Title 16
6000 Emergency Assistance Services
6004 Payment Limitation: Time Restriction
The maximum payment a household can receive is $1,200 for emergency shelter certified by the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), $450 for mortgage or rent assistance, and $200 for other costs related to self-sufficiency of the household during one period of 30 consecutive days in any twelve consecutive months. The payment can be used to meet needs which arose before such 30-day period or for such needs as rent or emergency shelter which extend beyond the 30-day period. Payments authorized within the 30-day period may be made for needs which will arise during the 60 consecutive days beginning on the day after the end of the 30-day period. Payments authorized within the 30-day period may be made for debts which became due and payable within the 60 consecutive days immediately prior to the day the recipient applies for assistance.
The payment limitation and time restrictions apply only to the original household. Former members of a household that received assistance can themselves receive assistance if otherwise eligible provided they had not requested funds while part of the original household. For example, a household (F1) contains two TANF cases (A1) and (A2).
A1 receives emergency assistance to purchase a refrigerator in July. In September A2 moves to their own apartment. Several months later in December A2 needs money to pay the rent because her money was stolen. A2 can receive help because she is no longer part of the F1 household and while part of the F1 household had not requested assistance. If A1 asked for help, they would be denied because they received an emergency assistance payment less than twelve months ago.
