranges from less than 0.1 percent of

persons in Oregon and Utah to just over 1.8 percent of persons in New York. Even when

comparing the number of recipients to the number of persons in poverty, GA programs assist

only a portion of those in need. For instance, in New York, GA program recipients represent

only about 11 percent of those living in poverty.11

5-2

Annual spending on General Assistance ranges from about $4 million in Utah and

Vermont to over $1 billion in New York. Average monthly benefits range from $80 per case in

Missouri to $425 per case in Hawaii, although most states have average monthly benefits

between $100 and $300 per case.

Other General Assistance Programs

Tables 5.2 and 5.3 contain information for county-based statewide GA programs and

programs in states without mandated programs, respectively. Although intra-state variability of

county-based GA programs makes inter-state comparisons of these programs less appropriate,

available caseload and expenditure information can provide some indication of how many

persons are served by GA in each state. Comparisons between the general county population

and the number of GA recipients were not possible, except for Los Angeles County, where about

1 percent of county residents receive GA each month.

Tab

le 5

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am C

asel

oads

and

Exp

endi

ture

s, U

nifo

rm S

tate

wid

e P

rogr

ams

Sta

teR

ecip

ient

s (

or C

ases

)

Cas

eloa

d an

d E

xpen

ditu

res

Mon

thly

Num

ber

of

per

1,00

0 P

opul

atio

n1R

epor

ting

Per

iod

Ann

ual E

xpen

ditu

res

Ben

efit

Ave

rage

Mon

thly

Cas

eloa

d

Ave

rage

Mon

thly

(pe

r C

ase)

Ala

ska

FY

En

din

g J

un

e 1

99

61

. 2

26

ca

ses

(29

41.

$0

.9 m

illio

n1.

$33

4 ($

156

excl

udin

g1

. 0

.5 p

ers

on

s1.

Gen

eral

Rel

ief A

ssis

tanc

epe

rson

s)bu

rials

)

2. In

terim

Ass

ista

nce

2. 7

61 p

erso

ns2

. $

25

02.

$2.

8 m

illio

n2

. 1.3

pe

rso

ns

Ariz

ona

Ma

y 1

99

65

,68

3 p

ers

on

s$0

.9 m

illio

n/m

onth

$153

1.4

pe

rso

ns

Col

orad

oJu

ne

19

96

ap

pro

x. 6

,00

0 p

ers

on

s N

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

e1

.6 p

ers

on

s(A

id to

the

Nee

dyD

isab

led)2

Con

nect

icut

FY

End

ing

Mar

ch 1

995

27,4

50 c

ases

Cas

h A

ssis

tanc

e: $

92.6

Cas

h A

ssis

tanc

e: $

281

8.4

ca

ses

3

mill

ion

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

$90.

3 m

illio

n

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

$28

1

Del

awar

eF

Y E

ndin

g Ju

ne 1

995

2,1

02

ca

ses

$3.1

mill

ion

Indi

vidu

al: $

193

2.9

ca

ses

4

Fam

ily o

f thr

ee: $

224

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia

1995

1. ap

pro

x. 2

,00

0 c

ase

s1.

$7

.0 m

illio

n1

. $2

75

1.

3.6

ca

ses

1. G

ener

al P

ublic

Ass

ista

nce

2. ap

pro

x. 7

50

ca

ses

2.

$2.2

mill

ion

2. $

39

82

. 1

.4 c

ase

s

2. G

ener

al P

ublic

Ass

ista

nce

for

Chi

ldre

n

Haw

aii

FY

En

din

g J

un

e 1

99

59

,23

9 c

ase

s (1

3,2

17

$47.

1 m

illio

n$

42

51

1.6

pe

rso

ns

5

pers

ons)

(net

of r

eim

burs

emen

ts)

Tab

le 5

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am C

asel

oads

and

Exp

endi

ture

s, U

nifo

rm S

tate

wid

e P

rogr

ams

(con

t.)

Sta

teR

ecip

ient

s (

or C

ases

)

Cas

eloa

d an

d E

xpen

ditu

res

Mon

thly

Num

ber

of

per

1,00

0 P

opul

atio

n1R

epor

ting

Per

iod

Ann

ual E

xpen

ditu

res

Ben

efit

Ave

rage

Mon

thly

Cas

eloa

d

Ave

rage

Mon

thly

(pe

r C

ase)

Ka

nsa

sF

Y E

nd

ing

Ju

ne

19

96

3,3

48

ca

ses

(4,4

40

Ca

sh a

ssis

tan

ce: $

7.8

$1

93

1.7

pe

rso

ns

pers

ons)

mill

ion

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

$9.

5m

illio

n

Mai

neF

Y E

nd

ing

Ju

ne

19

95

3,2

27

ca

ses

(6,3

76

$8.6

mill

ion

$2

21

5.2

pe

rso

ns

pers

ons)

Mar

ylan

d1

. 7/9

5-5

/96

1.

12

,96

7 c

ase

s (a

nd

1.

appr

ox. $

10.0

mill

ion

1. a

s of

1/9

6, a

ll be

nefit

s1

. 2

.6 p

ers

on

s1.

Tra

nsiti

onal

Em

erge

ncy,

pers

ons)

are

$100

Med

ical

, and

Hou

sing

2. N

ot A

vaila

ble

2. N

ot A

vaila

ble

2. N

ot A

vaila

ble

Ass

ista

nce

(TE

MH

A)

2. N

ot A

vaila

ble

2. N

ot A

vaila

ble

2.

GA

fo

r P

reg

na

nt

Wom

en

Mas

sach

uset

tsF

Y E

ndin

g Ju

ne 1

996

17,2

98 c

ases

Cas

h as

sist

ance

: $72

.1$3

302.

9 ca

ses

mill

ion

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

$33.

8 m

illio

n

Mic

higa

nF

Y E

ndin

g O

ctob

er1

. 9,2

91

ca

ses

(an

d1.

$2

6.0

mill

ion

1. $

23

31

. 1

.0 p

ers

on

s1.

Sta

te D

isab

ility

1995

pers

ons)

Ass

ista

nce

2. $

7.3

mill

ion

2. $

27

02

. 0

.7 p

ers

on

s

2. S

tate

Fam

ily A

ssis

tanc

e6,

800

pers

ons)

2.

2,2

56

ca

ses

(ap

pro

x.

Min

neso

ta1

99

5

15

,31

2 c

ase

s (2

0,0

03

$54.

8 m

illio

n$

29

84

.3 p

ers

on

s6

pers

ons)

Tab

le 5

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am C

asel

oads

and

Exp

endi

ture

s, U

nifo

rm S

tate

wid

e P

rogr

ams

(con

t.)

Sta

teR

ecip

ient

s (

or C

ases

)

Cas

eloa

d an

d E

xpen

ditu

res

Mon

thly

Num

ber

of

per

1,00

0 P

opul

atio

n1R

epor

ting

Per

iod

Ann

ual E

xpen

ditu

res

Ben

efit

Ave

rage

Mon

thly

Cas

eloa

d

Ave

rage

Mon

thly

(pe

r C

ase)

Mis

sour

iF

Y E

ndin

g Ju

ne 1

995

Cas

h as

sist

ance

: 5,4

14C

ash

assi

stan

ce: $

7.0

$80

Cas

h as

sist

ance

: 1.0

case

s (p

ers

on

s)m

illio

npe

rson

s

Neb

rask

aN

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

eN

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

eN

ot A

vaila

ble

New

Jer

sey

FY

End

ing

June

199

5 C

ash

assi

stan

ce fo

rC

ash

assi

stan

ce fo

rC

ash

assi

stan

ce fo

rC

ash

assi

stan

ce fo

rem

ploy

able

s: 2

2,63

8em

ploy

able

s: $

37.8

empl

oyab

les:

$14

1em

ploy

able

s: 2

.8 c

ases

case

s m

illio

n

Cas

h as

sist

ance

for

Cas

h as

sist

ance

for

unem

ploy

able

s: $

198

unem

ploy

able

s: 1

.4un

empl

oyab

les:

10,

709

unem

ploy

able

s: $

25.4

case

sca

ses

mill

ion

Cas

h as

sist

ance

for

Cas

h as

sist

ance

for

New

Mex

ico

Not

Ava

ilabl

eN

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

eN

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

e

Ne

w Y

ork

19

95

2

79

,17

9 c

ase

s (3

38

,51

1$1

,089

mill

ion

$3

25

18

.7 p

ers

on

spe

rson

s)

7

Ohi

o19

95

Cas

h as

sist

ance

: 34,

432

Cas

h as

sist

ance

: $48

.2C

ash

assi

stan

ce: $

117

Cas

h as

sist

ance

: 3.6

8

case

s (4

0,5

05

pe

rso

ns)

mill

ion

pers

ons

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

1.8

20

,39

9 p

ers

on

s$4

0.4

mill

ion

pers

ons

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

$16

5

Ore

gon

1993

-199

52

,15

2 c

ase

s$7

.6 m

illio

nIn

divi

dual

: $28

60

.7 c

ase

s

Cou

ple:

$57

2

Pen

nsyl

vani

aF

Y E

ndin

g Ju

ne 1

995

118,

409

case

s (1

34,4

41$26

3.1

mill

ion

$1

85

11

.1 p

ers

on

s9

pers

ons)

Tab

le 5

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am C

asel

oads

and

Exp

endi

ture

s, U

nifo

rm S

tate

wid

e P

rogr

ams

(con

t.)

Sta

teR

ecip

ient

s (

or C

ases

)

Cas

eloa

d an

d E

xpen

ditu

res

Mon

thly

Num

ber

of

per

1,00

0 P

opul

atio

n1R

epor

ting

Per

iod

Ann

ual E

xpen

ditu

res

Ben

efit

Ave

rage

Mon

thly

Cas

eloa

d

Ave

rage

Mon

thly

(pe

r C

ase)

Rh

od

e I

sla

nd

19

93

-19

95

8

50

ca

ses

Not

Ava

ilabl

eN

ot A

vaila

ble

0.9

ca

ses

Uta

hF

Y E

ndin

g Ju

ly 1

995

1. 1,1

72

ca

ses

(1,2

52

1.

$3.5

mill

ion

1. $

24

61

. 0

.6 p

ers

on

s1.

GA

-Sel

f Suf

ficie

ncy

pers

ons)

2.

GA

-Wo

rkin

g T

ow

ard

2.

35

7 c

ase

s (4

54

Em

ploy

men

tpe

rson

s)

2. $

.7 m

illio

n2

. $1

59

2.

0.2

pe

rso

ns

Ver

mon

tF

Y E

ndin

g Ju

ne 1

995

1,5

02

ca

ses

$3.9

mill

ion

$2

14

2.6

ca

ses

Was

hing

ton

FY

end

ing

June

199

5U

nem

ploy

able

per

sons

:U

nem

ploy

able

per

sons

:U

nem

ploy

able

per

sons

:U

nem

ploy

able

per

sons

:1

7,1

67

ca

ses

(17

,29

2$5

3.6

mill

ion

$2

47

3.2

pe

rso

ns

pers

ons)

Pre

gn

an

t w

om

en

an

dch

ildre

n w

ith g

uard

ians

:ch

ildre

n w

ith g

uard

ians

:ch

ildre

n w

ith g

uard

ians

:ch

ildre

n w

ith g

uard

ians

:$6

.4 m

illio

n$

30

60

.3 p

ers

on

s1

,65

7 c

ase

s (1

,71

1pe

rson

s)

Pre

gn

an

t w

om

en

an

dP

reg

na

nt

wo

me

n a

nd

Pre

gn

an

t w

om

en

an

d

Sou

rce:

Urb

an In

stitu

te 1

996

1.

Rec

ipie

nts

per

1,00

0 po

pula

tion

estim

ates

wer

e de

rived

usi

ng s

tate

civ

ilian

pop

ulat

ion

data

as

of 7

/1/9

5, r

elea

sed

by th

e U

.S. B

urea

u of

the

Cen

sus.

2.

Col

orad

o. I

nfor

mat

ion

refle

cts

the

stat

ewid

e A

id to

the

Nee

dy D

isab

led

prog

ram

onl

y; o

ther

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

prog

ram

s va

ry b

y co

unty

.

3.

Con

nect

icut

. A

s of

9/9

6, jo

b-re

ady

empl

oyab

le p

erso

ns a

re n

o lo

nger

elig

ible

for

cash

ass

ista

nce

unde

r th

e st

ate'

s G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e pr

ogra

m.

4.

Del

awar

e. N

early

all

of th

e ca

selo

ad is

mad

e up

of i

ndiv

idua

ls.

5.

Haw

aii.

Effe

ctiv

e 8/

95, a

ble-

bodi

ed a

dults

age

s 55

-65

are

no lo

nger

elig

ible

for

cash

ben

efits

. (P

rior

to th

is d

ate,

they

had

bee

n th

e on

ly a

ble-

bodi

ed p

erso

ns e

ligib

lefo

r as

sist

ance

.)6

.M

inne

sota

. F

igur

es d

o no

t inc

lude

thos

e fo

r th

e W

ork

Rea

dine

ss p

rogr

am fo

r ab

le-b

odie

d in

divi

dual

s, w

hich

was

term

inat

ed a

s of

7/9

5. I

n 19

94, t

he W

ork

Rea

dine

ss p

rogr

am h

ad a

n av

erag

e m

onth

ly c

asel

oad

of 1

,541

and

an

annu

al e

xpen

ditu

re o

f $43

.3 m

illio

n.

Tab

le 5

.1: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am C

asel

oads

and

Exp

endi

ture

s, U

nifo

rm S

tate

wid

e P

rogr

ams

(con

t.)

7.

New

Yor

k. A

vera

ge m

onth

ly b

enef

its r

efle

ct a

n av

erag

e m

onth

ly fa

mily

ben

efit

of $

454

and

an a

vera

ge o

ne-p

erso

n m

onth

ly b

enef

it of

$30

3.

8.

Ohi

o. C

asel

oad

and

expe

nditu

re in

form

atio

n fo

r O

hio

refle

cts

the

Dis

abili

ty A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am.

It ex

clud

es d

ata

for

the

Gen

eral

Ass

ista

nce

(GA

) pr

ogra

m, t

hepr

ogra

m fo

r ab

le-b

odie

d ad

ults

, whi

ch w

as te

rmin

ated

as

of 8

/95.

Dur

ing

the

first

7 m

onth

s of

199

5, th

e G

A p

rogr

am h

ad a

n av

erag

e m

onth

ly c

ash

case

load

of

49,5

77 (

50,7

36 p

erso

ns)

and

an a

vera

ge m

onth

ly m

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e ca

selo

ad o

f 19,

931

pers

ons.

Exp

endi

ture

s un

der

the

GA

pro

gram

wer

e $3

4.5

mill

ion

for

cash

assi

stan

ce a

nd $

12.6

mill

ion

for

med

ical

ass

ista

nce.

9.

Pen

nsyl

vani

a. E

ffect

ive

6/96

abl

e-bo

died

indi

vidu

als

and

fam

ilies

are

no

long

er e

ligib

le fo

r ca

sh a

ssis

tanc

e.

Tab

le 5

.2: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am C

asel

oads

and

Exp

endi

ture

s, C

ount

y-B

ased

Sta

tew

ide

Pro

gram

s

Sta

teR

epor

ting

Per

iod

Ave

rage

Mon

thly

Cas

eloa

dA

nnua

l Exp

endi

ture

sA

vera

ge M

onth

ly B

enef

it (

per

Cas

e)

Cal

iforn

ia1

99

59

1,8

44

pe

rso

ns

$20.

8 m

illio

nIn

divi

dual

: $22

6 L

os A

ngel

es C

ount

yF

amili

es: N

ot A

vaila

ble

1

Idah

oN

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

eN

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

e

Ad

a C

ou

nty

Illin

ois

19

95

1.

8,9

24

ca

ses

(an

d p

ers

on

s)1.

$1

2.4

mill

ion

1. $

11

6 C

ity o

f Chi

cago

and

app

rox.

60

othe

r lo

calit

ies

rece

ivin

g2

. 1

,24

6 c

ase

s (1

,52

8 p

ers

on

s)2.

$2

.5 m

illio

n2

. $1

70

st

ate

fu

nd

s1.

Tra

nsiti

onal

Ass

ista

nce

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce

(for

bot

h2.

Fam

ily a

nd C

hild

ren

TA

and

FC

A):

$7.

4 m

illio

nA

ssis

tanc

e (F

CA

)

Indi

ana

1995

4,5

45

to

tal c

ase

s (1

1,0

71

$1.5

mill

ion

Not

Ava

ilabl

e

Ce

nte

r T

ow

nsh

ip o

f M

ari

on

pe

rso

ns)

in 1

99

5

Co

un

ty

Iow

aN

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

eN

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

e P

olk

Co

un

ty

Nev

ada

FY

End

ing

July

199

6C

ash

assi

stan

ce: 8

,428

tota

lC

ash

assi

stan

ce: $

2.4

mill

ionNot

Ava

ilabl

e

Cla

rk C

ou

nty

case

s in

FY

96

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

10,

819

mill

ion

tota

l cas

es in

FY

96

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

$28

.7

New

Ham

pshi

reF

Y E

ndin

g Ju

ly 1

996

2,42

7 to

tal c

ases

in F

Y 9

6N

ot A

vaila

ble

$402

/yea

r

City

of

Ma

nch

est

er

So

uth

Da

kota

19

95

48

2 c

ase

s$2

.8 m

illio

nN

ot A

vaila

ble

M

inn

eh

ah

a C

ou

nty

Sou

rce:

Urb

an In

stitu

te 1

996

1.

Cal

iforn

ia, L

os A

ngel

es C

ount

y. T

he a

vera

ge n

umbe

r of

mon

thly

GA

rec

ipie

nts

per

1,00

0 Lo

s A

ngel

es c

ount

y re

side

nts

is a

ppro

xim

atel

y 9.

9 pe

rson

s. T

his

estim

ate

was

cal

cula

ted

usin

g th

e Lo

s A

ngel

es C

ount

y po

pula

tion

as o

f 7/1

/94,

as

prov

ided

in th

e C

alifo

rnia

Sta

tistic

al A

bstr

act,

1995

.

Tab

le 5

.3: G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

am C

asel

oads

and

Exp

endi

ture

s, S

tate

s W

ithou

t Man

date

d P

rogr

ams

Sta

teR

epor

ting

Per

iod

Ave

rage

Mon

thly

Cas

eloa

dA

nnua

l Exp

endi

ture

sA

vera

ge M

onth

ly B

enef

it (

per

Cas

e)

Flo

rida

19

95

72

0 c

ase

s$1

.8 m

illio

n$2

04 D

ad

e C

ou

nty

Geo

rgia

Not

Ava

ilabl

eN

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

eN

ot A

vaila

ble

Ful

ton

Cou

nty

Ken

tuck

yF

Y E

ndin

g Ju

ne 1

995

2,90

2 ca

ses

(tot

al fo

r F

Y 1

995)

$1.0

mill

ion

(net

of S

SI

Not

Ava

ilabl

e J

eff

ers

on

Co

un

tyre

imbu

rsem

ents

)

Mon

tana

FY

199

6N

onm

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e: 9

3 to

talN

onm

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e:N

ot A

vaila

ble

Yel

low

ston

e C

ount

ype

rson

s in

FY

199

6$6

1,47

3

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

63

tota

lM

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e:p

ers

on

s in

FY

19

96

$6

9,0

75

Nor

th C

arol

ina

Not

Ava

ilabl

eN

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

eN

ot A

vaila

ble

D

urh

am

Co

un

ty

Nor

th D

akot

a19

9542

cas

es (

tota

l for

199

5)$3

3,72

8 (m

ostly

for

buria

lN

ot A

vaila

ble

Ca

ss C

ou

nty

expe

nditu

res)

Tex

asN

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

eN

ot A

vaila

ble

Not

Ava

ilabl

e

Ha

rris

Co

un

ty

Virg

inia

Ma

y 1

99

55

98

ca

ses

(67

3 p

ers

on

s)$

19

8,9

20

/mo

nth

Not

Ava

ilabl

e F

airf

ax C

ount

y

Wis

cons

inN

ovem

ber

1995

871

nonm

edic

al c

ases

;N

onm

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e: $

54.5

Non

med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

$90

1

1,86

6 m

edic

al a

nd n

onm

edic

alm

illio

nca

ses;

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

1,1

205,

263

med

ical

-onl

y ca

ses

Med

ical

ass

ista

nce:

$13

.3m

illio

n

Sou

rce:

Urb

an In

stitu

te 1

996

1.

Wis

cons

in.

Info

rmat

ion

refle

cts

stat

ewid

e pr

ogra

m e

nrol

lmen

t and

exp

endi

ture

s pr

ior

to th

e in

stitu

tion

of th

e bl

ock

gran

t pro

gram

, but

afte

r M

ilwau

kee

Cou

nty

drop

ped

its n

onm

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e pr

ogra

m.

Mon

thly

cas

eloa

d av

erag

es fo

r 19

94, w

hen

Milw

auke

e C

ount

y ha

d a

nonm

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e pr

ogra

m, a

re a

s fo

llow

s:6,

475

nonm

edic

al c

ases

; 3,1

72 m

edic

al a

nd n

onm

edic

al c

ases

; 2,7

99 m

edic

al-o

nly

case

s.

6-1

CHAPTER 6: MAJOR CHANGES

TO GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SINCE 1992

Many states have implemented changes to their General Assistance programs since the

publication of the previous GA report in 1992 by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and

the National Conference of State Legislatures. These changes, detailed in Table 6.1, have taken

three forms: (1) benefit level changes, (2) contractions in eligibility, and (3) miscellaneous other

changes.

Benefit Level Changes

Few states increase benefits with inflation. In fact, most benefit levels set during or prior

to 1992 remain in effect in 1996. Over the last four years, 8 states enacted benefit increases; 6

states reduced benefits; and two-thirds of the states held benefits constant. Of the states that

increased benefits, none increased benefits by more than inflation. Therefore, in real terms GA

benefits either remained constant or decreased since 1992.

Of states that decreased benefit levels, California deserves special mention. In 1993, the

state of California gave counties the right to seek state mandate relief by reducing GA benefit

levels. The California county surveyed for this report (Los Angeles County) responded by

lowering benefits by about 25 percent for individuals in 1996.

Contractions in Eligibility

Several states implemented some type of major program contraction since 1992. In

January 1996, Wisconsin terminated its GA program, a county-based program which had

provided assistance to all needy persons (the state set minimum benefits and some eligibility

rules). It was replaced with a block grant program, under which counties can choose whether to

have a program. However, counties that choose to have a nonmedical assistance program must

also have a medical assistance program. Several counties have chosen not to provide GA, and

among those that do have GA programs, some have narrowed the populations eligible for

assistance (e.g., eliminated eligibility for able-bodied employable individuals without children),

and some now provide only medical assistance. In addition, Montana eliminated the state-run

6-2

GA program that was administered in 12 of its 56 counties, although some counties continue to

administer their own GA programs.

In addition to the changes in Wisconsin and Montana, five states (Connecticut, Hawaii,

Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania) eliminated benefits for able-bodied employable individuals

without children; Pennsylvania eliminated benefits for families as well. Except for persons no

longer eligible for benefits in Ohio, a portion of persons losing eligibility for GA cash assistance

may continue to be eligible for medical assistance. Two states (Arizona and Rhode Island)

eliminated benefits for pregnant women. Four states tightened the eligibility criteria for persons

with disabilities (Arizona, Florida, Oregon, and Rhode Island), and three states (Arizona, Hawaii,

and New Mexico) decreased the duration for which benefits are available to disabled recipients.

In addition, Vermont tightened the eligibility criteria for able-bodied individuals without children.

Miscellaneous Other Changes

Aside from benefit level changes and contractions in eligibility, several states also

implemented other changes to their GA programs since 1992. These changes are detailed in

Table 6.1.

Tab

le 6

.1: M

ajor

Cha

nges

to G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

Sin

ce 1

992

(Su

mm

er

19

96

)

Sta

teB

enef

it Le

vel C

hang

esC

ontr

actio

ns in

Elig

ibili

tyO

ther

Maj

or C

hang

es

Ala

bam

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Ala

ska

Non

eIn

199

4, th

e m

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e pr

ogra

m r

educ

edN

one

cove

rage

of i

npat

ient

hos

pita

l cha

rges

from

the

Med

icai

d ra

te to

28%

of c

osts

, and

lim

ited

the

len

gth

of

sta

y co

vere

d t

o 8

da

ys.

Ariz

ona

Non

eE

ffect

ive

7/93

, dur

atio

n of

ass

ista

nce

for

disa

bled

Non

epe

rson

s re

duce

d fr

om o

ngoi

ng to

12

mon

ths

in a

36

mo

nth

pe

rio

d.

E

ffect

ive

6/96

, elig

ibili

ty is

res

tric

ted

to p

erso

nsdi

sabl

ed 1

2 m

onth

s or

long

er; t

his

tight

ened

the

prev

ious

crit

eria

of 3

0 da

ys o

r lo

nger

.E

ffect

ive

6/96

, pre

gnan

t wom

en a

re n

o lo

nger

elig

ible

for

med

ical

ass

ista

nce

prog

ram

.

Ark

ansa

sN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Cal

iforn

iaE

ffect

ive

11/9

3, c

ount

ies

wer

eE

ffect

ive

1/97

, cou

ntie

s w

ere

give

n th

e op

tion

toN

one

Los

Ang

eles

Cou

nty

give

n th

e rig

ht to

app

eal t

heim

plem

ent a

var

iety

of p

rogr

am c

hang

es, i

nclu

ding

:st

anda

rd o

f aid

(to

see

k st

ate

(1)

limiti

ng b

enef

its fo

r ab

le-b

odie

d re

cipi

ents

to 3

man

date

rel

ief)

, and

in 1

996

this

mon

ths

in a

12

mon

th p

erio

d (t

ime

limits

can

onl

ype

riod

was

ext

ende

d to

36

be im

pose

d if

reci

pien

ts h

ave

been

offe

red

job

mon

ths.

Los

Ang

eles

Cou

nty

skill

s or

trai

ning

ses

sion

s), a

nd (

2) r

equi

ring

was

gra

nted

a r

eprie

ve fr

om th

em

anda

tory

dru

g sc

reen

ing

and

trea

tmen

t. A

t thi

sst

ate

man

date

in 1

996

and

was

time,

Los

Ang

eles

Cou

nty

has

mad

e no

dec

isio

nsal

low

ed to

low

er it

s be

nefit

s;on

whe

ther

to im

plem

ent t

hese

opt

ions

.b

en

efit

s w

ere

re

du

ced

by

ab

ou

t25

% fo

r in

divi

dual

s an

d 15

% fo

rfa

mili

es.

Tab

le 6

.1: M

ajor

Cha

nges

to G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

Sin

ce 1

992

(con

t.)

Sta

teB

enef

it Le

vel C

hang

esC

ontr

actio

ns in

Elig

ibili

tyO

ther

Maj

or C

hang

es

Col

orad

oN

one

Non

e1.

Effe

ctiv

e 6/

96, a

sset

lim

its a

nd e

xem

ptio

ns1

. A

id t

o t

he

Ne

ed

yb

eca

me

ma

tch

ed

to

th

ose

imp

ose

d u

nd

er

SS

I.D

isab

led

(Sta

tew

ide)

2. G

A (

City

and

Cou

nty

chem

ical

dep

ende

ncy

is p

rimar

y di

sabi

lity,

of

De

nve

r)re

cipi

ents

will

be

requ

ired

to p

artic

ipat

e in

a

Effe

ctiv

e 1/

97, a

ll ap

plic

ants

will

be

drug

test

ed.

If

trea

tmen

t pro

gram

and

will

be

limite

d to

a to

tal o

f36

mon

ths

of b

enef

its.

Rec

ipie

nts

will

be

drug

test

ed p

erio

dica

lly a

nd a

nyon

e w

ith m

ore

than

two

posi

tive

drug

test

s w

ill b

e pe

rman

ently

inel

igib

le fo

rbe

nefit

s.

2.

No

ne

Con

nect

icut

Sin

ce 1

992,

ben

efit

leve

ls h

ave

Effe

ctiv

e 9/

96, e

mpl

oyab

le, j

ob-r

eady

per

sons

are

The

sta

te is

gra

dual

ly ta

king

incr

ease

dbe

en s

light

ly r

educ

ed n

early

no lo

nger

elig

ible

for

GA

cas

h as

sist

ance

. re

spon

sibi

lity

for

the

adm

inis

trat

ive

cont

rol a

ndev

ery

year

for

all c

ateg

orie

s of

Em

ploy

able

, not

-job

read

y re

mai

n el

igib

le.

fund

ing

for

the

GA

pro

gram

.re

cipi

ents

.

1

Del

awar

eN

one

Non

eN

one

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia

Effe

ctiv

e 10

/1/9

6 be

nefit

s w

ill b

eN

one

The

aut

o (a

sset

) ex

empt

ion

will

be

incr

ease

d fr

omre

du

ced

by

4%

.$

15

00

to

$4

50

0 t

o c

on

form

with

Fo

od

Sta

mp

sel

igib

ility

crit

eria

.

Flo

rida

Pri

or

to 7

/95

, b

en

efit

s va

rie

dT

he

cu

rre

nt

pro

gra

m w

as

pu

t in

to e

ffe

ct o

n 7

/95

,N

on

e

Da

de

Co

un

tya

cco

rdin

g to

wh

eth

er

the

and

has

mor

e re

stric

tive

elig

ibili

ty r

equi

rem

ents

than

reci

pien

t pai

d re

nt.

(Tho

se n

otth

e pr

evio

us p

rogr

am.

payi

ng r

ent r

ecei

ved

low

erb

en

efit

s.)

No

w e

very

on

ere

ceiv

es th

e sa

me

bene

fit.

Geo

rgia

Non

eN

one

Non

e

Tab

le 6

.1: M

ajor

Cha

nges

to G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

Sin

ce 1

992

(con

t.)

Sta

teB

enef

it Le

vel C

hang

esC

ontr

actio

ns in

Elig

ibili

tyO

ther

Maj

or C

hang

es

Haw

aii

In 1

995,

pro

gram

bec

ame

aE

ffect

ive

8/95

, abl

e-bo

died

adu

lts a

ges

55-6

5 ar

eN

one

bloc

k gr

ant p

rogr

am.

The

no lo

nger

elig

ible

for

bene

fits.

bene

fit le

vels

var

y by

the

num

ber

Effe

ctiv

e 7/

96, b

enef

its fo

r in

divi

dual

s ar

e lim

ited

toof

peo

ple

need

ing

assi

stan

ce; t

he24

mon

ths

(ret

roac

tive

to 7

/95)

.a

mo

un

ts o

f th

e g

ran

t a

nd

bene

fits

chan

ge e

very

few

mo

nth

s.

Idah

oN

A (

All

bene

fits

are

in th

e fo

rmN

one

Effe

ctiv

e 7/

96, a

pplic

atio

ns fo

r m

edic

al c

over

age

A

da C

ount

yof

vou

cher

s/ve

ndor

pay

men

ts;

mus

t be

filed

with

in a

set

tim

e. N

ew le

gisl

atio

nno

max

imum

ben

efits

.)de

fines

exp

licitl

y w

hich

ser

vice

s ar

e “m

edic

ally

nece

ssar

y” a

nd w

hich

res

ourc

es a

pplic

ants

mus

tse

ek b

efor

e se

ekin

g co

unty

ass

ista

nce.

Illin

ois

Effe

ctiv

e 7/

95, b

enef

it le

vels

Non

eE

ffect

ive

7/95

, Int

erim

Ass

ista

nce

chan

ged

from

City

of C

hica

goun

der

the

Tra

nsiti

onal

bein

g a

sepa

rate

pro

gram

to b

eing

par

t of

Ass

ista

nce

Pro

gram

dec

reas

edT

rans

ition

al A

ssis

tanc

e.b

y a

bo

ut

35

%.

Indi

ana

Ben

efits

are

cha

nged

eac

h ye

arN

one

Non

e

Ce

nte

r T

ow

nsh

ip o

fto

refle

ct in

flatio

n.

Ma

rio

n C

ou

nty

Iow

aN

one

Non

eN

one

Kan

sas

Non

eN

one

Non

e

Ke

ntu

cky

No

ne

No

ne

Th

e c

ou

nty

is in

th

e p

roce

ss o

f cr

ea

ting

a s

yste

m

Jeff

ers

on

Co

un

tyof

mul

ti-se

rvic

e ce

nter

s, w

hich

will

incl

ude

the

Em

erge

ncy

Fin

anci

al A

ssis

tanc

e pr

ogra

m.

Loui

sian

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Tab

le 6

.1: M

ajor

Cha

nges

to G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

Sin

ce 1

992

(con

t.)

Sta

teB

enef

it Le

vel C

hang

esC

ontr

actio

ns in

Elig

ibili

tyO

ther

Maj

or C

hang

es

Mai

neE

ffect

ive

7/93

, max

imum

ben

efit

Effe

ctiv

e 7/

93, t

owns

can

req

uire

rec

ipie

nts

to fu

lfillNon

ele

vels

spl

it in

to u

rban

/rur

al, s

oW

orkf

are

requ

irem

ent b

efor

e pr

ovid

ing

bene

fits,

that

a s

ingl

e co

unty

may

hav

eun

less

an

emer

genc

y ex

ists

.tw

o be

nefit

leve

ls.

Ben

efits

are

Effe

ctiv

e 7/

93, M

aine

par

ents

are

fina

ncia

llyup

date

d ea

ch O

ctob

er in

resp

onsi

ble

for

thei

r ch

ildre

n up

to a

ge 2

5.co

ordi

natio

n w

ith H

UD

upd

ates

.

2

Mar

ylan

d1.

The

TE

MH

A p

rogr

am r

epla

ced

the

Dis

able

d A

ssis

tanc

e Lo

an P

rogr

am (

DA

LP)

in 7

/95.

TE

MH

A b

egan

as

a vo

uche

r pr

ogra

m, w

hile

1. T

rans

ition

alD

ALP

had

bee

n a

cash

ass

ista

nce

prog

ram

. T

EM

HA

was

then

reo

rgan

ized

in 1

/96

and

beca

me

a ca

sh p

rogr

am, p

rovi

ding

a fl

at b

enef

itE

mer

genc

y, M

edic

al,

amou

nt o

f $1

00 p

er m

onth

. I

t is

a c

appe

d pr

ogra

m,

so t

hat

whe

n th

e al

loca

ted

budg

et is

dep

lete

d, n

o ne

w r

ecip

ient

s ca

n be

ser

ved.

and

Hou

sing

Ass

ista

nce

(TE

MH

A)

2.

On

7/9

6 b

en

efit

s d

ecr

ea

sed

by

ab

ou

t 4

0%

. P

reg

na

nt

wo

me

n w

ho

are

min

ors

are

re

qu

ire

d t

o li

ve w

ith a

ca

reta

ker

rela

tive

or

in a

su

pe

rvis

ed

2.

GA

fo

r P

reg

na

nt

Wom

en

livin

g ar

rang

emen

t; pa

ymen

ts a

re m

ade

to p

rote

ctiv

e pa

yees

.

Mas

sach

uset

tsN

one

Non

eN

one

Mic

higa

nN

one

Non

eS

tate

Dis

abili

ty A

ssis

tanc

e w

ill a

dopt

the

sam

ede

finiti

on o

f dis

abili

ty fo

r dr

ug a

nd a

lcoh

olad

dict

ion

as th

e S

ocia

l Sec

urity

Adm

inis

trat

ion

isad

optin

g.

Min

neso

taN

one

Effe

ctiv

e 7/

95, t

he W

ork

Rea

dine

ss p

rogr

am fo

rE

ffect

ive

6/95

, wor

k re

quire

men

t for

Indi

vidu

alem

ploy

able

per

sons

was

elim

inat

ed.

(non

-fam

ily)

GA

rec

ipie

nts

elim

inat

ed.

Effe

ctiv

e 7/

96, a

dult

reci

pien

ts m

ust h

ave

a S

ocia

lim

plem

ente

d.S

ecur

ity N

umbe

r, a

nd e

ffect

ive

7/97

chi

ldre

n m

ust

ha

ve a

So

cia

l Se

curi

ty N

um

be

r.

Th

ese

requ

irem

ents

effe

ctiv

ely

elim

inat

e un

docu

men

ted

alie

ns fr

om e

ligib

ility

.

Effe

ctiv

e 7/

96, 3

0 da

y re

side

ncy

requ

irem

ent

Mis

siss

ippi

No

GA

Pro

gram

Mis

sour

iN

one

Non

eN

one

Tab

le 6

.1: M

ajor

Cha

nges

to G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

Sin

ce 1

992

(con

t.)

Sta

teB

enef

it Le

vel C

hang

esC

ontr

actio

ns in

Elig

ibili

tyO

ther

Maj

or C

hang

es

Mon

tana

Ben

efit

leve

ls a

re a

djus

ted

The

199

3 le

gisl

atur

e te

rmin

ated

a s

tate

-run

gen

eral

Non

e Y

ello

wst

one

Cou

nty

annu

ally

to r

efle

ct 4

0.5%

of t

heas

sist

ance

pro

gram

that

had

ope

rate

d in

12

fede

ral p

over

ty le

vel.

coun

ties.

Neb

rask

aN

one

Non

eN

one

Nev

ada

Non

eN

one

Non

e

Cla

rk C

ou

nty

New

Ham

pshi

reN

A (

All

bene

fits

are

in th

e fo

rmN

one

Non

e

City

of

Ma

nch

est

er

of

vou

che

rs/v

en

do

r p

aym

en

ts;

no m

axim

um b

enef

its.)

New

Jer

sey

Non

eN

one

The

6 m

onth

lim

it on

ass

ista

nce

for

empl

oyab

lead

ults

was

elim

inat

ed.

Ben

efits

are

now

ong

oing

.

New

Mex

ico

Ben

efit

leve

ls c

hang

e w

ithE

ffect

ive

10/9

5, d

urat

ion

of a

ssis

tanc

e fo

r pe

rson

sN

one

AF

DC

. La

st in

crea

se w

as 7

/96.

with

dis

abili

ties

is li

mite

d to

12

mon

ths,

with

are

quire

d 9

mon

ths

off a

ssis

tanc

e be

fore

rec

ipie

ntca

n re

appl

y. P

revi

ousl

y, d

urat

ion

was

ong

oing

.

New

Yor

kN

one

Non

eE

ffect

ive

7/96

, a n

ew r

esid

ency

req

uire

men

t lim

itsth

e m

axim

um b

enef

it fo

r th

e 6

mon

ths

in N

ew Y

ork

to th

e be

nefit

, if a

ny, i

n th

e re

cipi

ent's

form

er s

tate

of r

esid

ence

.

Nor

th C

arol

ina

Non

eN

one

Non

e

No

rth

Da

kota

No

ne

No

ne

No

ne

C

ass

Co

un

ty

Ohi

oN

one

Effe

ctiv

e 8/

95, t

he G

A p

rogr

am fo

r ab

le-b

odie

dN

one

adul

ts w

as e

limin

ated

.

Okl

ahom

aN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Tab

le 6

.1: M

ajor

Cha

nges

to G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

Sin

ce 1

992

(con

t.)

Sta

teB

enef

it Le

vel C

hang

esC

ontr

actio

ns in

Elig

ibili

tyO

ther

Maj

or C

hang

es

Ore

gon

Sin

ce 1

992,

ben

efit

leve

lsE

ffect

ive

7/95

, ben

efits

are

no

long

er a

vaila

ble

toN

one

incr

ease

d by

abo

ut 7

%.

pers

ons

with

a s

hort

term

dis

abili

ty.

Pen

nsyl

vani

aN

one

Effe

ctiv

e 6/

96, a

ble-

bodi

ed a

dults

and

fam

ilies

are

Non

eno

long

er e

ligib

le fo

r as

sist

ance

.

Rho

de Is

land

Non

eP

regn

ant w

omen

are

no

long

er e

ligib

le fo

rN

one

assi

stan

ce.

Tem

pora

rily

disa

bled

per

sons

are

no

long

ergu

aran

teed

cas

h as

ssis

tanc

e, a

lthou

gh th

ey c

ontin

ueto

qua

lify

for

med

ical

ass

ista

nce.

Sou

th C

arol

ina

No

GA

pro

gram

So

uth

Da

kota

No

ne

No

ne

No

ne

M

inn

eh

ah

a C

ou

nty

Te

nn

ess

ee

No

GA

Pro

gram

Tex

asN

one

Non

eN

one

H

arr

is C

ou

nty

Uta

hB

enef

its in

crea

sed

by a

bout

5%

Non

eN

one

in 1

994.

Tab

le 6

.1: M

ajor

Cha

nges

to G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

Sin

ce 1

992

(con

t.)

Sta

teB

enef

it Le

vel C

hang

esC

ontr

actio

ns in

Elig

ibili

tyO

ther

Maj

or C

hang

es

Ver

mon

tP

rio

r to

19

95

, th

ere

we

re n

oP

rio

r to

19

95

, p

ers

on

s a

ge

40

an

d o

lde

r w

ere

No

ne

bene

fit m

axim

ums.

In

1995

,co

nsid

ered

to h

ave

a ba

rrie

r to

em

ploy

men

t. In

bene

fit m

axim

ums

wer

e19

95, t

his

age

was

incr

ease

d to

55.

impl

emen

ted

for

bene

fits

rece

ived

afte

r th

e fir

st 6

0 da

ys o

fP

rior

to 1

995,

hav

ing

an e

ight

h gr

ade

educ

atio

n or

assi

stan

ce.

The

se m

axim

ums

less

and

bei

ng u

nabl

e to

rea

d or

writ

e co

nstit

uted

mat

ch A

FD

C li

mits

and

ben

efit

two

barr

iers

to e

mpl

oym

ent.

Beg

inni

ng in

199

5,le

vels

cha

nge

with

AF

DC

. La

stha

ving

bot

h or

eith

er o

f the

se c

hara

cter

istic

sch

ange

7/9

6.co

nstit

utes

one

bar

rier

to e

mpl

oym

ent.

Effe

ctiv

e 19

95, a

ble-

bodi

ed c

oupl

es w

ithou

tch

ildre

n ar

e el

igib

le o

nly

if bo

th p

erso

ns m

eet

elig

ibili

ty c

riter

ia.

In th

e pa

st th

ey w

ere

elig

ible

as

long

as

one

spou

se m

et e

ligib

ility

crit

eria

.

Effe

ctiv

e 19

95, u

nmar

ried

coup

les

with

chi

ldre

nm

ust a

pply

for

bene

fits

as a

hou

seho

ld. P

revi

ousl

yth

ey c

ould

app

ly s

epar

atel

y.

Virg

inia

Effe

ctiv

e 7/

96, b

enef

it le

vels

Non

eN

one

F

air

fax

Co

un

tyd

ecr

ea

sed

fro

m 1

00

% o

fst

an

da

rd o

f a

ssis

tan

ce t

o 9

0%

of

stan

dard

of a

ssis

tanc

e.

Was

hing

ton

Ben

efits

for

preg

nant

wom

enN

one

Non

ean

d ch

ildre

n w

ith g

uard

ians

incr

ea

sed

by

ab

ou

t 3

%.

Wes

t Virg

inia

No

GA

Pro

gram

Tab

le 6

.1: M

ajor

Cha

nges

to G

ener

al A

ssis

tanc

e P

rogr

ams

Sin

ce 1

992

(con

t.)

Sta

teB

enef

it Le

vel C

hang

esC

ontr

actio

ns in

Elig

ibili

tyO

ther

Maj

or C

hang

es

Wis

cons

inIn

9/95

, Milw

auke

e C

ount

y ch

ose

to n

o lo

nger

pay

any

form

of n

onm

edic

al a

ssis

tanc

e.

As

of 1

/96,

the

stat

e te

rmin

ated

the

Gen

eral

Rel

ief p

rogr

am, w

hich

man

date

d al

l cou

ntie

s to

cov

er a

ll ne

edy

pers

ons

(the

sta

te s

et m

inim

umbe

nefit

s an

d so

me

elig

ibili

ty r

ules

). I

t was

rep

lace

d w

ith th

e R

elie

f Blo

ck G

rant

Pro

gram

. U

nder

this

new

pro

gram

, cou

ntie

s ca

n ch

oose

whe

ther

to h

ave

a pr

ogra

m.

How

ever

, cou

ntie

s w

hich

cho

ose

to h

ave

a no

nmed

ical

ass

ista

nce

prog

ram

mus

t als

o ha

ve a

med

ical

ass

ista

nce

prog

ram

. (M

ilwau

kee

Cou

nty

is p

rohi

bite

d by

sta

tute

from

hav

ing

a no

nmed

ical

pro

gram

.) I

n D

ane

Cou

nty,

oth

er c

hang

es th

at w

ent i

nto

effe

ct a

t thi

s tim

e in

clud

e ex

clud

ing

able

-bod

ied

adul

ts a

nd il

lega

l alie

ns fr

om e

ligib

ility

(bo

th g

roup

s w

ere

elig

ible

und

er th

e pr

ior

prog

ram

) an

dad

ding

a 6

0-da

y re

side

ncy

requ

irem

ent.

Wyo

min

gN

o G

A P

rogr

am

Sou

rce:

Urb

an In

sitit

ute

1996

1.

Con

nect

icut

. E

ffect

ive

4/96

, the

pro

port

ion

of G

A c

osts

fund

ed b

y th

e st

ate

incr

ease

d fr

om 8

0% to

90%

. E

ffect

ive

4/97

, the

sta

te w

ill ta

ke o

ver

GA

adm

inis

trat

ion

in 1

0 ci

ties.

Thi

s w

ill in

clud

e 65

% o

f the

GA

cas

es.

Effe

ctiv

e 7/

98, t

he s

tate

will

take

ove

r G

A e

ntire

ly (

with

the

poss

ible

exc

eptio

n of

a fe

w to

wns

).

2.

Mai

ne.

Effe

ctiv

e 7/

93, t

he s

tate

's m

odel

ord

inan

ce w

as c

hang

ed to

inco

rpor

ate

the

follo

win

g: (

1) p

erso

ns w

ho p

rovi

de fa

lse

info

rmat

ion,

do

not a

pply

for

pote

ntia

lre

sour

ces,

or

do n

ot fu

lfill

thei

r w

ork

requ

irem

ent a

re d

isqu

alifi

ed fr

om b

enef

its fo

r 12

0 da

ys (

this

incr

ease

d fr

om th

e pr

evio

us d

isqu

alifi

catio

n pe

riod

of 9

0 da

ys),

(2)

any

appl

ican

t who

has

eve

r re

ceiv

ed G

A in

Mai

ne is

not

con

side

red

a ne

w a

pplic

ant a

nd is

acc

ount

able

for

his

or h

er in

com

e an

d ex

pend

iture

s in

the

30 d

ays

prio

r to

rea

pplic

atio

n, a

nd (

3) if

app

lican

ts h

ave

forf

eite

d fe

dera

l ben

efits

by

brea

king

the

rule

s of

the

fede

ral p

rogr

am, G

A w

ill n

o lo

nger

rep

lace

that

inco

me.

1. This report contains information for the following counties: Los Angeles County, California; County of Denver,Colorado; Dade County, Florida; Fulton County, Georgia; Ada County, Idaho; City of Chicago, Illinois; CenterTownship of Marion County, Indiana; Polk County, Iowa; Jefferson County, Kentucky; Yellowstone County,Montana; Clark County, Nevada; City of Manchester, New Hampshire; Durham County, North Carolina; CassCounty, North Dakota; Minnehaha County, South Dakota; Harris County, Texas; Fairfax County, Virginia, andDane County, Wisconsin. (Mecklenburg County, the most populous county in North Carolina, could not becontacted, and was replaced in this survey by Durham County, North Carolina. The general assistance program inMilwaukee County, the most populous county in Wisconsin, only provides medical assistance and was thereforereplaced by Dane County, the second most populous county in that state, whose GA program provides both cashassistance and medical assistance.)

A-1

APPENDIX A: DATA COLLECTION

GA program information is not routinely collected. The last comprehensive survey of the

states regarding this program was conducted in 1992 by the Center on Budget and Policy

Priorities and the National Conference of State Legislatures. The 1992 report collected

information similar to that of previous studies conducted by the Department of Health and

Human Services in 1978, 1982, and 1989. To obtain information on the status of GA programs in

1996, the Urban Institute conducted a telephone survey of each state and the District of

Columbia between June and August 1996. Staff interviewed program officers in each state and

contacted county program officers to obtain further information on GA programs in states with

county-run rather than state-run GA programs. However, in states with more than one county-

administered GA program, we only interviewed program officers in the most populous county. 1

To ensure the accuracy of the information gathered during the telephone interview, survey

results were written up and sent to the GA program officers for verification.