CHAPTER 10 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Family Independence Act 40-5.1
General Public Assistance
40-6-3 to 3.3
Cashing of GPA checks
40-6-5.2
Supplementary Cash
Assistance: 40-6-27.1, 40-5.1-8
Provides cash
assistance to families whose combined income does not exceed one thousand dollars ($1000). as long as the person is a citizen or resident of
the state or a qualified alien. The payment
standard is $327(per family), $277(for a family residing in a subsidized housing), $122
for the first person, $105 for the second person and $80 for each additional person. In
the month of march, each family receiving cash assistance under this chapter in that month
shall be given a weatherization assistance payment of one hundred dollars($100) per
family. The parent who is incapacitated by
illness either physical or mental impairment that prevents employment or job training or
providing for his or her children qualifies for benefits.
If one parent is disabled in a two-parent household, the other parent must go to
work activities for 24 months. One of the parents is exempt from the work requirement if they are
caring for a severely disabled child. Individuals
convicted of drug related felonies qualify for assistance unless the felony includes the
distribution or sale of drugs.
The
types of resources that shall not count against a family if it is to receive assistance
include specially equipped vehicles to meet the specific needs of a disabled person or if
the vehicle is a special type of vehicle that makes it possible to transport the disabled
person, or Supplementary Security Income.
For
further information contact the:
Department
of Human Services/Family Independence Program
Individuals and families are eligible for General Public Assistance (GPA). Benefits
are available for only three months in any 12-month period. To be eligible:
1. individuals
have to be eighteen or older with no dependent child living in their home, be totally
physically or mentally incapacitated, unable to do any full or part time work that is
expected to last for at least thirty days from the date of application (includes
alcoholism or substance abuse, if participating in treatment); or
The following eligibility requirements also apply:
1.
may not own real or personal property, except:
· home occupied by individuals,
· one automobile with an
equity value not more than $4,650,
· cash not exceeding $400,
· tools of trade not to exceed $1,000, and
· household furnishings and effects.
2.
clients of vocational rehabilitation may
participate in job training (including post secondary education).
A client may be required to apply for supplemental security income and/or medical
assistance if determined, by the department, to be eligible for those benefits.
For more information contact the:
Department of Human Services/Local
Welfare Office
To file a complaint contact the:
Any bank or credit union that is located within the State of Rhode Island shall cash from their main branch, or any of their other branches, any GPA check provided the payee gives proper identification to cash the check.
Forms of reasonable identification used
while cashing the checks are as follows:
GPA photo ID issued by Department of Human
Services;
valid photo ID
valid driver's license
ID card issued by the Department of Elderly
Affairs
valid ID issued by the United States
Immigration and Naturalization Services.
To file a complaint contact the:
The Department of
Human Services
The department shall have the responsibility to administer the food stamp program
for the state of Rhode Island in compliance
with the provisions of the federal Food Stamp Act of
1964,as amended. Legal immigrants and non-citizens are not eligible for food stamps
on the federal level. But legal immigrants
are eligible if they were lawfully admitted, first came to reside in, the United States or
lastly was a resident of Rhode Island prior to August 22,1996. No person convicted of
selling drugs shall be eligible for food stamps.
For further information contact DHS/Local
Welfare Office
Cash assistance shall apply to severely disabled and elderly residents except
immigrants. Benefits under this program shall be provided to such residents specified who
are also admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing in the United
States under color of law and benefits shall not be provided to illegal or undocumented
aliens. This starts July1, 1997. If the
recipient is notified of a reduction or termination then the recipient shall be advised of
an appeal under the administrative procedures act.
Eligibility for cash assistance means one has to have up to one thousand dollars
($1000) in available resources. Except for
instance, if the family owns a special type of vehicle that makes it possible to transport
a disabled family member or a vehicle necessary to transport a physically disabled family
member where the vehicle is equipped to meet the specific needs of the disabled person
This law requires teen parents to participate in adolescent parenting classes.
For further information contact DHS/Local Welfare Office