Alabama Administrative Code › Title 660 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES › Chapter 660-2-2 - AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN › Appendix A - Attachments (REPEALED) › Attachment 660-2-2-.03 - FAMILY ASSISTANCE (FA) PROGRAM SUMMARIZED ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
Persons who apply for or receive cash benefits must meet
				  certain requirements. They must help determine eligibility for benefits. They
				  must participate in activities that will help them become able to support their
				  families. This includes cooperating with child support and JOBS. Persons who do
				  not cooperate may be denied or may lose benefits.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
A. The child must live in the home of a
				parent or other close relative.
B.
				A person can only receive FA benefits as an adult for 5 years in his or her
				lifetime.
C. The child must be
				under age 18 unless in school. If in school the child may receive benefits
				through the month before the 19th birthday or the
				last month in school, whichever is earlier.
D. The child must be a U.S. citizen or a
				legal, eligible alien.
E. The child
				must live in Alabama. A person who has been convicted of giving a false address
				to get help from two States at the same time cannot receive benefits for ten
				years.
F. The child cannot be
				receiving foster care from the Department of Human Resources.
G. The child must not be participating in a
				strike. No family member may receive FA if a parent or stepparent is on
				strike.
H. The relative must
				cooperate with Child Support unless the Department decides s/he has a good
				reason not to cooperate.
Child support received for a child is assigned to the State
				  Department of Human Resources when an application for FA is made for the
				  child.
I. The relative must
				turn over all child support payments to the State.
J. The relative must give a Social Security
				number for each member of the assistance unit. If a member does not have a
				Social Security number, the relative must apply for a number. The number must
				be provided when received.
K. The
				relative must participate in the JOBS Program. The relative must accept a job
				unless the County Department tells him or her otherwise. Parents under age 18
				who are dependent children are required to participate.
L. The relative must apply for any other
				benefits for which they may be eligible, such as Veteran's Benefits, Social
				Security, Unemployment Compensation, etc.
M. A parent who is under age 18 and his or
				her children must live with an adult. This adult must be a relative or a legal
				guardian. If an adult relative or guardian is not available, the parent under
				18 and his or her children must live in an adult-supervised supportive living
				arrangement.
N. The relative must
				tell the worker about family circumstances. The relative may be asked to prove
				some or all of the family circumstances with documents.
O. A parent under age 18 with a child that is
				at least 12 weeks old must have a high-school diploma or be in school or a
				training program.
P. The child or
				relative must not be breaking a condition of parole or probation. The child or
				relative must not be a convicted felon who is on the run to avoid arrest, trial
				or jail. The child or relative must not have been convicted of a felony for the
				use or sale of a controlled substance or having a controlled
				substance.
Q. A parent must sign
				and meet the terms of their Family Responsibility Plan.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
R. The child must be in need by agency rules
				and not have parents or stepparents who can support him/her. "In need" means
				the family does not have net monthly income that equals or is more than the
				payment standard and is eligible for at least $10. The payment standard is
				listed below. In determining need, the income of all persons in the assistance
				unit is counted. Before earned income is counted, a 20% work expense and child
				care are subtracted from gross income.
FA STANDARDS
FAMILY PAYMENT SIZE
PAYMENT STANDARDS
1
165
2
190
3
215
4
245
5
275
6
305
7
335
8
365
9
395
10
425
11
455
12
485
13
515
14
545
15
575
16
605
"Family" means all persons included that make up the family
				  size. Generally, persons to be included are the parents and brothers and
				  sisters of the child(ren) living in the home. Other children related to the
				  parent(s) such as stepchildren and nieces, etc. may be included.
(If a child in a group of brothers and sisters is included,
				  all of his/her brothers and sisters who live in the home must be included if
				  eligible.) The income of all persons in the unit is used to determine
				  eligibility. A family with income that is equal to or more than the payment
				  standard for the family size is not eligible for FA.
Examples of Income:
* Wages, commissions, salaries
* Social security benefits, VA benefits
* Child support
* Unemployment compensation benefits
* Cash contributions from friends, relatives or others
Family assistance will be paid for recipients who are
				  eligible for at least $10 for up to five years. Benefits are not paid for less
				  than $10.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
* WHERE TO APPLY
You must apply for FA at the Department of Human Resources in
				  the county where you live. You must take part in an in-office, private
				  interview with a worker. The application interview may start with a general
				  explanation of the program to a group of applicants.
* REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Applicants:
You must report any changes in your
				  family's situation that occur after your interview and before your case is
				  awarded.
Recipients:
You must notify the Department
				  within 10 days of any change in your family's situation after your case has
				  been approved. . You must give the Department all information needed for a
				  complete review at least every twelve months. The County Department may ask for
				  some of the information needed in a group interview with other
				  recipients.
* OVERPAYMENTS
You will have to pay back any overpayment you receive for any
				  reason. If you receive an overpayment due to fraud, you may be subject to
				  prosecution or other penalty.
* REVIEW OF ACTION TAKEN ON YOUR CASE
- You may notify the County Department or the State
				  Department of Human Resources in Montgomery, Alabama if you are dissatisfied.
				  You may ask for a conference with the County Department, a review by the State
				  Department, or a formal hearing. (The State Department and the County
				  Department operate under the same rules.)
- You may make a written request for a hearing within 60 days
				  of the action taken. The parent, other relative, legally appointed
				  representative, or other authorized person must make the request.
- Your hearing may be conducted by telephone.
- Your attorney or someone representing you may be present
				  with you at a hearing or conference.
- You may withdraw your request for a hearing when concerns
				  are otherwise resolved.
* CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES
You will be eligible for child support services while you
				  receive FA. Child support services will continue when FA payments are stopped
				  unless you request that services stop.
* DAY CARE
You may be eligible for childcare after your FA benefits have
				  stopped. You must need childcare because you are working and you must apply for
				  the care within six months of FA closure and meet other requirements.
* FOOD ASSISTANCE
You may be eligible for food assistance even if you do not
				  get FA. For more information, contact your worker or your County Food
				  Assistance Office.
* MEDICAID
You may get Medicaid even if you do not get FA. If you have
				  any questions or want to apply for Medicaid, contact your County Health
				  Department or call 1-800-362 -1504 to find a Medicaid office near you.
* ALL KIDS
Your child or teen may be able to get low-cost healthcare
				  coverage. Call toll-free: 1-888-373 -5437 if you have questions or apply
				  on-line at
www.adph.org/allkids
.
* LEGAL ASSISTANCE
You may be able to get free legal help. You may contact a
				  local Legal Services office or other community agency. Your county office can
				  help you find them.
* OTHER HELP AVAILABLE
You may want to access the Camellia Health and Human Services
				  website
www.camellia.alabama.gov
for information about other program and services available in the State.
* NONDISCRIMINATION:
Your race, color,
				  birthplace, sex, handicap, beliefs, age or religion do not matter. Program
				  rules are the same for everyone. Tell us if you have a physical, mental or
				  learning problem that limits a major life activity. We may be able to help you
				  to fully use existing programs and services.
Reference Only
Author:
Jeri Farrior
Statutory Authority:
Social Security Act,
					 Title IV-A;
					 45
					 C.F.R. 206.10,
					 233.36
et seq
.; P.L. 98-369, effective October 1, 1984; State
					 Plan for Title IV-A;
Code of Ala. 1975
, Title
					 38.