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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 12/2014

PROTECTIVE AND VENDOR PAYMENTS

0024.09

assistance unless you receive ALL of the following items before the effective date of the notice:

● The amount of the shelter and/or utilities.

● The date when shelter is due.

● The name and address of the landlord/caretaker/mortgage holder and/or utility company.

Do not terminate assistance if the participant provides information about and completes a release to contact the vendor. Do not terminate assistance if the participant verifies he or she does not incur shelter and/or utilities.

To determine the amount to vendor pay for utilities, choose 1 of the following methods:

● The average of the actual monthly cost of utilities for the family for the prior 12 months (if the family has maintained their current residence for 12 months or more).

● The amount of the monthly budget plan set by the local utility company for the family’s current residence.

● The estimated monthly utility costs (in consultation with the client) for the dwelling in which the family currently resides.

For the food portion of MFIP, follow the SNAP provisions of 0024.09.01 (Protective and Vendor Payments - SNAP/MSA/GA/GRH).

Document and review the need for the method of payment at least annually.

DWP: Follow MFIP for protective payee and vendoring partial payment provisions. Vendor pay all family maintenance needs (housing and utilities) up to the amount of the DWP grant for the entire period of DWP eligibility when possible. Do not vendor pay the minimum cash benefit amount of $10. At county option, you may also vendor pay the standard phone amount of $35.00.

A unit with high shelter expenses may not be getting additional cash benefits (for example, personal needs) because the entire amount of the DWP benefits is paid out in a vendor payment for the family’s shelter needs. For units receiving personal needs allowance payments, issue the personal needs allowance payments via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT).

For more information, see 0022.12 (How to Calc. Benefit Level - MFIP/DWP/GA), 0020.09 (MFIP/DWP Assistance Standards) and 0024.04.03.03 (Benefit Delivery Methods--Program Provisions).

SNAP, MSA, GA, GRH: See 0024.09.01 (Protective and Vendor Payments - SNAP/MSA/GA/GRH).