La. Admin. Code tit. 67 § III-5583

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section III-5583 - Temporary Emergency Disaster Assistance Program

A. Effective October 26, 2005, the agency will enter into contracts to provide disaster emergency services to needy families with dependent children or pregnant women who are displaced because of disasters. The program will provide the following services:

1. services or benefits considered to meet on-going basic needs. These services shall not be provided for a period (in whole or in part) to exceed four months. Such services and benefits include, but are not limited to the provision of such items as basic personal items, household items, housing and utility assistance, living accommodations, transportation, job skills or employment assistance, child care vouchers, non-medical substance abuse treatment, mental health services, property repair, and moving assistance;

2. services or benefits not considered to meet ongoing basic needs. These services may be provided to participant families for a period exceeding four months if considered vital to the long-term recovery of participant families. Such services may include, but are not limited to, supportive services such as transportation for employed participants, child care for employed participants, non-medical substance abuse treatment, employment assistance or job training, or other necessary supportive services as determined by the Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support.

B. These services meet TANF goal 2, to end dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work and marriage and TANF goal 4, to encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

C. Eligibility for services is limited to needy families with minor dependent children, or minor dependent children living with caretaker relatives within the fifth degree of relationship, or pregnant women:

1. who are displaced citizens of parishes or counties for which a major disaster has been declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Assistance Act; and

2. whose income is at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level or who are categorically eligible because a member of the family receives a Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) grant, Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) grant, Food Stamps, Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) benefits, Medicaid, Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or free or reduced school lunch.

D. The secretary may establish criteria whereby needy families are deemed to be needy based on their statement, circumstances, or inability to access resources and may also relax verification requirements for other eligibility factors.

E. Services are considered non-assistance by the agency.

F. The program shall be effective for the parishes or counties and time frames as designated by the secretary.

La. Admin. Code tit. 67, § III-5583

Promulgated by the Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support, LR:32:1617 (September 2006), amended LR 33:2205 (October 2007), LR 34:697 (April 2008).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.; R.S. 46:231 and R.S. 36:474; Act 16, 2005 Reg. Session, P.L. 109-168 TANF Emergency Response and Recovery Act of 2005, Act 18, 2007 Reg. Session.