Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG)

1. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren(GRG)

2. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) Georgia has a growing population of grandparents who are assuming the role of caretaker for their grandchildren. DFCS believes that when parents are unable to care for their children, it better for their children to live with suitable family members rather than be placed with strangers.

3. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) Grandparents are often at a time in their lives when their incomes are no longer growing. When grandparents take on the unexpected responsibility of raising a child, this can trigger a personal financial crisis.

4. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) To help grandparents who are raising their own grandchildren, DFCS, the Division of Aging Services (DAS), the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), the Division of Mental Health (DMH) and the Division of Public Health (DPH) are collaborating and exploring ways to help strengthen families headed by grandparents. Several enhanced services will now be available to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.

5. DAS and the GRG Grandparents can call Local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) throughout the state to find out about services that are available through DAS and partner agencies.

6. OCSS and GRG OCSS will give priority status to referrals for cases involving grandparents raising their grandchildren. For cases in which the absent parent is currently paying child support, OCSS will immediately redirect those payments to the grandparent. For cases in which neither absent parent is paying child support, OCSS will work closely with the grandparent in order to obtain an order of child support as soon as possible.

7. DFCS and GRG As part of our ongoing efforts to maintain and strengthen families, DFCS will provide direct support needed by grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. This support will include both cash assistance payments, paid through the Office of Family Independence (OFI), and specialized child care services provided through the Childcare and Parents Services (CAPS) program.

8. GRANDPARENT GRANDPARENT GRANDPARENT GRANDPARENT GRANDPARENT Point Of Entry DAS Kinship Care, Support Groups, Legal Advice, etc. There will be multiple points of entry into a seamless system of services we will provide to grandparents raising their grandchildren. Referral Agencies Identification of Needs OCSS Child Support Medical Support Office of ChildSupport Services(OCSS) DFCS TANF, FS, Child Care, Energy Assistance, etc. Division of Family and Children Services(DFCS) Division of Aging Services(DAS) Division of Mental Health(DMH) Division ofMental Health(DMH) Division ofPublic Health(DPH) Division ofPublic Health(DPH)

9. GRG Cash Assistance – Who’s Eligible? To be eligible for GRG cash assistance, the following criteria must be met: • the grandparent is the caretaker of his/her own grandchild • the grandparent is 60 years of age and older, or • the grandparent is disabled, • the household is not participating in an existing foster care program nor receiving foster care per diems, • the household’s income is less than 160% of the federal poverty level (FPL), and • the AU applies for and receives TANF for the grandchild.

10. How is a household defined? Whose income is counted? For the purpose of determining GRG eligibility, a “household” includes the grandparent, the grandparent’s spouse and the grandchild for whom assistance is requested.Only the income of household members counts toward the income limit when determining eligibility for GRG cash assistance payments.

11. How can we know if a grandparent is disabled? If the grandparent receives either SSI or RSDI disability payments, we consider him to be disabled for GRG purposes.An award letter from the Social Security Administration is required for verification.

12. What types of cash assistanceare available? Two types of GRG cash assistance are available: • GRG Emergency/Crisis Intervention Services Payment (CRISP), and • GRG Monthly Subsidy Payment (MSP).

13. What is the CRISP? The GRG Crisis Intervention Services Payment (CRISP) is a one-time only cash payment equal to up to 3 times the maximum TANF cash assistance grant amount for that AU size.The CRISP may be received more than once if a grandchild moves into the home of a grandparent who has previously received a CRISP for another grandchild, and if the AU is otherwise eligible for the CRISP.

14. What is the CRISP? (cont.) The CRISP provides cash assistance to grandparents who need help in paying the cost of emergency expenses, such as unanticipated and sudden increases in • shelter or utility costs, or • new expenses incurred to pay for school supplies, • furniture, etc.

15. How do we define an emergency? For GRG purposes, we define an emergency as a situation believed to be an emergency by the grandparent applying for assistance.

16. How can we know if an emergency exists? Accept your client’s statement unless you have reason to question what your client claims. If questionable, use one of the following sources of verification:1. lease agreement 2. utility bills/cut off notices 3. legal fees associated with the process of gaining custody of the grandchild.

17. How do we verify the amount of an emergency expense? We can accept the client’s statement about whether an emergency exists, but we must verify the actual cost of eliminating the identified emergency. Verify with a receipt an expense that the grandparent has already paid. Verify an anticipated expense with a statement from a retailer. Specify the item to be purchased and the dollar amount.

18. How do we compute the amount of a CRISP? The CRISP is paid in increments of the maximum TANF grant amount for one month, two months or three months, depending on what you have verified the dollar amount of the emergency expense to be.For example, if an AU is eligible for the CRISP, the emergency expense is $300, and the maximum TANF grant amount for the AU is $235, the AU will be eligible to receive a CRISP of $470.

19. Can a grandparent apply for theCRISP at any time? The CRISP is intended to help alleviate a crisis or emergency, not to pay for a family’s ongoing needs. A grandparent can apply for the CRISP at any time that an emergency occurs.

20. For what should the CRISP be used? The CRISP is to help an eligible AU pay for expenses incurred as a direct result of a grandchild moving into the home. It is not our responsibility to monitor how the CRISP money is spent.

21. For what should the CRISP be used? (cont.) Emergency needs may include • a rent deposit because the grandparent must move into a larger apartment • a utilities deposit because of the need to move into a larger apartment • a one-time rent and/or utility assistance for a family at immediate risk of eviction or shut off of utilities • incurring other unanticipated expenses, such as the purchase of furniture or school supplies.

22. Paying the CRISP should be the last, not the first option. If an AU meets the eligibility criteria for receipt of the CRISP, but its emergency can be resolved using assistance from other sources, the grandparent should seek assistance from those other sources. Only when there has been an attempt to access all other potential sources of assistance can the CRISP be approved.

23. What is the MSP? The GRG Monthly Subsidy Payment (MSP) is an ongoing cash payment of $50.00 per child, per month. Eligibility for the MSP does not require that an emergency expense has been incurred. However, in order to receive the MSP, the grandparent must receive TANF cash assistance for her grandchild.

24. Authorizing an MSP MSPs are issued on the client’s EBT card. To process an MSP, update the MISC and STAT screens on SUCCESS. In the MISC screen, enter “Y” in the “Grdch Ind” field. In the STAT screen, code the grandchild’s “REL Code” “GC.”

25. CAFI SCREEN (BEFORE APPROVING AN MSP) INQUIRY CASH/MA FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY - CAFI CAFI Month 02 06 AD74 01 21 05 AU ID 204491110 Prog AF Prog Type R Med COA Net Income Test (cont) Resources Standard - 30 1/3 .00 Resource Limit 1000.00 Dependent Care .00 Total Resources .00 Net Earned Income .00 Gross Income Test Net Unearned Income .00 Gross Income Limit 658.60 Deemed Income .00 Gross Earned Income .00 Allocated Income .00 Net Unearned Income .00 Net Income .00 Deemed Income .00 Grant Amount 235.00 Allocated Income .00 Recoupment Amount .00 Total Gross Income .00 Benefit Amount 235.00 Net Income Test Previous Benefit .00 Net Income Limit 356.00 Spenddown Amount Gross Earned Income .00 Medical Expense Amt Self Employ Work Exp .00 Net Spenddown Amt Bnft Eff Date 012105 Bnft Confirm Reasons Budgeting Method P Notice Type Waive Timely Ntc Period Notice Override Review Begin Date 05 04 Review End Date 05 05 Strat 1 Message 17-mo< 18-mo>

26. CAFI SCREEN (AFTER APPROVING AN MSP) INQUIRY CASH/MA FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY - CAFI CAFI Month 02 06 AD74 01 21 05 AU ID 204491110 Prog AF Prog Type R Med COA Net Income Test (cont) Resources Standard - 30 1/3 .00 Resource Limit 1000.00 Dependent Care .00 Total Resources .00 Net Earned Income .00 Gross Income Test Net Unearned Income .00 Gross Income Limit 658.60 Deemed Income .00 Gross Earned Income .00 Allocated Income .00 Net Unearned Income .00 Net Income .00 Deemed Income .00 Grant Amount 335.00 Allocated Income .00 Recoupment Amount .00 Total Gross Income .00 Benefit Amount 335.00 Net Income Test Previous Benefit .00 Net Income Limit 356.00 Spenddown Amount Gross Earned Income .00 Medical Expense Amt Self Employ Work Exp .00 Net Spenddown Amt Bnft Eff Date 012105 Bnft Confirm Reasons Budgeting Method P Notice Type Waive Timely Ntc Period Notice Override Review Begin Date 05 04 Review End Date 05 05 Strat 1 Message Grant Amount includes a Block grant Amt of $100.00 17-mo< 18-mo>

27. BENL SCREEN INQUIRY BENEFIT HISTORY ISSUANCE LISTING - BENL BENL 01 MORE AU ID 203381210 HOH Last Name PETERSON First Name CAROL ---------- DETAIL ------------ Issn Issn Issn Status Tot-Issn Benefit Recoup Issn Issn Sel Date Number Sts Date Amount Month Amount Amount Type 02 01 05 004235306 CD 02 01 05 335.00 02 05 335.00 O 01 01 05 004192138 CD 01 01 05 235.00 01 05 235.00 O 12 01 04 004145452 CD 12 01 04 235.00 12 04 235.00 O 11 01 04 004091375 CD 11 01 04 235.00 11 04 235.00 O 10 01 04 004041614 CD 10 01 04 235.00 10 04 235.00 O 09 01 04 003990184 CD 09 01 04 235.00 09 04 235.00 O 08 01 04 003937640 CD 08 01 04 235.00 08 04 235.00 O 07 01 04 003884651 CD 07 01 04 235.00 07 04 235.00 O 06 01 04 003831639 CD 06 01 04 235.00 06 04 235.00 O Message

28. BEND SCREEN INQUIRY BENEFIT HISTORY ISSUANCE DETAIL - BEND BEND AU ID 203381210 HOH Last Name PETERSON First Name CAROL Issn Number 004235306 Issn Date 02 01 05 Serial Number Expn Date 05 02 05 Issn Amount 335.00 Print Date 02 01 05 Serv Cnty 0060 FULTON GRG MSP Grant 100.00 EBT Account PAN Account Curr Status CD CASHED Sts Dt 02 01 05 Xref Repl Issn Num Prev Status Sts Dt Repl Worker ID Puller Code Puller Remarks Altered Issn Amt Altered Issn Amt Reason Altered Expn Date Altered Expn Date Reason MessageGRG MSP Amount is included within the Issn Amount

29. Requirements for receipt of the MSP In order to qualify for a GRG MSP, a grandparent must meet the basic GRG eligibility criteria. Also, the grandparent must receive TANF cash assistance for the grandchild for whom the GRG MSP is requested. The grandparent cannot be included in the TANF AU.

30. Can an AU receive the CRISP and the MSP? If an AU is eligible for both forms of GRG cash assistance, it can receive them simultaneously. The CRISP is intended to resolve an emergency and is a one-time-only payment. The MSP is paid on an ongoing basis.

31. What if the grandchild moves out? If the grandchild leaves the custody of the grandparent who is receiving GRG cash payments, the grandparent must notify DFCS within 10 days. A failure to report within 10 days may result in an overpayment.

32. GRG Relationship Requirements A child must be living in the home with a grandparent who receives the GRG cash assistance on the child’s behalf. Relationship is established by one of the following:1. birth 2. ceremonial or common-law marriage 3. legal adoption, or 4. legal guardianship.

33. GRG Relationship Requirements (cont.) The following relationships also meet the relationship requirement: • grandparent (up to great-great-great) • spouse of a grandparent even if the marriage was terminated by death or divorce, unless the grandchild was born after the termination of the marriage.

34. GRG Relationship Requirements (cont.) The relationship of the child to the grandparent is traced by recording the names and relationships of all direct and intermediate relatives. Establish paternity when the application is made by the paternal grandparent. Follow TANF policy for establishing paternity.

35. Verifying Relationship Verification of relationship may not be available if the child lives with the parent of the putative father and the father's whereabouts are unknown. Make a decision using all available information regarding the child's relationship to the grandparent who applies for assistance. Document the case record thoroughly.

36. How is GRG cash assistancecounted in a TANF budget? GRG cash assistance is excluded incomein a TANF budget. GRG cash assistance is paid to an eligible AU in addition to, not instead of, any TANF cash assistance for which the AU may be eligible.

37. How is GRG cash assistance counted in a Medicaid budget? GRG cash assistance, whether it is a CRISP or an MSP, is disregarded in Medicaid budgets.

38. How is GRG cash assistancecounted in a FS budget? The GRG CRISP is treated as a resource in a FS case. The resources of a TANF AU are disregarded for FS purposes. The GRG MSP is counted as unearned income in the FS budget.

39. GRG forms Form 281 (payment authorization form)Form 282 (disposition notification form)Form 351 (GRG worksheet)

40. Policy References For additional information and the latest policy updates, reference Section 1210 in the online TANF manual at: http://www.odis.dhr.state.ga.us