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Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 89

2. Health insurance, as a resource for illness or accident expenses of the Reach Up household; 3. Disability income protection, potentially combined with either life or health insurance, as a resource to meet current needs of the insured and/or legal dependents; or

4. Potential liability of a third-party shall be identified and appropriate claim initiated in cases involving personal injury and/or property damage.

2261 Potential Support from Relatives (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. The Department emphasizes a support obligation of spouses, or civil union partners, for each other and of parents for their children.

b. Potential sources of support shall be identified during the application/review process from the following legally liable relatives, who are absent from the home for any reason other than death:

1. A parent of a dependent child; and 2. A spouse.

c. When appropriate, parents/caretakers shall be encouraged to take the initiative in securing support from other interested relatives and/or friends.

d. Parents/caretakers shall cooperate with the Department to:

1. Contact relatives, who may be legally liable for child support (rule 2232.1); or

2. Pursue legal action to enforce child support obligations or establish parentage, unless there is good cause for refusal (rule 2232.3).

2261.1 Reporting Child Abandonment to Law Enforcement (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. 33 VSA §1104 requires immediate notice to the appropriate law enforcement officials when Reach Up benefits are granted due to abandonment of a child by a parent.

b. The applicant/participant must be informed of the Department's legal obligation under 33 VSA §1104 to report the receipt of Reach Up benefits to the appropriate law enforcement official.

1. If the applicant/participant is unwilling to have the report made, they have the choice of withdrawing their request for benefits.

2. Clear communication of this legal requirement, including the possibility that testimony may be required, is required to enable the applicant/participant to make an informed choice. c. Notification is required in all cases of abandonment by a biological, step or adoptive parent, including any married parent.

2262 Notice and Appeal of Reach Up Decisions (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. Reach Up households have a right to notice (rule 2262.1) and appeal of actions the Department takes on