Policy Effective: April 1, 2022

The Department provides General Assistance (GA) financial assistance as funding permits. Applications will only be considered if received when the GA program is currently open for enrollment.

The GA Financial assistance start date is the first day of the month following the month of application. The assistance start date is not the date of application.

GA helps single adults and married couples that have no dependent children residing with them 50% or more of the time achieve economic independence through either employment or qualifying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

The rules and standards of the Family Employment Program (FEP) apply to GA unless otherwise stated.

Applicants must be:

At least 18 years old or emancipated, and

Be able to verify a physical or mental health impairment that prevents the customer from basic work activities in any occupation which will last 60 days or longer from the date of application. An impairment that prevents basic work activities means that the customer cannot work any hours at all in any occupation.

Drug addiction and/or alcoholism alone do not meet the conditions of disability. Proof of another disabling impairment must be substantiated with medical evidence.

GA customers who have an impairment that is expected to last 12 months or longer are required to work with an Employment Counselor to develop an employment plan and to determine what services can be offered to best assist the customer in achieving economic independence. The Employment Counselor will contact the customer after the GA is approved.

GA customers who have an impairment that is expected to last 12 months or longer must sign and date the General Assistance Agreement Form 942 within 30 days from the date the initial program benefits are issued.

An individual receiving SSI/SSDI is not eligible for GA.

A person eligible for cash assistance under the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is not eligible for GA.

All customers MUST apply for other benefits or assistance they may be eligible for, or any increase in such benefits if there is any possibility of entitlement. If the customer does not follow through with these requirements, the GA case will be closed.

For applicants, such steps MUST begin before the application is approved.

For recipients, such steps must be taken before any more assistance is issued

A GA customer who has qualified for SSI/SSDI and is waiting for the first SSI/SSDI payment can be eligible without additional medical verification. Social Security approval must be verified.

If there is an expectation that the impairment will last 12 months or longer, the customer must apply for SSI/SSDI benefits. See policy 323-2 for more information or requirements for applying for SSI.

Any customer who has received an “Unfavorable Decision” by the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) from Social Security or if SSI/SSDI benefits are terminated based on medical evidence, is not eligible for GA unless the customer verifies that an unrelated physical/mental health condition has developed

Married couples meet the impairment criteria and time limits on an individual basis. If the household includes an ineligible spouse, the income and assets of the ineligible spouse must be counted when determining the eligibility of the household. The household can consist of any combination of impaired, non-impaired, short-term disabled, or long term disabled as long as at least one spouse meets the eligibility requirements. The spouse that does not meet eligibility requirements is not included in the Financial payment. See policy 323-1 for information on spouse participation requirements.

The customer must provide a current Form 1GA that he/she has an impairment that will last 60 days or more from the date of application. The customer’s statement that he/she has a medical problem does not constitute medical evidence. The impairment must be so severe that it prevents the customer from completing basic work activities in any occupation. For a customer who submits a new application during the revolving door period following closure of the GA program, see policy 745 for information on when a new Form 1GA must be obtained.

The Form 1GA will be used to verify how long the disabling condition is expected to last, and establish the number of calendar months in which the customer is eligible to receive benefits. The eligibility period will be determined from the first day of the month following the month of application for the period of calendar months the health care provider has indicated on the Form 1GA. The first month a customer receives a benefit is considered a benefit month. (A benefit month is a calendar month, not a 30 day period.) A customer is not eligible for more months of GA benefits than what is marked on the Form 1GA. The eligibility period will not extend beyond the last day of the month for the month the impairment is expected to last as stated on the form.

The Form 1 GA must be completed within the application period or 30 days prior to the application date. Exceptions to this requirement can be made but must be approved by the State Department of Workforce Services GA Program Specialist.

If the customer states he/she has a physical or mental health impairment, this must be verified by completion of the Form 1GA, General Assistance - Evidence of Impairment. The Form 1GA must be signed by one of the following:

Licensed Medical Doctor (MD)

Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

Physician's Assistant (PA)

Licensed mental health therapist which includes licensed/certified psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, certified social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional counselor.

An Administrative Billing Form (Form 22) must accompany this medical report to facilitate payment. (Exception: The Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) does not require a Form 22.)

The Department may require a second opinion by a specific person or agency. Use Form 22 Administrative Medical Examinations - Practitioner Invoice to cover the cost of any physical examination. If the customer requests a second opinion, the agency cannot authorize payment for this service.

GA is time limited program. See policy 286 .

Customers enrolled in DWS sponsored intensive or training services are not eligible to receive GA long term track.