VOLUME I - TANF MT 34 10/16 PAGE

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1 1210 REQUIREMENT The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) program The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will provide the support necessary to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) so that children can be cared for in their homes or in the homes of relatives. Georgia has a growing population of grandparents taking the role of caretaker for their grandchildren. To assist grandparents who are raising their grandchildren in their homes, all Divisions in DHS along with the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) are collaborating and exploring ways in which we can help strengthen families headed by grandparents. DFCS will provide referrals to other divisions and DCSS as needed. Basic Eligibility Criteria DFCS will provide enhanced financial assistance in the form of a Monthly Subsidy Payment (MSP) and/or one time Crisis Intervention Services Payment (CRISP) to a grandparent who is receiving or will be approved to receive TANF cash assistance for the grandchild and meets the following criteria: is a caretaker of his/her grandchild is 55 years of age or older, OR any age and is disabled, is not participating in an existing foster care program and not receiving per diem payments, and household income is less than 160% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Note: In the instance the applicant grandparent does not meet the age/disability requirement but his/her spouse does, the GRG MSP/CRISP may be approved for the household. However, the spouse of the grandparent must be added in the AU as a nonmember and must meet all eligibility criteria for the program including the relationship requirement. Refer to page of the Policy Manual for Relationship Requirements. VOLUME I - TANF MT 34 10/16 PAGE

2 Financial eligibility For the purpose of determining financial eligibility, household income is defined as the income of the: grandparent applying for assistance spouse of the applicant grandparent and grandchild for whom assistance is requested. TANF cash assistance received by the AU is excluded from the budget while determining eligibility for the MSP or the CRISP. Income that belongs to other persons living in the home is NOT counted for determining eligibility for GRG cash assistance payments. Other Services DFCS will provide specialized childcare services through the Child and Parent Services Program (CAPS) as part of the service provided to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Note: Refer to CAPS manual for details. Defining a Disability The disability/age requirement pertains to the grandparent applying for GRG assistance or to the grandparent s spouse who is living in the home and must meet all eligibility criteria for the program including the relationship requirement. Receipt of either SSI or RSDI disability payments is verification of the existence of a disability that may make the grandparent eligible to receive GRG cash payments The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Enhanced Financial Services Two types of cash assistance are provided under the GRG program: 1. GRG Monthly Subsidy Payment (MSP) 2. GRG Crisis Intervention Services Payment (CRISP). The purpose of DFCS in making the GRG MSP and the CRISP available to the eligible grandparents is to enable them to provide care for their grandchild in their grandparent s home. VOLUME I - TANF MT 34 10/16 PAGE

3 The GRG MSP The GRG MSP is a cash payment of $ per child, per month. It is always approved for the on-going months and for a child: who is living in the grandparent s house and for whom the grandparent or his/her spouse is receiving TANF benefits The grandparent will continue receiving this payment as long as the child is living with the grandparent and the grandparent continues meeting all eligibility requirements for TANF cash assistance. However, a grandparent who chooses to accept GRG assistance will not have an option to be included in the TANF AU. Eligibility Criteria for MSP In order to qualify for GRG MSP, a grandparent or his/her spouse living in the home, must meet the following criteria: the basic GRG eligibility criteria and receive TANF cash assistance for the grandchild for whom assistance is requested NOTE: Case managers must inform the grandparent(s) of the impact of the MSP on their Food Stamps and/or Medicaid benefits and allow the grandparent(s) to decide if they still want to receive the MSP. Guidelines for the Use of GRG MSP The basic needs for which GRG MSP can be used may include but are not limited to: shelter expense (rent, mortgage and utilities) child care fees clothing bedding, furniture and supplies, so the children can be placed or after the children have been placed facil7itate third party custody for relatives when all relevant parties agree upon the action. Payment for services such as mediation, Guardian Ad Litem (GAL), court facilitation and attorney fees gas, bus vouchers and or car repairs and transitional counseling for the grandparents and grandchildren to adjust to their new living arrangement While the basic needs for which the GRG MSP can be used are noted, DFCS will not monitor how the eligible AU spends the MSP VOLUME I - TANF MT 34 10/16 PAGE

4 The GRG CRISP The GRG CRISP is designed to meet an emergency need of a grandparent who is raising a grandchild in his/her home. It is a onetime only cash payment. One time only condition may be waived if another grandchild moves in to live with the grandparent who has previously received CRISP for a different grandchild. The CRISP can be approved at any time during the grandparent s TANF eligibility, when an emergency exists. CRISP Amount The CRISP amount is equal to up to four times the maximum TANF benefit amount for that AU size. In determining the GRG CRISP amount, the AU consists only of the grandchild for whom assistance is requested. The CRISP provides cash assistance to help a grandparent pay the cost of emergency needs, such as shelter, utilities, school expenses, furniture or legal expenses associated with gaining formal custody, and other additional expenses incurred when a grandchild comes to live with the grandparent. This list is not all-inclusive. Defining an Emergency Need An emergency need is defined as the additional expenses associated with raising grandchildren on a fixed income. Emergency needs are verified by the client s statement unless the statement is considered questionable. If questionable, one of the following sources of verification may be used: lease agreement utility bills receipts associated with court fees for Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) process receipts for furniture, bedding etc. Note: This list is not all-inclusive. VOLUME I - TANF MT 34 10/16 PAGE

5 Eligibility Criteria for GRG CRISP In order to qualify for the GRG CRISP, a grandparent must: receive TANF, meet the basic GRG eligibility criteria (Refer to the Basic Eligibility Criteria for GRG on page ) and present the existence of an emergency/crisis situation as a direct result of the grandchild living with the grandparent Application for the CRISP must be made within a reasonable time of the occurrence of crisis. NOTE: Assistance through receipt of the CRISP must be the option of last resort. The CRISP can be approved only when all other potential sources of assistance have been exhausted. There can be no duplication of services provided to the AU. Establishing the Emergency/Crisis Verifying the expense and determining the amount of the CRISP The determination of whether a particular situation constitutes an emergency/crisis for the AU is based on the applicant s statement made in person or in writing when applying for the CRISP assistance. The applicant s statement must identify the specific emergency/crisis situation. Although the determination of an emergency crisis is based on the applicant s statement, the actual cost of eliminating the identified emergency/crisis must be verified. The CRISP is paid in increments of the maximum TANF grant amount for one month, two months or three months, depending on the verified dollar amount of the emergency expense Assuming that an AU is eligible for the CRISP, and that the AU verifies an emergency/crisis expense of $300, and the maximum TANF grant amount for the AU size is $235, the AU will be eligible to receive a CRISP of $470. This amount is equivalent to the maximum TANF grant amount for two months, which is paid to the AU because the maximum grant amount for one month is less than the verified emergency expense. VOLUME I - TANF MT 34 10/16 PAGE

6 Guidelines for the Use of the CRISP The CRISP is intended to enable the AU to pay emergency needs incurred as a direct result of the grandchild coming to live with the grandparent. However, DFCS will not monitor how the eligible AU spends the CRISP. Guidelines for the Use of the CRISP Emergency needs can include, but are not limited to: the first and last month s rent or utility connections for a grandparent who must move into a larger apartment in order to take the grandchild into the homes, or a one-time rent and/or utility assistance for a family at immediate risk of eviction and/or utility shut-off, or court expenses associated with gaining legal custody of the grandchild(ren), or School/education related expenses, or Furniture/bedding. The grandparent(s) may be eligible for the CRISP and the MSP if an emergency/crisis situation as a direct result of the grandchild (ren) living with the grandparent(s) arises and there are ongoing expenses associated with raising their grandchildren. Eligibility for CRISP and MSP The standard of promptness for the completion of an application for the MSP is 45 days from the date the request is received in the DFCS office in person or in writing. However, all efforts should be made to accommodate new applicants who verify the need for the MSP and the CRISP. VOLUME I - TANF MT 34 10/16 PAGE

7 Standard of Promptness for CRISP The standard of promptness for the completion of an application for the CRISP is 10 days from the date the request is received in the DFCS office in person or in writing. Note: If the TANF case is still pending and the family is deemed potentially eligible, then the GRG CRISP should be approved within 10-day SOP for CRISP. Refer to Section 1105 (Application Processing) for policy regarding the standard of promptness for applications. The request for the GRG MSP and/or CRISP can be submitted on Form 297 or orally by contacting the DFCS office. If orally, the case manager is required to document the request and file Form 351 in the case record. Failure to report If the grandchild leaves the custody of the grandparents who are receiving GRG cash payments, the grandparents must notify DFCS within 10 days of the departure from the home of the grandchild. A failure to report the departure of the grandchild within 10 days may result in an overpayment. The grandparents will have to repay the GRG MSP if an extra payment is received due to the untimely report of the grandchild s moving out of the home. If the TANF case closes, the GRG MSP must also be terminated effective the month of the TANF closure. VOLUME I - TANF MT 34 10/16 PAGE

8 PROCEDURES Procedures for Processing TANF Application and GRG MSP and CRISP payments Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Follow the procedures for processing TANF applications, if needed. (Refer to Section 1105, Application Processing). Determine if applicant meets the criteria for GRG MSP. Complete the GRG worksheet, Form 351. Verify and document the findings in case record and on SUCCESS. Complete Form 282: GRG Cash Assistance Payments Disposition Notification. Determine if the AU needs and qualifies for the GRG CRISP. Complete Form 281: GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN (GRG)-TANF Monthly Subsidy Payments (MSP)-Crisis Intervention Services Payment(CRISP) when approving the GRG CRISP or if the GRG MSP is issued manually. Note: Effective September 1, 2007 the GRG MSP payments will be issued via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT). However, when issuing GRG CRISP payments, Form 281 must be used. Documentation The case manager must document the ADT behind the STAT screen with the following information: name of the child for whom assistance is being requested relationship and financial responsibility of the grandparent how the relationship was traced and the circumstances under which the GRG MSP/GRG CRISP or both were approved or terminated VOLUME I - TANF MT 34 10/16 PAGE