§ 17b-191 — Operation of state-administered general assistance program. Cash assistance. Eligibility.

Connecticut § 17b-191

• Jurisdiction: Connecticut
• Title 17b: Social Services
• Ch. 319t: State-Administered General Assistance

Text

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 17b-190, 17b-195 and 17b-196, the Commissioner of Social Services shall operate a state-administered general assistance program in accordance with this section and sections 17b-131, 17b-193, 17b-194, 17b-197 and 17b-198. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, on and after October 1, 2003, no town shall be reimbursed by the state for any general assistance medical benefits incurred after September 30, 2003, and on and after March 1, 2004, no town shall be reimbursed by the state for any general assistance cash benefits or general assistance program administrative costs incurred after February 29, 2004. (b) The state-administered general assistance program shall provide cash assistance of (1) two hundred dollars per month for an unemployable person upon determination of such person's unemployability; (2) two hundred dollars per month for a transitional person who is required to pay for shelter; and (3) fifty dollars per month for a transitional person who is not required to pay for shelter. The standard of assistance paid for individuals residing in rated boarding facilities shall remain at the level in effect on August 31, 2003. No person shall be eligible for cash assistance under the program if eligible for cash assistance under any other state or federal cash assistance program. The standards of assistance set forth in this subsection shall be subject to annual increases, as described in subsection (b) of section 17b-104 . (c) To be eligible for cash assistance under the program, a person shall (1) be (A) eighteen years of age or older; (B) a minor found by a court to be emancipated pursuant to section 46b-150 ; or (C) under eighteen years of age and the commissioner determines good cause for such person's eligibility, and (2) not have assets exceeding five hundred dollars or, if such person is married, such person and his or her spouse shall not have assets exceeding one thousand dollars. In determining eligibility, the commissioner shall not consider as income (A) Aid and Attendance pension benefits granted to a veteran, as defined in section 27-103 , or the surviving spouse of such veteran; and (B) any tax refund or advance payment with respect to a refundable credit to the same extent such refund or advance payment would be disregarded under 26 USC 6409 in any federal program or state or local program financed in whole or in part with federal funds. No person who is a substance abuser and refuses or fails to enter available, appropriate treatment shall be eligible for cash assistance under the program until such person enters treatment. No person whose benefits from the temporary family assistance program have terminated as a result of time-limited benefits or for failure to comply with a program requirement shall be eligible for cash assistance under the program. (d) Prior to or upon discontinuance of assistance, a person previously determined to be a transitional person may petition the commissioner to review the determination of his or her status. In such review, the commissioner shall consider factors, including, but not limited to: (1) Age; (2) education; (3) vocational training; (4) mental and physical health; and (5) employment history and shall make a determination of such person's ability to obtain gainful employment. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or section 17b-194 , a victim of domestic violence, as defined in section 17b-112a , who is not eligible for diversion assistance under the provisions of section 17b-112g , shall be eligible for a one-time assistance payment under the state-administered general assistance program within resources available to the Department of Social Services. Such payment shall be equivalent to that which such victim would be entitled to receive as diversion assistance if such victim and his or her family, if any, were eligible for diversion assistance. In determining whether and in what amount a victim of domestic violence and his or her family are eligible for a one-time assistance payment pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner shall not include as a member of such victim's family the spouse, domestic partner or other household member credibly accused of domestic violence by such victim, nor shall the commissioner count the income or assets of such a spouse, domestic partner or other household member. For purposes of this subsection, allegations of domestic violence may be substantiated by the commissioner pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of section 17b-112a , and “family” has the same meaning as used in section 17b-112 , except as otherwise provided in this subsection.

Legislative History

(June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 42; P.A. 04-76, S. 47; P.A. 08-28, S. 1; P.A. 11-44, S. 139; P.A. 12-208, S. 2; P.A. 14-161, S. 2; P.A. 21-78, S. 14; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 329; P.A. 23-204, S. 271.) History: June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-76 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting references to Secs. 17b-7, 17b-118b and 17b-221 that were repealed by the same act and making a technical change (Revisor's note: In 2005, a reference to repealed Sec. 17b-111b was deleted editorially by the Revisors in Subsec. (a)); P.A. 08-28 amended Subsec. (d) to remove time limits imposed on certain transitional individuals receiving cash assistance and remove the one-year period of ineligibility imposed on a transitional individual who is determined by commissioner to be employable; P.A. 11-44 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting reference to Sec. 17b-192 and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-208 amended Subsec. (c) to add provision re income disregard for veterans' Aid and Attendance pension benefits, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 14-161 replaced references to individual with references to person, amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re annual assistance increase and delete references to 2003 dates and to general assistance program operated by a town, amended Subsec. (c)(1) to delete former Subpara. (C) re eligibility for cash assistance for family member under 18 years of age, redesignate existing Subpara. (D) as Subpara. (C), and add provision re asset limit for married person and spouse, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 21-78 added Subsec. (e) re one-time assistance payment for a victim of domestic violence, effective July 1, 2021; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (c)(2) by adding Subpara. (B) re disregard of certain tax refunds or advance payments and designating existing provision re Aid and Attendance pension benefits granted to veterans as Subpara. (A), effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 23-204 amended Subsec. (c) by doubling asset limits for single and married persons.