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Page 28 of 202 § 10:90-6.9 Provisional Housing -- Awaiting Supplemental Security Income/Social Security/Disability Insurance (SSI/SSDI) Eligi bility (PHASE) Pilot Program

extensions, the unit's remaining EA time will be reduced immediately to reflect each month that the recipient received assistance through PHASE. When the traditional EA time is fully exhausted, then all subsequent months of EA shall count against the PHASE clock. 3. PHASE recipients who remain otherwise eligible for EA, may continue to receive PHASE assistance for a period of up to three full months from the date of the SSI or SSDI awards. The three-month transition period shall start in the month after the date on the Notice of Award. WFNJ cash assistance eligibility is not a factor that will prevent the assistance unit from receiving the three months of transitional assistance, unless WFNJ eligibility was terminated for a reason other than the increased income from the SSI or SSDI award. 4. Temporary housing assistance benefit payments made under this section may include security deposits, rent, mortgage, moving expenses, and utilities for living arrangements. Additional payments may be authorized for emergency food and clothing as provided for under the traditional EA program rules. 5. Payment of retroactive rent, mortgage, and utilities is permitted as guided by N.J.A.C. 10:90-6.3(a)5. Payment of retroactive rent, mortgage, or utilities is limited to a maximum of three months, unless additional time is approved by the DFD after a written request by the county social service agency (CSSA) or municipal welfare agency (MWA). 6. Rental units must be at or below the fair market rent for the area in which the housing is situated. 7. Payments authorized for recipients to stay in a hotel, motel, or shelter living arrangements are limited to 60 cumulative days during a recipient's lifetime on PHASE. (b) Continued eligibility for the PHASE program shall be contingent upon the following: 1. Recipients are required to retain and keep legal representation for the duration of his or her SSI or SSDI application or the appeal process. If not already represented by counsel, recipients will be referred to a pre-paid legal services agency contracted by the Department that will assess the merits of the application or appeal and, if appropriate, will represent the recipient throughout the process. In the alternative, the recipient can retain a private attorney, as selected by and paid for by the recipient. 2. Recipients shall execute any releases necessary to allow the CSSA/MWA to obtain information confirming the status of the attorney-client relationship, the reason(s) for the dissolution of the relationship, or the reason(s) they were unable to utilize the contracted legal services agency. DFD retains the discretion to continue eligibility despite the lack of legal representation. 3. Recipients shall contribute 30 percent of the total household income towards their housing costs throughout their time on PHASE. While receiving WFNJ cash assistance, the recipients shall agree to a mandatory vendor-restricted payment, directly from the CSSA/MWA to the landlord, from the WFNJ grant.