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Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 40

3. Allowances for maintenance of the Reach Up household’s home.

g. Reach Up benefits will terminate when the parent or caretaker has been absent from the home for more than 180 consecutive days.

2228.2 Temporary Absence of a Child (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. A temporary absence of a child from the home not expected to exceed 180 consecutive days is limited to the following:

1. The child is placed in the custody of the Department pursuant to a court order and reunification with the parent or caretaker is the goal;

2. The child is voluntarily placed outside of the home; or

3. The child is incarcerated.

b. A temporary absence of a child from the home exceeding 180 consecutive days is limited to:

1. A child attending school pursuant to rule 2244.2; or

2. A child receiving care in a hospital, substance abuse treatment facility, or other medical institution.

c. When a child is temporarily absent from the home for any of the above reasons, the parent or caretaker may receive Reach Up benefits on behalf of the absent child as long as the following criteria are met:

1. The parent or caretaker, with whom the child is living, continues to maintain a home for the child;

2. The parent or caretaker plans for the child to return to the home at the end of the absence; and

3. The Reach Up household continues to meet all other eligibility requirements for Reach Up benefits.

d. Reach Up benefits on behalf of a child, who is temporarily absent from the home for reasons other than those specified above, including out-of-home visits, will terminate after 30 days.

e. Basic needs shall be included in the Reach Up budget as though the child were living in the home of the parent or caretaker.

f. Except as provided in subsection (b), Reach Up benefits on behalf of the child will terminate when the child has been absent from the home for more than 180 consecutive days.

1. For children placed in the custody of the Department, Reach Up benefits will terminate when reunification is no longer the goal or the parental rights have been terminated by the court.

2. Reach Up benefits on behalf of a child who is away from home for more than 180 consecutive days for the reasons in subsection (b) above may continue solely through the State-funded program.