Persons who apply for or receive cash benefits must meet certain
requirements. They must help determine eligibility for benefits. They
must participate in activities that will help them become able to
support their families. This includes cooperating with child support and
JOBS. Persons who do not cooperate may be denied or may lose benefits.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
A. The child must live in the home of a parent or other close relative.
B. A person can only receive FA benefits as an adult for 5 years in his
or her lifetime.
C. The child must be under age 18 unless in school. If in school the
child may receive benefits through the month before the 19th birthday or
the last month in school, whichever is earlier.
D. The child must be a U. S. citizen or a legal eligible alien.
E. The child must live in Alabama. A person who has been convicted of
giving a false address to get help from two states at the same time
cannot receive benefits for ten years.
F. The child cannot be receiving foster care from the Department of
Human Resources.
G. The child must not be participating in a strike. No family member may
receive FA if a parent or stepparent is on strike.
H. The relative must cooperate with Child Support unless the Department
decides s/he has a good reason not to.
Child support being received for a child is
assigned to the State Department of Human Resources when an application
for FA is made for the child.
I. The relative must turn over all child support payments to the State.
J. The relative must give a Social Security number for each member of
the assistance unit. If a member does not have a Social Security number,
the relative must apply for a number. The number must be provided when
it is received.
K. The relative must participate in the JOBS Program. The relative must
accept a job unless the County Department tells him or her otherwise.
Parents under age 18 who are dependent children are required to
participate.
L. The relative must apply for any other benefits for which they may be
eligible, such as Veteran’s Benefits, Social Security, Unemployment
Compensation, etc.
M. A parent who is under age 18 and his or her children must live with
an adult. This adult must be a a relative or a legal guardian. If an
adult relative or guardian is not available, the parent under 18 and his
or her children must live in an adult-supervised supportive living
arrangement.
N. The relative must tell the worker about family circumstances. The
relative may be asked to prove some or all of the family circumstances
with documents.
O. A parent under age 18 with a child that is at least 12 weeks old must
have a high-school diploma or be in school or a training program.
P. The child or relative must not be breaking a condition of parole or
probation. The child or relative must not be a convicted felon who is on
the run to avoid arrest, trial or jail. The child or relative must not
have been convicted of a felony for the use or sale of a controlled
substance or having a controlled substance.
Q. A parent must sign and meet the terms of their Family Responsibility
Plan.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
R. The child must be in need by agency rules and not have parents or
stepparents who can support him/her. "In need" means the family does not
have net monthly income that equals or is more than the payment standard
and is eligible for at least $10. The payment standard is listed below.
In determining need, the income of all persons in the assistance unit is
counted. Before earned income is counted, a 20% work expense and
childcare are subtracted from gross income.
FA STANDARDS
| FAMILY SIZE |
PAYMENT STANDARDS |
FAMILY SIZE |
PAYMENT STANDARDS |
| 1 |
165 |
9 |
395 |
| 2 |
190 |
10 |
425 |
| 3 |
215 |
11 |
455 |
| 4 |
245 |
12 |
485 |
| 5 |
275 |
13 |
515 |
| 6 |
305 |
14 |
545 |
| 7 |
335 |
15 |
575 |
| 8 |
365 |
16 |
605 |
"Family" means all persons included that make up the family size.
Generally, persons to be included are the parents and brothers and
sisters of the child(ren) living in the home. Other children related to
the parent(s) such as stepchildren and nieces, etc. may be included. (If
a child in a group of brothers and sisters is included, all of his/her
brothers and sisters who live in the home must be included if eligible.)
The income of all persons in the unit is used to determine eligibility.
A family with income that is equal to or more than the payment standard
for the family size is not eligible for FA.
Family assistance will be paid for recipients who
are eligible for at least $10 for up to five years. Benefits are
not paid for less than $10.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WHERE TO APPLY
You must apply for FA at the Department of Human Resources in the county
where you live. The application interview may start with a general
explanation of the program to a group of applicants. You must take part
in an in-office, private interview with a worker.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Applicants:
You must report any changes in your family’s situation
before your case is awarded.
Recipients:
You must notify the Department of any change in your
family’s situation within 10 days. You must give the Department all
information needed for a complete review at least every twelve months.
The County Department may ask for some of the information needed in a
group interview with other recipients.
OVERPAYMENTS
If you get an overpayment for any reason, you will have to give it back.
If you receive an overpayment due to fraud, you may be subject to
prosecution or other penalty.
REVIEW OF ACTION TAKEN ON YOUR CASE
| You may notify the County Department or the State Department of Human
Resources in Montgomery, Alabama if you are dissatisfied. You may ask
for a conference with the County Department, a review by the State
Department, or a formal hearing. (The State Department and the County
Department follow the same rules.)
You may make a written request for a hearing within 60 days of the
action taken. The parent, other relative, legally appointed
representative or other authorized person must make the request.
The hearing may be conducted by telephone.
Your attorney, or someone representing you, may be present with you at a
hearing or conference.
You may withdraw your request for a hearing when your complaint is
otherwise resolved. |
CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES
Child support services are available to persons receiving FA. Child
support services will continue even if FA payments are stopped unless
you request that services stop.
DAY CARE
You may be eligible for childcare after your FA benefits have been
terminated. You must need childcare because you are working and you must
apply for the care within six months of FA closure and meet other
requirements.
FOOD ASSISTANCE
You may be eligible for food assistance even if you do not get FA. For
more information contact your worker or your County Food Assistance
Office.
MEDICAID
You may get Medicaid even if you do not get FA. If you have any
questions or want to apply for Medicaid, contact your County Health
Department or call 1-800-362-1504 to find the Medicaid office near you.
ALL Kids
Your child or teen may be able to get low-cost healthcare coverage. Call
toll-free: 1-888-373-5437 if you have questions or to apply, or apply
online at
www.adph.org/allkids.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
You may be able to get free legal help. You may contact a Legal Services
office or other community agency. Your county office can help you find
them.
OTHER HELP AVAILABLE
You may want to access the Camelia Health and Human Services website at
www.camellia.alabama.gov for information about other programs and
services available in the state.
NONDISCRIMINATION
Program rules are the same for everyone. Your race, color, birthplace,
sex, handicap, beliefs, age or religion do not matter. Tell us if you
have a physical, mental or learning problem that limits a major life
activity. We may be able to help you fully use existing programs and
services.
Family Assistance, like all programs and services of the Department of
Human Resources, is administered in full compliance with Title VI of the
Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and all other
Federal and State civil rights laws. If you tell us you have a physical
or mental condition, including a learning disability, that limits one or
more major life activities, we may be able to make some reasonable
accommodation for you, if needed for you to fully participate in
available programs and services.