SR 18-06 Dated 12/18

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION – DIVISION OF ECONOMIC AND HOUSING STABILITY (DEHS)

SUMMARY

This SR releases clarifications to Emergency Assistance policy about acceptable forms of verification to prove unsafe or unhealthy living conditions and non-financial eligibility requirements to secure or retain permanent housing.

POLICY

Policy on emergency assistance verifications has been updated to clarify that the following forms of third party documentation may be used to verify unsafe or unhealthy living conditions: documentation from a school nurse, school counselor, social worker, case manager, therapist, housing and support services, town welfare, primary medical provider, or pastoral support. If third party documentation is not available, the individual may provide a written self-attestation of their unsafe or unhealthy living conditions. Applicants applying for first month’s rent or a security deposit are not required to provide an eviction notice if their emergency assistance is due to unsafe or unhealthy living conditions.

Emergency Assistance policy has also been updated to clarify that individuals in sanction, but that have a plan to cure their sanction and are actively engaging in curing their sanction with NHEP shall be eligible to apply for emergency assistance.

New HEIGHTS Screen Changes

The first question on the Emergency Assistance Responses Screen will be reworded. The question currently reads, “Was the emergency situation caused by the caretaker’s voluntarily quitting a job of at least 20 hours per week without good cause within 60 days of the EA application, being sanctioned by NHEP, or refusing to accept work or training?”

To align with policy clarifications this question will be reworded as follows:

“Was the emergency situation caused by the caretaker’s voluntary quitting a job of at least 20 hours per week without good cause within 60 days of the EA application or refusing to accept work or training, or is the individual currently in sanction with NHEP without a plan to cure or without actively engaging in curing the sanction?”

If “Yes,” FSS should deny Emergency Assistance. If “No,” FSS should continue with the assessment.

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Revised Family Assistance Manual Topics

Section 703.05 Emergency Assistance (EA) Eligibility Requirements

IMPLEMENTATION

Policy released in this SR will be effective December 31, 2018.

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

Notification of the rule change was published in the New Hampshire Rulemaking Register on October 4, 2018. A public hearing on amended Administrative Rule He-W 606.104 and He-W 699.05 was held on October 25, 2018.

No additional client notification is planned or needed.

TRAINING

No special training is planned or needed.

DISPOSITION

This SR may be destroyed or deleted after its contents have been noted and the revised manual topics released by this SR have been posted to the On-line manuals.

DISTRIBUTION

This SR will be distributed according to the electronic distribution list for BFA policy releases. This SR, and revised On-Line Manuals, will be available for agency staff in the On-Line Manual Library, and for public access on the Internet at www.dhhs.nh.gov/dfa/publications.htm, effective December 31, 2018. Additionally, this SR, and printed pages with posting instructions, will be distributed under separate cover to all internal hard copy holders of the Family Assistance Manual.

BFA/SVW:s