State Comm. Letter - 1031

DEPT OF SOCIAL AND                                                                              January 4, 2001
REHABILITATION SERVICES                                                                  
Economic and Employment Support (EES)                                                      (Code 2) 
915 SW Harrison
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1505

To:   Area Directors
        Employment and Employment Support Chiefs and Supervisors
        Social Service Chiefs and Supervisors
        Administrative Service Chiefs                                                               

Re:  FY 2001 Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)

PROGRAM SUMMARY

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is federally funded assistance which helps qualifying households pay home energy costs through the issuance of an annual benefit. The benefit is to assist households in the purchase of home heating and cooling energy. In order to be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Combined income of all persons living at the address must fall below 130% of the federal poverty level;
  
  
• An adult household member must be personally responsible for purchasing fuel costs incurred at the current residence, payable either to the landlord or to the fuel vendor;
  
  
• The household must demonstrate a recent history of payments toward purchase of the primary heating energy;
  
  
• The household must meet citizenship or lawful residency requirements; and

The household must meet application requirements.

This document establishes the policies and eligibility criteria according to regulations governed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services.

A separate, short form application is used to determine eligibility because 1)about two-thirds of the applicants do not receive other SRS assistance, and 2) necessary information regarding fuel and electric account numbers, fuel and furnace types and other unique information is not available through existing system data.  Completed applications will be accepted during the application period from January 16 through March 30, 2001. Applications received after the close of business March 30th will be denied.

Applications will be mailed to prior year LIEAP recipients and to the December cash and Food Stamp customers. EES staff will provide LIEAP applications to new Food Stamp, cash, and medical assistance customers through March 30th. Approximately 300 local helping agencies, 250 gas and electric utilities, and numerous propane suppliers will make applications available to other households who need assistance.

Applicants submit their completed applications to the local SRS office, either by mail or in person. Temporary staff hired with federal LIEAP funds determine eligibility and generate the benefits using a system on line to Central Office. Benefits are issued from Central Office throughout the program. Households experiencing a fuel supply shortage, or an actual or pending utility disconnect, receive expedited processing according to federal requirement.

Due to significant differences in federal program purposes and regulations, households may be eligible for LIEAP but not TAF or Food Stamps or vice versa. For instance, if a TAF mother and her child live with other friends or relatives, the income from all persons is countable in determining LIEAP eligibility while TAF considers only the mother and child's income. In addition, TAF and other persons who live in subsidized housing may not meet the vulnerability requirements if their federally subsidized rental units include the energy costs in the rent subsidy.

Several policies used in the LIEAP program reference the Kansas Economic and Employment Support Manual. KEESM is now available through the internet at: http://www.ink.org/public/srs/KEESM/KEESM.htm.   Please refer to this site when KEESM policies are referenced in this memo.

Note:  The LIEAP program is a federally funded program which is based on the amount of funding received and could be terminated at any time in which funding is unavailable.

HOUSEHOLD DEFINITION

The LIEAP household definition is "any group of person(s), living together and sharing the same dwelling address and heating source, and whose heating energy costs and other common living costs, are met from the income or resources available to any member(s) within the group." Household members include individuals who are away from the home due to employment, e.g., truck drivers and salesmen. The following exceptions apply in determining household membership:

• Paid live-in attendants are not considered household members if they provide child care, medical services, or housekeeper services for the applicant, necessary due to age or illness, even if the attendant is a relative. Persons receiving care in the paid attendant's home are not considered household members, if the attendant is the applicant. If the applicant is the person receiving the care, the paid attendant will not be considered a household member, unless the attendant is the spouse.
  

• In documented commercial room and board arrangements, a landlord and tenant living in the same dwelling are considered separate households. Multi-family benefit levels are issued in such boarding situations.
  

• Individuals in congregate living situations who do not pay a fuel vendor directly for fuel are categorically ineligible, e.g., persons in dormitories, adult care facilities, and nursing homes.

The application shall include all members that normally reside in the household at the time of application. The income of all household members living together at time of application, is measured for the three previous months, even if all members were not living together during the entire three-month test period. If a household member is eighteen on the date of application, his/her earned income during the entire three month test period is countable as household income.

DEFINITION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY HEATING FUEL

Primary heating fuel is the fuel used by the heating system built into the residence. Secondary heating fuel is the fuel used in any supplemental heating system or the energy needed to operate the furnace or stove.  Examples of secondary heating fuel include the wood burned in a fireplace which supplements the household's heating needs, or the electricity used to operate a blower on a natural gas furnace.

The household's primary fuel type is one factor which helps to determine the benefit level. Since natural gas is a relatively low cost heating fuel, gas benefits are lower than other fuel benefits. Natural gas is also the fuel used most frequently by Kansas residents. As a cost containment measure, if an applicant indicates that the primary system consumes one of the higher cost fuels (electricity, propane, or wood), staff will contact the local gas provider to determine if there has been natural gas service to that address. If there has been natural gas service at the address, gas will be considered the primary heating fuel type in determining the benefit level unless the furnace is unsafe and has been red tagged by the utility. In this event, the primary heating fuel type will be based on the fuel currently used.

INCOME ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT

The combined gross income of all persons living at the residence address may not exceed 130% of the federal poverty level (see Attachment 1). In determining income eligibility, gross income received during the prior three calendar months is countable, except when wages are received early, e.g., the employee is paid on the last day of a month because the first of the month payday is a holiday.

Countable income includes earnings by adults, unearned income of adults and children, public assistance benefits, social security benefits, interest earnings and most other income. Exempt income types appear on Attachment 2.

Self-employment income is considered using gross receipts minus a 25% standard deduction for expenses, except for in which instances the customer disagrees with the 25% standard deduction and requests the option of using actual income producing costs as a deduction from gross self-employment earnings in place of the standard deduction. Refer to KEESM Sections 6313 and 7132.

When a household member is on strike from employment, the striker's income is measured using the three calendar months prior to the strike's onset or the three calendar months prior to the month of application, whichever amount is greater. The income test period for all other household members will be three calendar months immediately prior to the application date.

There are no asset or resource tests.

ENERGY VULNERABILITY REQUIREMENT

Applicants meet the energy vulnerability requirement by demonstrating responsibility for purchasing the primary heating energy at their current residence. In order to be eligible, the household must pay for energy through one of the following methods:

• Household purchases fuel from a commercial provider using an adult household member's name.
  
  
• Household pays the landlord for fuel costs included in the rent, or owed in addition to the rent.
  
  
• Household pays a commercial fuel vendor for purchases billed to the landlord's account.

The adult household member whose name appears on the energy bill will be assigned as case head to facilitate accurate electronic crediting of benefits. The case name must be spelled exactly as reflected on the heating energy bill.

Homeless households currently living in emergency shelters meet the vulnerability requirement if they owe a debt for heating costs incurred at a prior Kansas address.

Households who cut their own wood do not meet the energy vulnerability requirement (if wood is the primary heating fuel).

Renters in HUD Section 8 Voucher and Certificate Programs and some Farmers Home Administration Programs receive federal "deep subsidies" for rent and utility costs. These renters meet the LIEAP vulnerability requirement only if they meet the following vulnerability tests:

• Pay current residence heating energy costs directly to a utility, or
  
  
• Pay "excess" utility costs billed by the landlord for costs exceeding the normal monthly heating fuel consumption, or
  
  
• Pay the landlord for the exact amount of a utility's actual billing.

Renters living in other Farmers Home Administration (FHA) Projects receive more limited rental assistance and are not required to meet the above vulnerability tests.

SELF-PAYMENT REQUIREMENT

Households who pay a fuel vendor either directly or through the landlord, must demonstrate that payments were made during two of the prior three months toward the primary heating costs incurred at the address. One lump sum payment toward primary heating energy costs will satisfy the two payment requirement if the payment exceeds one-twelfth of the annual fuel consumption costs. Payments made by other organizations or individuals on behalf of applicant households may substitute as self-payments. If no heating payment obligation existed during any month(s) of the test period, the household is exempt from the payment requirement during the applicable month(s).

Households whose heating costs are included in the rent must demonstrate that the rent was paid during two of the previous three months.

Households are exempt from the self-payment requirement if total household income during the three-month test period is $600 or less.

CITIZENSHIP AND ALIENAGE REQUIREMENTS

Households must contain at least one member who is a U.S. Citizen or who can provide Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) documentation that they are lawfully residing in the United States. Applicants currently receiving Food Stamps, cash or medical assistance will categorically meet the alienage requirement for energy assistance.

Immigrant applicants not currently receiving Food Stamps, cash or medical assistance must meet the alienage requirement by providing INS proof of lawful residency. Alienage status appears on the back of the INS identification card/form. Document numbers which indicate lawful residency include the following: I-94 I-551 I-688 I-766

For further alienage information please refer to KEESM section 2141.

Household members who are not citizens or lawful residents will not be considered in determining household size, although the income from such members will be counted in determining total household income. The "Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program" may be used for verifying questionable INS cards.

PROOF OF INFORMATION REQUIREMENT

The applicant must provide the following verifications at the time of application:

• The sources of all income received during the three-month test period by everyone living at the address.
  
  
• Proof of all gross income received during the three test months except for: 1) TAF, GA, SSI, Social Security, Kansas Unemployment (income levels from these sources will be verified by staff), and 2) Interest income less than $50 per month.
  
  
• Proof that the primary heating fuel consumed at the residence is purchased in the name of an adult household member or in the name of the landlord. • The account name and number of utility accounts when to be paid directly to Western Resources or Kansas Gas Services.
  
  
• Proof that the selected wood vendor is actually a "commercial" vendor. Acceptable verification will be the following: 1) Advertisements published in phone directories or newspapers for the sale of wood, or 2) previous tax returns showing reported income from the sale of wood.

Prudent person concept shall be acceptable in all other information supplied by the client. If the application lacks required verifications or contains questionable information, the applicant is notified and given ten calendar days to provide the verification. Denial is made if the information is not provided within the time allowed.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Recipients must be living in a Kansas county and legally capable of acting on their own behalf. Legally incapacitated persons are ineligible unless assistance is applied for by a guardian or conservator.

No household may receive LIEAP from the State of Kansas and from Indian Reservations during the same year. United Tribes of Kansas and Southeast Nebraska is the only Tribe administering a Low Income Energy Assistance Block Grant Program to Kansas residents who are Tribal members.

Emancipated minors may receive assistance on their own behalf according to regulations contained in KEESM 2112.

DATE OF APPLICATION

An application signed by an adult household member must be received during the application period between January 16, 2001 and March 30, 2001.

The application date is the date the signed application is received by SRS. All eligibility requirements will be tested according to the household situation on the date of application. If the application lacks necessary information or verification, staff will send a notice identifying the information needed to determine eligibility. If the applicant does not provide the requested information or verifications within ten calendar days, staff will process a denial, generating a system notice mailed from Central Office to the applicant.

If complete applications are received by the tenth day of a calendar month, but were signed during the prior calendar month, the income and self-payment verifications will be accepted as if the application had been received in the calendar month when it was signed, eliminating the need to request income and utility payment verifications for another month.

Households who apply during the last week of the application period will be given 10 days to provide any missing verification or other requested information. Initial applications received by SRS after the close of business on March 30th will be denied. Local offices may make exceptions to this policy if the postmark indicates an unusual delay in postal delivery.

FAXED applications will be accepted as if they were original copies and contained original signatures.

PRIORITIES IN PROCESSING APPLICATIONS

In order to meet federal requirements, applications are processed in the following order of priority:

• First Priority Applications - households who have exhausted their primary heating fuel supply or who have been disconnected from their gas or electric utility service.
  
  These households receive expedited "crisis" processing within 48 hours of receiving the application and complete information. If the household also contains members using medical support equipment (e.g., dialysis machine, oxygen concentrator, intermittent positive pressure breathing machine, infant respiratory failure alarm), processing occurs within 18 hours of receiving the completed application. When a first priority application is received, eligibility is determined and telephone communication made to the energy provider, indicating the benefit level, expected day of issuance, and the type of payment mechanism. If the LIEAP benefit is insufficient to accomplish
  utility reconnection or provide a delivery of bulk heating fuel, or if the case is denied, the household is referred to other community resources for assistance.
  
  Upon receipt in the agency, the crisis applications are coded "1st priority." Eligibility is determined and data entry completed within 48 hours of receipt of the application and complete information. If a first priority application is received on a Friday, efforts are taken to accomplish eligibility determination, communication with the provider, and data entry before 5:00 P.M. If such expedited processing is not possible, the prohibiting conditions will be documented.
  
  
• Second Priority Applications - households with a notice of pending utility disconnect or a low supply of delivered fuel.   These applications are to be clearly marked "2nd priority" and processed immediately after households in the first priority category.
  
  
• Third Priority Applications - all other applicant households. Processing is delayed until first and second priority crisis applications are completed, but within the 45 day timeliness limitation.

Timely and efficient payment of benefits will be assured by making an eligibility determination on each application in no more than 45 days after the date of receipt of the signed application.

BENEFIT LEVELS

Annual benefit levels vary each year according to the federal block grant funds appropriated for energy assistance. The benefit levels also vary depending upon household income, type of dwelling, type of primary heating fuel, household size, and the household's utility rates.

PAYMENT METHODS

Applicants have the flexibility of selecting which vendors are paid according to the following options:

• The entire annual benefit may be issued for the purchase of heating fuel, or
  
  
• Half of the annual benefit may be issued for the purchase of heating fuel, and the other half for the purchase of electricity for cooling assistance, or any other home energy or fuel. Households having difficulty paying their electric account in the summer should be encouraged to split their annual energy benefit between the fuel provider and the electric cooling provider.

Benefits are paid using the following payment mechanisms:

• Credit on utility account - The utility account is credited using an electronic match process if Western Resources (KGE or KPL) or Kansas Gas Service is the provider of service. These households are notified three times that the benefit has been credited to the account: A) The SRS Notice of LIEAP Eligibility indicates that "the benefit will appear as credit on your next utility bill," B) the utility bill posts the credit as "SRS-Low Income Energy Assistance Program benefit," and C) the utility bill contains a stuffer announcing "The enclosed bill reflects a credit resulting from your SRS LIEAP benefit."
  
  In order to make accurate electronic payments to Western Resources or Kansas Gas Service, both the case name and utility account number entered must match identically to the utility billing information. If the utility is unable to match the SRS information to their customer accounts, a two-party check is issued payable to the utility and the household.
  
  
• Two-party check - A two-party check is issued to the recipient household and its energy vendor in the following circumstances:

1. The household makes energy payments to a vendor other than Kansas Gas Service or Western Resources; or
   
   
2. The household makes payments to Kansas Gas Service or Western Resources but the utility is unable to match the account number and address provided by SRS.

• One-party check - A one-party check is issued to the household in the following circumstances:

1. The household pays its landlord for energy costs either in the unsubsidized rent or in addition to the unsubsidized rent;
   
   
2. The household lives in subsidized housing and is billed an energy surcharge for "excess" heating costs (additional costs other than the normal heating costs which are paid by the HUD utility allowance); or
   
   
3. The household's primary heating account reflects a credit balance or prepaid situation which exceeds $200, e.g., level-pay plan arrangements which often creates seasonal prepayments.

ALLOWABLE USES

Benefits may be applied against utility deposits, disconnect/reconnect fees, bulk fuel delivery charges, and past, current or future energy costs. Federal law prohibits using the benefits for appliances, water, sewer, trash or other services or goods which the vendor may sell.

ELIGIBILITY NOTICES

Households ineligible for assistance are informed of the reason(s) using a system generated notice. If the standard computerized messages do not adequately describe the reason for denial, the eligibility worker should send a hand-prepared notice.

Households eligible for assistance are informed of the benefit amount and expected date of receipt using a system generated notice mailed from Central Office.

OVERPAYMENT ADJUSTMENTS

Recovery efforts are made against overpayments resulting from applicant misrepresentation or agency error.  The household is advised of the overpayment at the time it is identified and given the option of paying any remaining balance through monthly installments or lump sum repayment. Referral to the Area Fraud/Recoupment Office is made if the misrepresentation appears to have been intentional.

The overpayment recovery system tracks overpayment account status from year to year. Staff establish the overpayment amount on the system by completing recoupment information on the LIEAP system. This function is available with the supervisor security clearance.

Client payments received in local offices are deposited into the local Fee Fund. Repayment will be entered into the Overpayment Recovery System. Any overpayment balances still owed will be deducted from subsequent benefits until the balance is repaid. Overpayment activity and status may be reviewed at any time using the LIEAP Overpayment Inquiry Option.

Households are exempt from overpayment recovery when all of the following circumstances are met:

• Recipient is deceased, mentally incapacitated, or now living in nursing home,
  
  
• Household is unable to repay through existing resources, and
  
  
• Automatic withholding is not possible due to LIEAP ineligibility.

AGENCY OUTREACH PROCEDURES

A LIEAP application and eligibility information will be mailed to December cash and Food Stamp assistance recipients and prior year LIEAP recipients. February medical cards will contain a notice advising that if a LIEAP application was not received, one may be obtained from the SRS Office or by calling 1-800-432-0043. Statewide press releases will be issued during the program.

EES staff will provide LIEAP applications to all new applicants for Food Stamps, TAF, GA, and SSI during the LIEAP application period. EES staff will explain to the incoming customers that 1) energy assistance is an annual benefit which may be split between the fuel provider and the electric cooling provider, and 2) all applications must be received by March 30, 2001.

VOLUNTARY OUTREACH/INTAKE SERVICES

Central office will mail announcements and outreach supplies to a wide variety of helping agencies. Approximately 300 community organizations have signed agreements to distribute the applications or assist in their completion.

BENEFIT EXEMPTION FOR OTHER PROGRAMS

LIEAP benefits are exempt as income for all SRS programs and all federally funded programs or subsidies.  This includes public housing programs subsidized by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or Farmers Home Administration (FHA).

MONITORING PROCEDURES

The State has developed procedures to monitor outreach, verification of income, timeliness and accuracy of eligibility determinations, denial rates, and area salary expenditures.

APPEAL PROCEDURES

This program follows TAF appeal procedures except that the request must be made within 30 days of the date of the benefit issuance or denial notice, if the concern is regarding assistance level or denial, or within 90 days of the application date if the concern is regarding timely processing. Refer to KEESM section 1610.

IMPACT ON LOCAL OFFICE OPERATIONS

Area LIEAP staff allocations are provided to areas so that staff may be hired to determine eligibility and avoid requiring Economic and Employment Support Specialists to implement the energy assistance program. The LIEAP program employees generally start employment in January and continue through April when eligibility and benefit processing is finalized.

SRS AREA OFFICE RESPONSIBILITIES

Area Directors are responsible for the overall local administration of LIEAP which includes:

• Hiring temporary staff to determine eligibility and issue benefits;
  
  
• Conducting local training of temporary staff prior to opening of application period;
  
  
• Organizing outreach activities which includes assisting households in completion of applications, maintaining good working relationships with volunteer helping agencies and energy providers, providing media announcements, and other outreach activities;
  
  
• Determining eligibility and processing cases in an accurate and timely manner;
  
  
• Reporting local application activity;
  
  
• Providing LIEAP application information to new Food Stamp, cash and medical cases at intake from January through March;
  
  
• Developing lists of helping agencies in each county which may provide additional energy assistance and providing that information to EES staff to assist in making energy assistance referrals during the months when LIEAP assistance is not available; and
  
  
• Maintaining local controls to ensure that LIEAP expenditures are appropriate and within the federal funds available.

RETENTION OF RECORDS

Customer listings and warrant registers must be maintained for three years. Case files should be maintained for three years except those involving overpayments which should be maintained until three years after repayment has been received.

SUPPLIES

The following outreach/training materials are provided to areas offices: applications; eligibility cards; posters; handbooks; and system user manuals.

COORDINATION EFFORTS

This information has been coordinated with Area Directors, Economic and Employment Support Chiefs, Social Service Chiefs, Administrative Service Chiefs, the Division of Information Resources, and the Secretary.

Sincerely,

Sandra C. Hazlett, Director
Economic and Employment Support

SCH:AH: jmm
Attachments


Attachment 1

The gross income (before deductions) of all persons living at the residence address is considered in determining household income. The following eligibility limits are set at 130% of the federal poverty level:

Attachment 2

The following incomes are exempt in determining eligibility:

1. Agent Orange Settlement payments;
   
   
2. Alaska Native Claim distributions;
   
   
3. Aleut Income under Title II of P.L 100-383;
   
   
4. AmeriCorp payments;
   
   
5. Child Care payments made to persons other than child care providers;
   
   
6. Deleted
   
   
7. Children with Spina Bifida Whose Parents are Vietnam Veterans payments pursuant to P.L. 104;
   
   
8. Crime Victims Fund payments pursuant to P.L 103-322;
   
   
9. Death benefits from life insurance policies, Social Security Administration, Veteran's Administration Railroad organizations, Workman's Compensation, and other agencies;
   
   
10. Disaster payments provided by federal, state or local governments or by disaster assistance organizations in conjunction with a presidentially declared disaster;
    
    
11. Earned income of child household members under age 18;
    
    
12. Educational income - Any grant, scholarship or loan for educational purposes from any source including, but not limited to PELL grants, SEOG's, GLS's, Carl D. Perkins Vocational ACT grants, college work study, grants or loans from civic organizations, and private student loans from family or nonfamily members (Monies received as monthly living benefits from stipends or special programs such as Veterans Educational Income (GI Bill), Social Security to survivors based on educational participation, or to Native Americans through Tribal sources or Bureau of Indian Affairs shall not be exempt under this provision as they are not considered grants, loans, or scholarships.);
    
    
13. Family subsidy payments which are provided through the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Commission or Family Support payments provided through the Children and Family Services Commission;
    
    
14. Foster Grandparent Program payments provided to volunteers;
    
    
15. Gifts - irregular, occasional or unpredictable monetary gifts not exceeding $50 per month;
    
    
16. Holocaust Survivors Reparation payments paid by foreign governments;
    
    
17. Housing rental assistance including Section 8 utility allowances or other "negative rent" payments made to tenants of subsidized housing under HUD or FHA regulations;
    
    
18. Indian monies a) derived from leases or other uses of individually-owned trusts or restricted lands pursuant to P.L. 103-66 and 97-458, or b) distributed or held in trust by the Secretary of the Interior (including Indian judgment funds);
    
    
19. In-kind income such as food stamps, commodity foods, school lunches, energy assistance or other assistance payable by a third party directly to a vendor rather than to the applicant;
    
    
20. Interest accrued from the interest-bearing accounts of children under 18;
    
    
21. Interest income that does not exceed $50 per month. If in excess the full amount of interest shall be counted;
    
    
22. Interest to a burial fund or to a prepaid burial space;
    
    
23. Japanese aliens - payments granted to certain United States citizens of Japanese ancestry and resident Japanese aliens under Title I of P.L 100-383;
    
    
24. JTPA (Job Training Partnership Act) - unearned income received from this program ( e.g.,  tool allowance, travel allowance);
    
    
25. Loans, including loans from private individuals as well as commercial institutions, including deferred educational loans;
    
    
26. Lump sum, non-recurring payments including, but not limited to, the following: a) Income tax refunds, rebates, or credits when paid as a lump sum benefit, b) Other non-recurring lump sum payments from Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement, Veterans Administration and Workman's Compensation; c) Lump sum child support arrearage payments. (If an arrearage is owed, child support payments paid in excess of the current support obligation are considered an arrearage.); d) Retroactive child support rebate payments including CSE checks (URA) received by the client while the TAF case is in open status;
    
    
27. National Community Services Act - Payments received under Title I of the National and Community Services Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-610). Programs in Kansas funded under this Act are the Youth Service Crops programs operated through Donnelly College (Kansas City, KS), the Kickapoo Tribal Nation, and the Topeka Youth Project and AmeriCorp. All payments are exempt except on-the-job training payments received by persons age 19 or over, or received by persons under the age of 19 who are not under the parental control of another household member;
    
    
28. Older Americans Act (All Programs) - Payments received via the Community Services Employment Program funded under Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965. Kansas Programs funded under Title V include: Green Thumb, Project Ayuda (serving Wyandotte, Johnson, Douglas, and Shawnee counties), and the Senior Community Service Employment Program through the Midway Chapter of the American Red Cross (serving Sedgwick, Reno, Harper, Kingman, Butler, Cowley, Harvey and Sumner Counties);
    
    
29. PASS Plan (Plan to Achieve Self-Support) - Social Security Disability benefits received pursuant to a PASS Plan are exempt. Wages placed into a PASS Plan are also exempt;
    
    
30. Radiation exposure - Payments made under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. The law compensates individuals for injuries or deaths resulting from exposure to radiation from nuclear testing and uranium mining in Arizona, Nevada and Utah;
    
    
31. Rehabilitation services payments by SRS Kansas Rehabilitation Services;
    
    
32. Reimbursements for a) expenses incurred in connection with employment, and b) for other expenses incurred, such as VA or insurance payments to reimburse for medical expenses, or VA "Aid and Attendance Benefits";
    
    
33. Relocation assistance - Payments received under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policy Act of 1970. The applicant's equity in a home is disregarded to the extent that the equity was purchased with payments under the Uniform Relocation Act;
    
    
34. SCORE or ACE - Payments received through Service Corps or Retired Executives or Active Corps of Executives;
    
    
35. Savings withdrawn from an IRA or 401K;
    
    
36. Senior Community Service Employment Program payments;
    
    
37. Senior Health Aide payments received through Senior Health Aides or Senior Companions;
    
    
38. Special TAF Allowances - e.g., special transportation payments and special service payments;
    
    
39. Tax (state or federal) refunds, rebates, or credits, e.g., Earned Income Tax Credits;
    
    
40. VISTA Program payments; and
    
    
41. Volunteer payments under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973.
    

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  This page was last updated:   12/17/2001