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Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 60
should be the lesser of: 1. The maximum monthly housing allowance for which the Reach Up household is eligible; or 2. The sum of the following: i. The household's incurred monthly cash obligation, if any, for allowable housing costs; and ii. The amount of earned in-kind income received in the form of housing. i. A standard amount, which in most cases represents a portion of the fuel and/or utility subsidy used by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the calculation of subsidized housing rent for Reach Up households, will be considered unearned income for Reach Up eligibility, according to rule 2249. 1. The standard amount for those households, who must pay for fuel, or fuel and utilities, is $70. 2. The standard amount for those households, who must pay for utilities only, is $30. 3. A Reach Up household that documents an actual subsidy amount less than the standard amount may have the actual amount counted as unearned income in Reach Up benefit and eligibility calculations.
j. Nonpayment of all, or a portion of, the shelter expense, will be evaluated against the criteria for need of protective payments and subject to the limitations outlined in rule 2220.
2246.1 Subsidized Housing (08/01/2024, 23-28) a. The most common types of subsidized housing include: 1. Section 8; 2. Section 23; 3. F.H.A (Farmer's Home Administration) rental assistance units; 4. Section 236; and 5. Housing owned and operated by the local public housing authority. b. The Reach Up budget for subsidized housing will always be the maximum housing allowance permitted for a rental located in the county in which the Reach Up household resides. 1. The Reach Up budget is the same as above for a participant living in unsubsidized or private housing with a Section 8 certificate.
2246.2 Shared Households (08/01/2024, 23-28) a. The Department shall determine the housing allowance for households shared between two or more separate households as follows: 1. Budget each separate household considering eligible members of each Reach Up household. 2. Include housing cost as incurred by each household, each household's share not to exceed the housing allowance maximum and the sum of the shares not to exceed the total cost of housing. 3. If a Reach Up household member is the only person on the lease or mortgage, but a separate