Chief Patron: Landes
Change in Eligibility Payment Standards for Augusta Co., Staunton & Waynesboro (language only)

Item 355 #1h

Language
Page 282, after line 10, insert:
"D.  The State Board of Social Services shall adopt necessary changes in regulations to be effective July 1, 2004, to allow the local departments of social services located in Augusta County and the Cities of Waynesboro and Staunton to change the standards of assistance reflected in their locality grouping, which is used to determine the amount of payment for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program.  The State Board shall allow for a change in the standards of assistance for these localities to reflect the standards in effect for Group III localities, to ensure consistency among neighboring jurisdictions in determining eligibility for programs and to allow for cost efficiencies in other programs which could maximize federal funds due to a change to the payment standard."

Explanation
(This amendment adds language to allow the localities of Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro to change the standards of assistance for calculating TANF benefits so that variations among similarly situated localities are minimized and cost efficiencies by maximizing federal funds for programs such as foster care are achieved. The current standards have not been updated in more than 20 years. Currently localities are grouped into three categories for determining TANF assistance. Group I localities have an assistance standard of $298 per month for a three-person household and include rural counties and small cities. Group II localities have an assistance standard of $390 per month for a three-person household and consist of suburban counties and cities. Group III localities have an assistance standard of $447 per month.)