0210.020.00  Payment And Grant Amount

IM-#155 November 21, 2002

In regard to grant amount, Section 208.010 states the amount of benefits, when added to all other income, resources, support, and maintenance, provides a reasonable subsistence compatible with decency and health in accordance with standards developed by FSD. 13 CSR 40-2.310(13) through (15).

  1. Cash Grant:  The cash grant is paid only to eligible parents, needy NPCRs, and legal guardians included in the assistance group; children under age 18; and children under age 19 who are in high school or the equivalent level of vocational or technical training and are expected to complete the schooling before reaching age 19.

    Payments to persons eligible for a cash grant may be by electronic benefits transfer (EBT) to an account accessed by a benefit security card or by direct deposit to the claimant's checking or savings account.

    Grandparents As Foster Parents (GAFP) are not eligible to receive the cash payment via EBT.  These payments may be direct deposit or paper check.

    Explain the benefits of using direct deposit at each contact with a participant.  Include in the discussion that using direct deposit allows them to add other payments to the bank account, and build a private banking relationship that will continue past the time when they achieve self sufficiency.

    Wage Supplementation participants do not receive a cash grant. The grant diverts to a wage pool from which the Wage Supplementation employer is paid a monthly subsidy. The participant's monthly net wage must equal or exceed the diverted benefits. Refer to the Case Management section for Wage Supplementation.

    For Temporary Assistance cases, the grant amount is the deficit rounded to the next lower dollar unless the deficit is $9.99 or less, in which case no cash payment is made.  13 CSR 40-2.310(14)).  This case is not eligible for Temporary Assistance.  Review MAF/MC+ eligibility.

  2. SECOND PARENTS:  When both parents are included in the assistance group, one parent is designated the caretaker payee and one parent is designated the second parent.  Second parents, therefore, can include incapacitated parents, unemployed parents, and parents who are spouses of an incapacitated or unemployed parent.