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Chapter: 1800 Income

Program: RAP 35

Individuals generally can exclude this assistance for up to 12 months. Income from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) can be excluded for 36 months. 1860.0811 Disaster Assistance Payments (RAP) Permanently exclude:

1. payments, including disaster unemployment assistance, received under the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 [P.L. 93-288, Section 312(d)], as amended by the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Amendments of 1988 [P.L. 100-707, Section 105(i)] from income. 2. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) payments made under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended by Public Law 109-64, enacted on September 20, 2005.

Exclude interest earned on disaster assistance payments from income.

Most Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA) funds are excluded. However, some payments made to homeless people to pay for rent, mortgage, food, and utilities when there is no major disaster or emergency are not excluded under this provision.

Apply this exclusion when:

1. the president determines an emergency or major disaster exists; and 2. the individual was directly affected by the disaster; and 3. the payment is received from a disaster assistance organization or a federal, state or local government. 1860.0816.01 Foster Care Payments (RAP) Any payments received by a foster care parent from any agency intended to provide for the needs of the foster care children or adults placed in his home are considered the income of that foster care child or adult and are considered excluded income to the foster parent. 1860.0816.02 Guardianship Assistance Payments (RAP) Guardianship Assistance Program payments received by a legal guardian with the intention to provide for the needs of the children/adults placed in the guardian’s home are considered the income of the child/adult and are considered excluded income to the legal guardian.

Note: A child cannot receive Guardianship Assistance Program payments and TCA, Relative Caregiver, or Non-Relative Caregiver payments simultaneously. 1860.0819 Developmental Disability Payments (RAP) Support Independent Living Arrangement (SILA) payments from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities are excluded up to the difference between the payment standard and consolidated need standard (CNS). When assistance is received in excess of the maximum exclusion, the excess is considered unearned income in the budget. These payments are considered assistance based on need and are paid to disabled individuals moving from group or community homes to independent living situations to assist with living expenses. 1860.0820 Supplemental Security Income (RAP) Section 1860.0827 discusses program specific policy on the inclusion or exclusion of income received from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are administered by the Social Security Administration.