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 IX - Alternative Aid Assistance Program

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
LEGAL
				BASIS
:
The 117th Legislature authorized the Department to establish
				  an Alternative Aid program. 22 M.R.S. §3763(8) requires the department to
				  provide alternative aid to eligible applicants who seek short-term assistance
				  in order to obtain or retain employment; and establish eligibility
				  requirements. It limits alternative aid to no more than 3 times the value of
				  the monthly TANF grant and aid no more than once during any 12-month period. It
				  requires a family who reapplies for TANF within three months of receiving
				  alternative aid to repay any alternative aid received in excess of the amount
				  that the family would have received on TANF via the method used for the
				  repayment of unintentional overpayments in the TANF program.
B.
GENERAL RULE
:
The Alternative Aid voucher payment is assistance to
				  applicants who seek short-term help to obtain or retain employment. The intent
				  of the program is to help families remain self-supporting by providing voucher
				  payments worth up to three months of the TANF benefits for which they are
				  eligible. The expectation is that by providing a larger amount of benefits in a
				  shorter time period, the family is able to obtain or retain a job and will not
				  become dependent on the TANF program.
Assistance includes, but is not limited to, help with car
				  repairs, child care, resolution of a housing-related problem, uniforms, or
				  other items necessary to assist a person in obtaining or retaining
				  employment.
C.
PARTICIPANTS
:
Applicants statewide may volunteer to receive Alternative
				  Aid. Alternative Aid is not available to families who are currently receiving
				  TANF.
D.
PAYMENT:
The Department shall pay vendor payment(s) for the
				  application month and the two subsequent months for which the family is
				  eligible. The Department shall authorize benefits within 30 days of
				  application. No cash benefit is paid to the family. Vendor payments are
				  authorized after the expense has been confirmed.
E.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
:
The rules that govern the TANF payment, including the asset
				  limit, income limit and the budgeting process, apply to Alternative Aid
				  assistance with the following exceptions:
(1) The initial gross income test is 133% of
				the Federal Poverty Level.
(2)
				Child support payments received minus the first $50, are counted as unearned
				income in determining eligibility for and the amount of the Alternative Aid
				benefit. (See item e.)
(3) The
				Alternative Aid benefit may be issued only once in any 12 consecutive month
				period. The 12-month period begins with the day following the day of the
				initial approval of Alternative Aid.
(4) The specified relative or parent must be
				employed or looking for work.
(5)
				The family is not required to assign child support, comply with ASPIRE-TANF
				requirements, or participate in a TANF orientation meeting.
(6) Receipt of Alternative Aid Assistance
				does not count towards the 60 month time limit.
(7) When the family's income passes the
				pretests, the wages which would count in the grant calculation of TANF or PaS
				benefits are excluded income in the grant calculation of Alternative Aid
				Assistance.