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Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 24

1. Initial benefits approved after the regular monthly payments (60 percent or 100 percent) are made for that month or the following month; 2. Increases approved for the current month or the following month when there is not enough time to implement the change through the regular monthly payment system; or 3. Other authorized situations, such as controlled vendor payments or benefits issued to correct an underpayment.

2217 Benefit Payments for Deceased Household Members (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. A deceased Reach Up household member shall not be entitled to Reach Up benefits for any month following the month of death.

b. Funds remaining from a benefit paid before death of the Reach Up household member remain available for use on their behalf and/or on behalf of eligible survivors of the Reach Up household.

c. The needs of a deceased Reach Up household member shall be removed from their household’s benefits with appropriate notice and benefits shall continue in an adjusted amount required to meet the surviving Reach Up household’s needs.

d. A payment for a period before the death of a Reach Up head of household will, upon notification, be reissued to one of the following individuals:

1. The administrator or executor of the head of household’s estate, if one has been appointed; 2. A surviving parent of an eligible child, who was living with or dependent upon the deceased head of household; or 3. The new payee of the Reach Up household’s benefits.

2218 Underpayments (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. Department errors that result in underpayment of benefits shall be retroactively corrected when the information to enable authorization of the correct amount was available to the Department at the time the error occurred.

b. Retroactive corrected payment shall be authorized only for the 12 months preceding the month in which the underpayment is discovered, regardless of current Reach Up eligibility. c. The retroactive corrective payment shall not be considered income in the month paid or a resource in the following month (rules 2253 and 2254).

d. Corrective payments shall be retroactive to the effective date of the incorrect action, not subject to the above limitations, when:

1. Ordered as a result of a fair hearing or court decision; or 2. Authorized by the Department as the result of a Department decision rendered on a formal appeal prior to hearing.

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Official source

Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 24

2217 Benefit Payments for Deceased Household Members (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. A deceased Reach Up household member shall not be entitled to Reach Up benefits for any month following the month of death.

b. Funds remaining from a benefit paid before death of the Reach Up household member remain available for use on their behalf and/or on behalf of eligible survivors of the Reach Up household.

d. A payment for a period before the death of a Reach Up head of household will, upon notification, be reissued to one of the following individuals:

2218 Underpayments (08/01/2024, 23-28)

d. Corrective payments shall be retroactive to the effective date of the incorrect action, not subject to the above limitations, when:

1. Ordered as a result of a fair hearing or court decision; or 2. Authorized by the Department as the result of a Department decision rendered on a formal appeal prior to hearing.