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Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 57

1. A Reach Up household not receiving payment solely because the payment would be less than $10 shall be considered eligible for Reach Up for all other purposes. i. This will also apply in cases where a Reach Up household payment of 99 cents or less has been rounded down to zero.

2243 Needs (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. Certain requirements, basic to all Reach Up households, shall be accounted for in budgetary computation, including:

1. Food;

2. Fuel;

3. Utilities, including water, sewer, electricity, air conditioning;

4. Clothing;

5. Personal needs and incidentals;

6. Shelter; 7. Household-related chores, including: snow removal, lawn maintenance, and household cleaning supplies; and 8. Special needs, including: telephone, life insurance premiums, household appliances, municipal assessment costs, fire insurance premiums and those specified in rule 2244.3.

b. Each of these basic requirements shall be accounted for in one of the following ways:

1. Using the standard allowance for the required item; 2. Indicating that the required item is available in-kind (rule 2248.2) without monetary cost; or i. An item available in-kind and earned shall be budgeted at appropriate standards. ii. An item available in-kind and unearned shall not be included in the budget. 3. Indicating that the required item is included in the cost of another item, such as room and board (rule 2246.3).

c. No budgetary allowance is made for purchase, maintenance or related expenses of operating a vehicle, except for allowable self-employment business expenses.

2244 Needs Standards (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. The needs standards are the total monthly requirements of each Reach Up household.

b. The total monthly requirement of each Reach Up household shall be calculated using the following: