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Vermont Department for Children and Families Economic Services Division Reach Up Services Rules 2300 30

c. For the fourth cumulative month, and any subsequent month in which a participant is sanctioned, the Reach Up household benefit shall be reduced by the amount of $150.00 for each participant subject to a fiscal sanction.

d. When a Reach Up benefit terminates because the amount of the sanction equals or exceeds the benefit amount, that month shall be counted as a month of sanction.

e. When a Reach Up benefit terminates because a participant does not attend their required sanction meeting (rule 2327.2), the month the benefits are forfeited shall be counted as a month of sanction.

2328.4 Housing Protection Limitation (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. During the first six cumulative months of sanction, the amount of the sanction may be limited to protect the household's ability to pay its housing costs.

1. The Department shall consider the household's other countable income available for payment of housing costs.

2. The amount of housing costs protected under this provision equals either the household's actual incurred housing costs or the applicable maximum housing allowance (Reach Up Eligibility rule 2246), whichever is less, minus the household's other countable income.

3. The amount of the special housing needs allowance (Reach Up Eligibility rule 2244.3) is not included in the determination of the amount of allowable protected housing costs.

b. If the household's monthly benefit, after the imposition of the full sanction amount, equals or exceeds its protected housing costs, the benefit shall be reduced by the full sanction amount.

c. If the household's protected housing costs are more than this reduced benefit amount, the amount of the sanction shall equal either the household's benefit minus its protected housing costs, or zero, whichever is more.

1. Any month when the sanction is zero shall count as a month of sanction.

d. After the first six cumulative months of sanction, the Department shall reduce the household's benefit without consideration of the housing protection limitation.

1. If the sanction amount exceeds the benefit amount, the benefits terminate.

e. A household that has exhausted its six‐month housing protection limitation may be eligible for another six‐month housing protection period.

1. To qualify for another housing protection period, the household must have a period of 36 months without sanction for non‐engagement with Reach Up services requirements following the initial housing protection period.

2. Each of the 36 months must be a month during which the household is not receiving Reach Up benefits or a month during which the household is participating in Reach Up without sanction.

2328.5 Vendor Payment of Housing Costs (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. When a Reach Up household has a fiscal sanction implemented, the Department shall provide housing expenses by vendor payment, paying as much of the incurred housing costs from the