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Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 31

a. Selection of the protective payee shall be with the participant’s input and consent, to the extent possible, and based on the following considerations:

1. Interest or concern in the welfare of the Reach Up household; 2. Ability to help the Reach Up household make proper use of the Reach Up benefit; 3. Availability to work with the Reach Up household; 4. Ability to establish and maintain a positive relationship with the Reach Up household; and 5. Dependability of the person to handle highly confidential information.

2220.5 Payee Conflict of Interest Limitation (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. To avoid a conflict of interest, the following individuals are prohibited from serving as a payee: 1. Department staff, except as allowed in subsection (b); 2. Landlords, grocers, and other vendors of goods and services who deal directly with the participant; and 3. The eligibility worker determining financial eligibility for the individual, special investigative or resource staff, or staff handling fiscal processes related to the recipient. b. Qualified employees of the Department may serve as protective payees only when no other suitable individual is available. 1. When a Department employee is selected, efforts to find another payee outside the Department should continue. 2. The case record must show continuing effort to secure a payee outside the Department and the reason such efforts have not been successful.

2220.6 Controlled Vendor Payments (CVP) (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. The Department manages the Reach Up benefits through the controlled vendor payment system (CVP) by authorizing payments or vendor authorizations to pay bills and obtain basic needs.

b. The Department places Reach Up households on CVP when:

1. Difficulty in money management (rule 2220.1) precludes payment of benefits directly to the Reach Up household, a budget assistance determination has been made, and no protective payee has been appointed; 2. A participant is sanctioned for noncooperation with Reach Up participant requirements (Reach Up Services rule 2312), and housing costs must be vendored; 3. A parent or caretaker is temporarily absent from the home (rule 2228.1), and housing costs must be vendored; or 4. A parent or caretaker requests direct payment, and the following circumstances exist: i. The Reach Up benefit is sufficient to make the requested payments in full;