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203.2 - 203.3 TANF MANUAL 10/22 Page 2c

Example 1: Applicant applies for EA on 07/20/2020 because the family experienced a fire. The household is over income for the month of July, but will have no income in the month of August. She states her July paychecks were used to pay for normal household expenses, and that she will not have money to purchase clothing and furniture items as needed. Since the applicant has remaining unmet needs, EA must be approved based on August’s income as long as all other eligibility criteria are met.

Example 2: Applicant applies for EA on 08/20/2020 because the family experienced a fire. The household is over income for the month of August, but meets the income requirements for September. She states her August paychecks were used to pay for normal household expenses. In September, she will only receive one check in the amount of $300. She will not have money to purchase clothing and furniture items as needed. She declares remaining unmet needs of $1,500. Since the applicant has remaining unmet needs, EA must be approved for $1,200, based on September’s income, as long as all other eligibility criteria are met.

C. Method of Payment - Supervisory approval is required for all emergency assistance payments. Payment for purchase, repair, moving or storage of household equipment must be made by the vendor method to the provider of goods or services.

Payment to meet other needs may be either a money payment to the recipient or a vendor payment to the provider, whichever is most practicable and advantageous to the family.

If EA is approved for a client that has an ongoing TANF case, EA payments can be issued using the same method of issuance in which the client receives the TANF payment. If the client does not have an ongoing TANF case, the method of issuance must be made in the form of a check.

203.3 VENDOR PAYMENTS – Emergency assistance payments are to be made in the form of vendor payments whenever possible in order to ensure that the specific emergency or crisis situation is resolved. These payments are issued as TANF supplemental checks to be sent directly to the vendor and are entered in VaCMS on the TANF Diversionary/Emergency Assistance Details screen. The name on the account, if different from the case name, must be entered in the "Address Line/PO Box" field and the Account Number must be entered in the "Account Number as on the bill" field so the payment can be correctly credited by the vendor. The client should be instructed to contact the vendor when emergency assistance has been approved and advise the vendor to expect the check from the Virginia Department of Social Services.

Note: If the worker cannot issue a vendor payment due to systems limitations, or if a vendor payment is not appropriate based on the circumstances of the case, a payment may be made directly to the recipient. The recipient should be advised that she is expected to use the payment to pay the vendor.

Prior to beginning the process to reissue a check when a vendor reports non-receipt of an emergency assistance check, the worker should review the Finance Status on the Check/Direct Deposit Action screen in VaCMS. If the check does not appear on the list, the worker should contact the Fiscal Processing Unit at Home Office to confirm that the check has not already been cashed.

TANF Transmittal 75