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Emergency Assistance Policy and Process

Emergency Assistance Policy and Process. Objectives. Establish the EA group from household members Identify non-financial and financial eligibility requirements and determine eligibility Identify recommended items of verification Outline the timeframe for Application processing

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Emergency Assistance Policy and Process

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  1. Emergency Assistance Policy and Process

  2. Objectives • Establish the EA group from household members • Identify non-financial and financial eligibility requirements and determine eligibility • Identify recommended items of verification • Outline the timeframe for Application processing • Determine the payment amount for the EA group • Identify the other resources to assist in the emergency

  3. Introduction • Emergency Assistance (EA) provides funding to families experiencing an emergency due to impending homelessness, homelessness, energy crisis, fire, flood or natural disaster. • Goal of EA is to provide safe and permanent housing for the family.

  4. Case Management • The W-2 agency must give the applicant all available information about how to access appropriate services and resources. • The W-2 agency must document the referral and resources that was provided to the applicant in EATS comments.

  5. Today’s Training • Non-Financial Eligibility • EA Group • Verification/Documentation • Financial Eligibility • 115% FPL • $2500 Asset Limit • EA Application Five Working Days Timeframe • Step 1 (Determining Eligibility) and Step 2 (Issuing Payment) • EA Policy and Process Review

  6. Non-Financial EligibilityEA Group • All household members must be listed on the EA Application. • The EA Group must consist of at least one dependent child and one qualified caretaker relative.

  7. EA Group Verification • EA Group must be verified this includes identity, residency, citizenship and relationship. • The W-2 agency must document the verification sources in EATS and store in ECF if known in CARES or store in paper files.

  8. EA Verification • The W-2 agency must attempt to verify the emergency within 5 working days. • The W-2 agency must request necessary verification as quickly as possible to allow sufficient time to obtain the information. • Written verification must be scanned and stored in ECF (if known to CARES w/i 30 calendar days) or kept in paper file. Oral verification must be documented in EATS.

  9. EA Documentation Updated/New Policy: • The EA Application, notices and verification must be scanned to ECF for all EA applicants that are known to CARES (w/i 30 calendar days) or kept in a paper file. • EA case comments must be entered into EATS. • W-2 agencies must document the rationale for eligibility decisions in EATS. EATS allows 1000 characters in the Comments Sections (use your space wisely).

  10. Qualifying Emergency To be eligible for EA, the EA Group must have a current emergency due to at least one of the following: • Impending Homelessness • Homelessness • Energy Crisis • Fire, Flood or Natural Disaster

  11. Financial Eligibility • Applicants must be at or below 115% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and not exceed the $2500 asset limit. • If the EA applicant is in a W-2 placement (except CMF) at the time of the EA application, financial eligibility has been met.

  12. Financial Eligibility If the person is not in a qualifying W-2 placement, the agency must collect financial information for at the time of application (same as W-2, for new applications). The W-2 agency may use CARES information if it is current for the month of the EA application. If not, the W-2 agency will have to obtain current information.

  13. Financial Eligibility Page 1 • Financial Eligibility Worksheet Part Two, Page One • W-2 agency must use this worksheet to determine financial eligibility for EA. • Recommended that W-2 agencies use this worksheet online, it will be automatically calculated to ensure accuracy. • Income and Assets Tests • http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/forms/dwsp_2010.htm

  14. Payment Calculation- Page 2 • Payment Calculation Worksheet Part Two, Page Two • If determined eligible, the agency must calculate the payment amount by using this form. • Payment Amounts • $516 for 2-4 members • $645 for 5 members • $110 per group member for groups of 6 or more • http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/forms/dwsp_2010.htm

  15. EA Application Process • The W-2 agency must provide an EA Application form to all persons who request EA. • The EA applicant may choose to apply: • In the geographical region where s/he is currently experiencing the emergency or • In the geographical where s/he has found permanent housing. • The W-2 agency serving that EA applicant must process the EA Application and issue the payment if the group is found eligible.

  16. EA Application Form • Part 1, Page 1 and 2 completed by the EA applicant or representative. • Page 3, assurance statements, must be reviewed with the W-2 agency staff and initialed by the EA applicant. • Part 2, Page 1, the Financial Eligibility Worksheet and Page 2, the Payment Determination Worksheet must be completed by the W-2 agency staff. • http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/forms/pdf/dcf_f_dwsp2010.pdf

  17. Five Working Days Timeframe • Day 1 is the first working day after the complete application is received. Day Five is the close of business on the 5th working day. • Step One: Application Processing, must be completed for all EA Applications. • Step Two: Issuing the Payment, must be completed for all approved EA Applications.

  18. Example: Five Working Days

  19. Payment Delay Exceptions • The W-2 agency must: • Issue the Notice of Decision within the 5 working days timeframe • Information regarding the rationale related to Payment Delay Exceptions must be recorded in EATS comments • Enter the Approved status in EATS; then if the applicant does not find housing change the status to Denied.

  20. Payment Delay Exceptions • For homelessness or impending homelessness; if the EA Group is eligible for EA, but does not have a new permanent residence at the time of application. • For impending homeless, the EA group plans to remain in their current housing, but the W-2 agency has not received confirmation from the landlord or bank agreeing to waive the eviction or foreclosure. The W-2 agency must issue a payment within 5 working days of the date the EA group notifies the agency of new housing or the stay of eviction or foreclosure.

  21. EA Application: Scenario • Read and review the EA Application. • Discuss Non-Financial and Financial Eligibility Criteria for EA. • Complete Part 2 of the EA Application. • Is the group eligible for EA, and if found eligible, what is the payment amount? • Complete the EA Application Processing Step 1 and Step 2 on the following pages.

  22. EA Policy & Process Review

  23. 1) The W-2 Agency must process an EA application within __________ after the agency receives the signed EA application. • 10 working days • 2 working days • 5 working days • 7 working days

  24. 2) If the EA applicant has already initialed the assurance statements on the EA Application, before meeting the EA worker, the EA worker is not required to review them. • True • False

  25. 3) To meet the definition of a Caretaker Relative, he/she must: Have custody of the dependent child Live or have lived with the dependent child at sometime within six months prior to the emergency Anticipated to live with the caretaker relative during the six-month period after the date of the application Anticipated to live with caretaker relative during the three-month period after the date of the application

  26. 4) A single pregnant individual who has no other dependent children has applied for EA. Does she meet the definition of caretaker relative? • Yes • No

  27. 5) The W-2 agency cannot make the determination that a dwelling is uninhabitable. • True • False

  28. 6) An 18 year-old may be considered a dependent child if: S/he is a full-time student at a secondary school, technical school or vocational school and is reasonably expected to complete the program before turning age 19 S/he is a part-time student in a GED program and is expected to complete the program before turning age 19 S/he is a full-time student enrolled at a four-year university and working part time S/he is a part time student enrolled in a technical/vocation program and expected to complete the program before turning age 19

  29. 7) For EA eligibility purposes, a migrant worker must intend to reside in Wisconsin. • True • False

  30. 8) There are ____ categories of a qualifying emergency for EA eligibility. • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7

  31. 9) The Notice to Terminate Tenancy for impending homelessness (according to State Statute 704.17) must: • Include eviction date • Indicate “Tenancy is terminated” and eviction is due to nonpayment of rent • Be filed with the court • Be a legal document

  32. 10) EA can only be used to pay for temporary shelter in emergencies due to: • Energy crisis • Impending homelessness • Fire, flood or natural disaster • Homelessness

  33. 11) SSI and CTS payments are counted types of income for EA applications. • True • False

  34. 12) To be found financially eligible for EA, the EA group must meet the following criteria: • At or below 115% FPL • At or below 185% FPL • Not exceed asset limits of $2500 • Both A and C

  35. 13) The EA application may be denied for failure to pursue other payment for Energy Crisis. • True • False

  36. 14) After an EA payment is issued, how many days does the W-2 agency have to enter the payment details into EATS? • 5 calendar days • 10 calendar days • 3 calendar days • 7 calendar days

  37. 15) The EA worker must do the following within five working days: • Have at least one in-person contact with the EA applicant • Enter payment details into EATS • Scan EA application and verification into ECF if known to CARES • Enter case comments into CARES

  38. 16) The EA Payment must be issued within ________ after the receipt of the complete EA application unless there is a payment delay exception. • Two Working Days • Five Working Days • Seven Working Days • Ten Working Days

  39. 17) W-2 agencies must scan the EA Application and verification if known to CARES or stored in paper files within 30 calendar days. • True • False

  40. 18) In a Payment Delay Exception, if the EA applicant has been found eligible but has not found new permanent housing, the agency must issue a negative notice of eligibility. • True • False

  41. 19) Offering case management services to EA applicants can result in families: • Receiving information on local resources and supportive services • Learning budgeting skills and developing problem solving skills • Recognizing the strengths within the family • All of the above

  42. The End Great Job! Questions? Please complete the evaluation. Thank you!

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