41.28 Need standards.

41.28(1) Definition of the eligible group. The eligible group consists of all eligible people specified below and living together, except when one or more of these people receive supplemental security income under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, as amended to December 31, 2024. There will be at least one child in the eligible group except when the only eligible child is receiving supplemental security income. The unborn child is not considered a member of the eligible group for purposes of establishing the number of people in the eligible group. Human Services[441] Ch 41, p.30 IAC 6/10/26 a. The following persons will be included (except as otherwise provided in these rules), without regard to the person’s employment status, income or resources: (1) All dependent children who are siblings of whole or half blood or adoptive. (2) Any parent of such children, if the parent is living in the same home as the dependent children. b. The following persons may be included: (1) The needy specified relative who assumes the role of parent. (2) The needy specified relative who acts as payee when the parent is in the home, but is unable to act as payee. (3) An incapacitated stepparent, upon request, when the stepparent is the legal spouse of the parent by ceremonial or common-law marriage and the incapacitated stepparent does not have a child in the eligible group. 1. A stepparent is considered incapacitated when a clearly identifiable physical or mental defect has a demonstrable effect upon earning capacity or the performance of the homemaking duties required to maintain a home for the stepchild. The incapacity shall be expected to last for a period of at least 30 days from the date of application. 2. The determination of incapacity shall be supported by medical or psychological evidence. The evidence may be obtained from either an independent physician or psychologist or the state rehabilitation agency. The evidence may be submitted either by letter from the physician or on a form prescribed by the department. When an examination is required and other resources are not available to meet the expense of the examination, the physician shall be authorized to make the examination and submit the claim for payment on a form prescribed by the department. A finding of eligibility for social security benefits or supplemental security income benefits based on disability or blindness is acceptable proof of incapacity. 41.28(2) Schedule of needs. The schedule of living costs represents 100 percent of basic needs. The schedule of living costs is used to determine the needs of individuals when these needs must be determined in accordance with the “standard of need” as defined in rule 441—40.21(239B). The 185 percent schedule is included for the determination of eligibility in accordance with rule 441—41.27(239B). The schedule of basic needs is used to determine the basic needs of those persons whose needs are included in and are eligible for an FIP grant. The eligible group is considered a separate and distinct group without regard to the presence in the home of other persons, regardless of relationship to or whether they have a liability to support members of the eligible group. The schedule of basic needs is also used to determine the needs of persons not included in the assistance grant, when these needs must be determined in accordance with the “payment standard” as defined in rule 441—40.21(239B). The percentage of basic needs paid to one or more persons as compared to the schedule of living costs is shown on the chart below. SCHEDULE OF NEEDS Number of Persons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Each Additional Person 185% of Living Costs 675.25 1330.15 1570.65 1824.10 2020.20 2249.60 2469.75 2695.45 2915.60 3189.40 320.05 Schedule of Living Costs 365 719 849 986 1092 1216 1335 1457 1576 1724 173 Schedule of Basic Needs 183 361 426 495 548 610 670 731 791 865 87 Ratio of Basic Needs to Living Costs 50.18 50.18 50.18 50.18 50.18 50.18 50.18 50.18 50.18 50.18 50.18 CHART OF BASIC NEEDS COMPONENTS (all figures are on a per person basis) Number of Persons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 or More Shelter 77.14 65.81 47.10 35.20 31.74 26.28 25.69 22.52 20.91 20.58 Utilities 19.29 16.45 11.77 8.80 7.93 6.57 6.42 5.63 5.23 5.14 Human Services[441] IAC 6/10/26 Ch 41, p.31 Number of Persons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 or More Household Supplies 4.27 5.33 4.01 3.75 3.36 3.26 3.10 3.08 2.97 2.92 Food 34.49 44.98 40.31 39.11 36.65 37.04 34.00 33.53 32.87 32.36 Clothing 11.17 11.49 8.70 8.75 6.82 6.84 6.54 6.39 6.20 6.10 Pers. Care & Supplies 3.29 3.64 2.68 2.38 2.02 1.91 1.82 1.72 1.67 1.64 Med. Chest Supplies .99 1.40 1.34 1.13 1.15 1.11 1.08 1.06 1.09 1.08 Communi- cations 7.23 6.17 3.85 3.25 2.50 2.07 1.82 1.66 1.51 1.49 Transpor- tation 25.13 25.23 22.24 21.38 17.43 16.59 15.24 15.79 15.44 15.19 a. The definitions of the basic need components are as follows: (1) Shelter: Rental, taxes, upkeep, insurance, amortization. (2) Utilities: Fuel, water, lights, water heating, refrigeration, garbage. (3) Household supplies and replacements: Essentials associated with housekeeping and meal preparation. (4) Food: Including school lunches. (5) Clothing: Including layette, laundry, dry cleaning. (6) Personal care and supplies: Including regular school supplies. (7) Medicine chest items. (8) Communications: Telephone, newspapers, magazines. (9) Transportation: Includes bus fares and other out-of-pocket costs of operating a privately owned vehicle. b. Special situations in determining eligible group: (1) The needs of a child or children in a nonparental home will be considered a separate eligible group when the relative is receiving the FIP assistance for the relative’s own children. (2) When the unmarried specified relative under age 19 is living in the same home with a parent or parents who receive the FIP, the needs of the specified relative, when eligible, will be included in the same eligible group with the parent(s). When the specified relative is a parent, the needs of the eligible children for whom the unmarried parent is caretaker will be included in the same eligible group. When the specified relative is a nonparental relative, the needs of the eligible children for whom the specified relative is caretaker will be considered a separate eligible group. When the unmarried specified relative under the age of 19 is living in the same home as a parent(s) who receives the FIP but the specified relative is not an eligible child, need of the specified relative will be determined in the same manner as though the specified relative had attained majority. When the unmarried specified relative under the age of 19 is living with a nonparental relative or in an independent living arrangement, need will be determined in the same manner as though the specified relative had attained majority. When the unmarried specified relative is under the age of 18 and living in the same home with a parent(s) who does not receive the FIP, the needs of the specified relative, when eligible, will be included in the assistance grant with the children when the specified relative is a parent. When the specified relative is a nonparental relative as defined in subrule 41.22(3), only the needs of the eligible children will be included in the assistance grant. When the unmarried specified relative is aged 18, need will be determined in the same manner as though the specified relative had attained majority. (3) When a person who would ordinarily be in the eligible group is receiving supplemental security income benefits, the person, income, and resources will not be considered in determining FIP benefits for the rest of the family. (4) When two individuals, married to each other, are living in a common household and the children of each of them are recipients of assistance, the assistance grant will be computed on the basis of their comprising one eligible group. This rule is not intended to mandate that an application for assistance be made for children who are not the natural or adoptive children of the applicant. Human Services[441] Ch 41, p.32 IAC 6/10/26 41.28(3) Special needs. On the basis of demonstrated need the following special needs will be allowed, in addition to the basic needs. a. School expenses. Any specific charge, excluding tuition, for a child’s education made by the school, or in accordance with school requirements in connection with a course in the curriculum, will be allowed provided the allowance will not exceed the reasonable cost required to meet the specifications of the course, and the student is actually participating in the course at the time the expense is claimed. Payment will not be made for ordinary expenses for school supplies. b. Guardian/conservator fee. An amount not to exceed $10 per case per month may be allowed for guardian’s/conservator’s fees when authorized by appropriate court order. No additional payment is permitted for court costs or attorney’s fees. [ARC 9277C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 7/1/25]