Sliding Fee Scale

Income Determination Guidelines for Board Subsidized Services

Definition of Family

Family means one or more adults and children, related by blood or law, and residing in the same household. Where adults, other than spouses, reside together, each shall be considered a separate family. Emancipated minors and children living under the care of individuals not responsible for that care shall be considered one-person families.

· An "adult" is an individual who is 18 or over, or an emancipated minor (as determined by state law). Individuals aged 18 through 21 who are attending high school are considered children unless otherwise emancipated. Physically and mentally handicapped persons aged 18 through 21, who are not otherwise emancipated, are considered children.

· A stepparent living with his spouse and his spouse's children shall be considered as one family. The income of the stepparent shall be included in determining the income eligibility of the entire family including the stepparent, the stepparent's spouse, and any minor children of either spouse who reside in the household.

· Individuals legally responsible for the care of a child are the natural or adoptive parents of the child. Adoptive parents assume legal responsibility at the point the adoption becomes finalized by court decree.

· A child living with unrelated adults or with relatives other than their natural or adoptive parents, or a child in the temporary or permanent custody of a licensed child caring agency shall be considered a one-person family and shall have his own social services case. Children in temporary custody who are placed with a natural or adoptive parent must be considered a member of that parent's family.

· Verification of an individual's and/or family's eligibility for Board subsidized services shall consist of copies of two of the most recent pay stubs or other regular income, plus any additional documents, if indicated, to determine if the individual may be eligible for Medicaid, including the CHIP program. As per Section D(7) in the General Instructions of the RFI, Medicaid eligible clients, including potential Healthy Start, Healthy Families Medicaid (CHIP) clients, must apply for Medicaid benefits to be eligible for Board funding. An average of the gross income of the two pay periods should be to determine gross income. If the source of income is a pension such as regular Social Security or other retirement benefits, copies of these items will service to verify the client's eligibility for 12 months from the date of the check. It will only be necessary to obtain a copy of the most recent check or stub. If the regular income is from any other source, then it will serve to document the client's eligibility for six months from the date on the pay stubs or check.

· Clients need to be responsible, at minimum, for 25% of program costs for Domestic Violence.

The exact procedures that an agency follows to accomplish the determination and documentation of client eligibility for Board subsidy is left to the discretion of the Agency but must be approved by the Board.