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Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 10

designated and bearing the applicant’s signature, and providing this letter to the Department.

e. An authorized representative must be:

1. An adult;

2. Not a member of the Reach Up household; and

3. Aware of the Reach Up household’s situation.

2205 Quality Assurance Review (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. Continuing validation of the accuracy of information and resulting decisions on eligibility and amount of benefits is carried out through a Quality Assurance review of a sample of each month’s Reach Up caseload.

b. The primary purpose of the validation review is assurance that Department policies are clear and consistently applied and that applicants can understand and furnish accurate information.

c. Whenever a validation review indicates possible fraud, further investigation and appropriate action shall be initiated.

2206 Domestic Violence (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. The Department recognizes that families experiencing the effects of domestic violence may face a threat to the health, safety, and well-being of one or more family members as well as an obstacle to upward economic mobility.

b. To encourage and help such families to address the effects of domestic violence, the Department shall explain to applicants and participants that they: 1. May ask for a deferment to Reach Up participant requirements (Reach Up Services rule 2323); 2. May ask for a waiver of the requirement to cooperate in the pursuit of child support (rule 2232.4); 3. Have a right to confidentiality unless the law requires a report of abuse; and 4. May limit voluntary waivers of confidentiality based on criteria they choose, such as time periods or named collateral contacts. c. The Department shall provide this explanation at the time of application and eligibility review and at any time the Department receives information indicating that the applicant or participant, or a dependent child, may be or may have been a victim of domestic violence. d. Domestic violence is defined at rule 2201.

2207 Application (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. Application for Reach Up is the specific action of completing, signing, and submitting an application form furnished by the Department to begin the program eligibility determination process.

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Official source

Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 10

designated and bearing the applicant’s signature, and providing this letter to the Department.

e. An authorized representative must be:

1. An adult;

2. Not a member of the Reach Up household; and

3. Aware of the Reach Up household’s situation.

2205 Quality Assurance Review (08/01/2024, 23-28)

b. The primary purpose of the validation review is assurance that Department policies are clear and consistently applied and that applicants can understand and furnish accurate information.

c. Whenever a validation review indicates possible fraud, further investigation and appropriate action shall be initiated.

2206 Domestic Violence (08/01/2024, 23-28)

2207 Application (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. Application for Reach Up is the specific action of completing, signing, and submitting an application form furnished by the Department to begin the program eligibility determination process.