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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.
1-6
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
1-7
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
1-8
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.