TANF
benefits are paid to support low-income families with children. A
person or family can receive a maximum of 60 months of TANF.
Eligibility for TANF is dependent upon the number of people in the
household and the family’s earned and unearned income. There is a work
requirement for some recipients of TANF. Exceptions to the work
requirement include: persons over 65 years of age and disabled persons.
Persons illegally in the United States are not eligible for TANF. A
child born in the United States, however, is eligible for these
benefits. For guidelines and full eligibility requirement see http://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/tanf/
Medicare provides
medical coverage for persons 65 years and older and persons receiving
Social Security retirement. Coverage is also for persons of any age who
are disabled and have obtained the require quarters (credits) for work.
(See below) People are also covered who are on dialysis and/or kidney
transplants for end stage renal failure. For complete information see http://www.hhs.gov/faq/medicaremedicaid/653.html
Food Stamps
Food stamp funds depend on a household’s earned income plus unearned
income minus the household’s expenses for child care, rent/mortgage,
and utilities. For families with a person 60 years or older, or
disabled, there is a deduction for all medical expenses over $35. per
month. ////There is a work requirement for the Food Stamp Program. As
with the TANF work requirement program, there are exemptions. For
complete information regarding eligibility see http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/applicant_recipients/eligibility.htm
Social Security Disability
(SSDI) is the disability income based on the amount of Federal
Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes deducted from an employee’s
pay over the years. SSDI eligibility requires the recipient to show, by
medical evidence, that she/he is no longer able to perform any job in
the national economy due to their impairment(s). The applicant must
have worked and have at least 40 quarters of coverage (this is equal to
roughly 10 years of steady employment). A quarter of the coverage is
based on a certain amount of income; for example, for 2009 a quarter of
coverage equals $1,090. Only 4 quarters can be earned per year. You can
work while receiving SSDI, but your income must fall below certain
limits. If your income exceeds the limits set each year by the Social
Security Administration (SSA), SSDI payments may be terminated.
However, there is no limit on the amount or source of unearned income
(non-wage). You could, for example, inherit millions of dollars and
still retain your SSDI benefits. SSA also provides benefits to
divorced, disabled and surviving spouses and children. Review the web
site www.ssa.gov for a complete description of all the SSA programs and benefits available.
Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) is the equivalent of a Federal Welfare Program. SSI is
administered by the Social Security Administration. It is paid, not on
one’s earnings, but directly out of the budgeted general revenue of the
federal government. The SSI program assists blind, disabled and elderly
persons who have not paid into the SSDI program. It supplements SSDI
payments that do not reach the 75% level of the Federal Poverty level
for each year, and whose resources do not exceed $2,000 for one person,
or $3,000 for two persons. SSI is also paid to disabled children of
families with limited incomes. You can work while receiving SSI, but
your income—all income over $65. per month will result in a reduction
in your monthly SSI check. See www.ssa.gov for complete information regarding SSI.
Your Right to Appeal
The above programs permit you to appeal if your benefits are:
You
are also entitled to a written notice of action from the agency prior
to the agency’s denial, reduction, suspension, or termination of
benefits. The TANF, and Medicaid programs allow you 30 days from the
date of the written notice to make your appeal. Those appeals are
called “a request for a fair hearing”.
The Food Stamp program 90 days to request a fair hearing.
The
SSDI, SSI programs allow 60 days from the date of the notice of action
to appeal. The SSDI/SSI programs offer several layers of appeal. The
first is called a “Request for Reconsideration” and the second, a
request for a “Hearing With An Administrative Law Judge”.
In
all the programs discussed, if you appeal within 10 days of receipt of
notice of action, generally your benefits will continue while waiting
for the hearing. There are only a few exceptions to this rule.
Eligible
applicants, who believe that their benefits were unjustly reduced,
suspended, or terminated, or without proper prior notice; can contact
Potomac for advice and counsel and options for proceeding.
