Assistance to third parties included; educational benefits; exceptions
(1)#
For purposes of subsection (d)(1), except as provided in paragraph (2), assistance provided to a third party on behalf of a household by a State or local government shall be considered money payable directly to the household if the assistance is provided in lieu of—
(A) a regular benefit payable to the household for living expenses under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); or
(B) a benefit payable to the household for housing expenses under— (i) a State or local general assistance program; or (ii) another basic assistance program comparable to general assistance (as determined by the Secretary).
(2)#
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to—
(A) medical assistance;
(B) child care assistance;
(C) a payment or allowance described in subsection (d)(11);
(D) assistance provided by a State or local housing authority;
(E) emergency assistance for migrant or seasonal farmworker households during the period such households are in the job stream;
(F) emergency and special assistance, to the extent excluded in regulations prescribed by the Secretary; or
(G) assistance provided to a third party on behalf of a household under a State or local general assistance program, or another local basic assistance program comparable to general assistance (as determined by the Secretary), if, under State law, no assistance under the program may be provided directly to the household in the form of a cash payment.
(3)#
For purposes of subsection (d)(1), educational loans on which payment is deferred, grants, scholarships, fellowships, veterans’ educational benefits, and the like that are provided to a third party on behalf of a household for living expenses shall be treated as money payable directly to the household.
(4)Third party energy assistance payments.—#
(A) Energy assistance payments .— For purposes of subsection (d)(1), a payment made under a State law (other than a law referred to in paragraph (2)(G) to provide energy assistance to a household without an elderly or disabled member shall be considered money payable directly to the household.
(B) Energy assistance expenses .— For purposes of subsection (e)(6), an expense paid on behalf of a household with an elderly or disabled member under a State law to provide energy assistance shall be considered an out-of-pocket expense incurred and paid by the household.