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Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 54

with and without the caretaker, and allow the caretaker to decide if their needs should be included in the Reach Up household. h. The child’s Reach Up household is formed according to rule 2235 and must meet all requirements for Reach Up eligibility. 1. A housing allowance may be included in the Reach Up household’s needs, up to the housing allowance maximum, which includes the special needs housing allowance, if applicable, if the caretaker charges the child for housing.

2. If the child’s Reach Up household is not eligible for Reach Up, the caretaker is not eligible either. i. If the caretaker is applying for their own needs to be included in a child’s eligible Reach Up household, the Department shall determine whether the caretaker and the eligible child are financially eligible for Reach Up benefits. 1. The Department considers the caretaker’s household to include the following persons, if any, living with the caretaker: i. The caretaker’s spouse; ii. Minor children other than the Reach Up eligible child; or iii. Other tax dependents. 2. The combined countable resources of the caretaker’s household must not exceed the Reach Up resources maximum (rule 2255). 3. The combined countable income of the caretaker’s household is determined according to the rules for Reach Up eligibility (rules 2248, 2249, 2250, and 2251), as if the caretaker’s household were the Reach Up household. i. Payments may be deducted from the caretaker’s household’s earned income, if they are made to an individual who is a tax dependent, outside of the home. ii. The combined countable income of the caretaker’s household must not exceed their ratably reduced needs determined according to Reach Up rules 2238, 2239 and 2240. 4. The Department shall determine Reach Up eligibility by including the needs of both the caretaker and the eligible child. i. Only the caretaker’s shelter expenses, up to the maximum housing allowance, including the special needs housing allowance, if applicable, are included in the Reach Up household’s needs. j. A caretaker’s resources are not available to the child when the caretaker does not have the legal responsibility of a parent to support the child. k. The caretaker’s income is also not available to the child unless the caretaker has indicated a commitment to make ongoing monetary contributions toward the support of the child, considered unearned income to the child.

2237 Need Determination (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. A need determination is a basic eligibility requirement and shall be completed at initial application,