Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 331 - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE MANUAL (TANF) › Chapter VIII - Emergency Assistance

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
LEGAL BASIS
: In addition to the basic TANF and
				  PaS programs, the Department of Health and Human Services administers a limited
				  program of Emergency Assistance. The program was originally authorized by the
				  111th Legislature. In the event of lack of funds as outlined by the
				  Legislature, the program will end.
GENERAL RULE
: Payment of services through the
				  Emergency Assistance program is limited to children and their families who are
				  threatened by destitution or homelessness because of emergency situations. The
				  program does not cover all emergencies.
Authorization in the 30 day period may be made for any
				  combination of covered payment or services within the limitations of payment
				  maximums for some services.
The Emergency Assistance program is not a substitute for the
				  locally administered General Assistance program, although it can be a
				  supplement to that program and a potential resource. Eligibility is not
				  dependent upon denial of General Assistance or the complete expenditure of
				  General Assistance benefits prior to application.
There must be a reasonable expectation that the emergency can
				  be alleviated through the use of Emergency Assistance funds.
TIME LIMITS
: Payment of services through EA is
				  limited to those services authorized during the 30 days following the date of
				  initial authorization. Applications for families or individuals may be approved
				  only once during any 12 consecutive month period. The twelve month period
				  begins with the day following the day of the initial approval of Emergency
				  Assistance.
Example
: Initial Emergency Assistance payment
				  authorized on 1/1/94; twelve month period is 1/2/94 through 1/1/95; family is
				  potentially eligible again on 1/2/95.
Families which have not received Emergency Assistance
				  benefits during the 12 consecutive month period may receive services even if a
				  child living with the family has received services within the 12 month period.
				  In this situation, eligibility and services provided for the child who has
				  received Emergency Assistance during the past 12 months must have been provided
				  while the child was living away from the family, the family's income (and
				  assets) must not have been considered in determining this child's eligibility
				  and another child who is eligible for Emergency Assistance services but has not
				  received them during the 12 month period must be residing with the
				  family.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
: In order to be eligible
				  for Emergency Assistance, all of the following criteria must be met:
1. The child must be under the age of
				21;
2. The child must be living
				with an individual described in the TANF and PaS programs as a "specified
				relative" or must have lived with a specified relative within the six months
				prior to the date of application. Women in their last trimester of pregnancy
				who have no other children living with them are potentially eligible. The focus
				of the Emergency Assistance program is the child.
NOTE
: Services may be provided to a child who
				  has been absent from the family for less than 6 months.
NOTE
: Services cannot be authorized for the
				  child's family unless the child is living with them at the time of
				  application.
3. The child
				and family must meet income eligibility requirements. If the child is living
				alone or with a specified relative other than the child's parent and, if
				payment is to be made by the Emergency Assistance program only for services
				authorized for the child, only the child's resources are to be taken into
				account. If the child is living with parents, the income of the parents must be
				taken into account.
Income Limit
: Payment for services through this
				  program is available to families which do not have income available to provide
				  the needed emergency care of services. For all services provided through the
				  Emergency Assistance program, the following income limits must be met:
a. a family's income must be below 100% of
				the Federal Poverty Level, or
b.
				families must receive TANF or PaS, SSI, or Food Supplement Program benefits.
NOTE
: Every household member applying for EA
				  must receive at least one of the benefits listed above.
In determining the amount of income available to the family,
				  the same work related disregard including the child care disregard allowed in
				  the TANF and PaS cash programs are used.
The definitions of excluded income used in the TANF and PaS
				  programs apply to the Emergency Assistance program.