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Page | 15 11.0 INCOME AND BENEFIT STANDARDS, ACCESS TO BENEFITS

11.1 Income and Benefit Standards

Effective July 1, 2009: HH Size SON1 Gross Income2 SOA3 SOA4 1 $939 $1,737 $450 $360 2 $1,265 $2,340 $607 $485 3 $1,590 $2,941 $763 $610 4 $1,916 $3,544 $919 $735 5 $2,242 $4,147 $1,076 $860 6 $2,568 $4,750 $1,232 $986 7 $2,894 $5,353 $1,389 $1,111 8 $3,220 $5,957 $1,545 $1,236 For each addit’l HH mem $326 $603 $156 $126 1. Standard of Need (SON) is 100% of the 2006 Hawaii FPG, established by the federal government effective July 1, 2006. 2. Gross income standard is 185% of the SON. 3. SOA is 48% of the SON. 4. SOA is reduced by 20% after the family received their initial two (2) full months of benefits and is applicable to mandatory work required TANF households, effective July 1, 2009.

11.2 Access to Benefits

11.2.1 TANF financial assistance is issued monthly to eligible households as direct cash assistance through the household’s EBT account, direct deposit into a personal bank account, or an imprest check. Imprest checks are issued only when the applicant faces an emergency and meets the emergency criteria.

Benefits are deposited automatically into the household’s EBT cash account each month and are available on the third (3rd) day of the month if the primary household member’s last name begins with letters A – I, or on the fifth (5th) day of the month for last names beginning with J – Z. Those who opted to receive their benefits via direct deposit into their bank accounts, will receive their benefits by the third (3rd) bank day of the month regardless of last name. Also, those with direct deposit who receive SNAP assistance will receive their SNAP benefits on the 1st calendar day of each month.

11.2.2 Households receive an EBT card to access their benefits. Benefits may be withdrawn from automated teller machines or ATM and point of sale or POS terminals to make a cash purchase or to obtain cash back within retail stores. Hawaii ensures access to assistance by providing two (2) free ATM transactions per month and ensuring there are ATM and or POS terminals in all geographical