16 Del. Admin. Code § 8000-8024
The Delaware Code allows for aid to "needy persons" and charges DSS with the responsibility of providing needy persons with sufficient income to meet basic living requirements.
Need is measured in terms of money and is the difference between the person's available income and resources as defined by the Division, and the standard of need set forth in Division Policy. Each person must be in financial need before assistance is received and for as long as assistance continues.
In all categories of Public Assistance, the grant is an unrestricted cash payment that the client is free to spend as he desires, unless the payment is made as a protective payment.
Any family whose available resources in any month exceed $1,000 is not eligible for cash assistance. See DSSM 8026.2 for a complete definition of available resources.
A family is not eligible for cash assistance in any month that its total gross income is in excess of 185% of the RCA standard of need. A table follows. Gross income does not include Public Assistance payments, the step- parent disregards listed in DSSM 8029.2, excluded income listed in DSSM 8030, and the first $50.00 of child support collected each month.
| Family Size | 185% of RCA Standard of Need |
| 1 | $ 371 |
| 2 | $ 499 |
| 3 | $ 625 |
| 4 | $ 752 |
| 5 | $ 878 |
| 6 | $1,006 |
| 7 | $1,132 |
Over 7 in the budget add $127 to the total for the standard for a family of 7 for each additional member.
16 Del. Admin. Code § 8000-8024