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Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 55

reapplication and at each subsequent review of eligibility, including recertification, interim report and changes in circumstances.

2238 Method for Determination of Need (08/01/2024, 23-28) a. The Department computes financial need using the following methods: 1. Budgetary comparison of the Reach Up household's available net monthly income to the Reach Up payment standard (total needs standard (rule 2244) multiplied by the rateable reduction (rule 2239)); and 2. Comparison of the Reach Up household's available resources to the combined resources limitation (rule 2254.1).

b. Standards for basic requirements (rules 2243-2246) common to all individuals and households have been established to simplify the Department's determination of need and to ensure equitable consideration for all individuals in similar circumstances.

c. Financial need, and the amount thereof, shall be established when budgetary computation shows a deficit and resources are within the maximum allowed.

1. If either condition is not met the applicant/participant shall be ineligible, due to lack of financial need.

2239 Payment Standard (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. The payment standard is the maximum amount of Reach Up benefit that a Reach Up household can receive. b. The payment standard is reduced by the rateable reduction, which is 49.6 percent of the household's needs standard, because funding is insufficient to meet 100 percent of the need standard.

2240 Eligibility Computation (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. Financial eligibility is computed for an initial application, a reapplication, and at each subsequent review of eligibility, including recertification, interim report and changes of circumstances. b. Eligibility based on income is determined as follows:

1. Determine the amount of the Reach Up household’s gross non-excluded earned and unearned income, including any support predicted or collected by the Office of Child Support, except for the $100 family bonus (rule 2250.1);

2. Apply appropriate deductions and disregards to determine net income (rules 2248, 2251, and 2252); 3. Determine the payment standard for the Reach Up household (rule 2238); 4. Subtract 2 from 3; and i. If net income equals or exceeds the payment standard, the Reach Up household is ineligible due to lack of financial need; or