§ 5-312. Temporary cash assistance -- In general

   (a) Intent of section. -- This section is not intended to create an incentive for individuals to seek temporary cash assistance benefits instead of employment.

(b) Requirements for assistance -- In general. -- A local department shall provide temporary cash assistance to an applicant or recipient only if:

   (1) the applicant or recipient meets the requirements for participation in the FIP set forth in § 5-308 of this subtitle;

   (2) the applicant or recipient assigns to the State all right, title, and interest in support, for the period that the family receives temporary cash assistance, from any other person that the applicant or recipient has on behalf of any intended or potential recipient for whom the applicant or recipient is applying for or receiving assistance; and

   (3) in the case of an applicant or recipient who is a minor parent, the applicant or recipient lives:

      (i) with a parent, legal guardian, custodian, or other adult relative who will be the payee of the minor parent;

      (ii) in an adult-supervised group living arrangement that provides a protective payee and:

         1. there is no available parent, legal guardian, custodian, or other adult relative with whom the minor parent can live;

         2. the minor parent or child would be subject to physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or neglect in the home of any available adult relative; or

         3. a social service worker finds that living with any available adult relative would not be in the best interest of the minor parent or child; or

      (iii) independently, if a social service worker confirms that the physical safety or emotional health of the minor parent or child would otherwise be in jeopardy.

(c) Entitlement to benefits. -- A recipient who meets the requirements of the FIP is entitled to temporary cash assistance benefits.

(d) Sponsored legal immigrants. -- In determining the eligibility for and the amount of temporary cash assistance to be provided to an applicant or recipient who is a legal immigrant, the income and resources of the applicant or recipient shall include, for the period of time established by federal law, the income and resources of any sponsor who executed an affidavit of support in accordance with 8 U.S.C. § 1183a on behalf of the legal immigrant.

(e) Noncompliance. --

   (1) The Secretary shall adopt regulations that establish a schedule of reductions and terminations of temporary cash assistance for noncompliance with FIP requirements.

   (2) (i) If a recipient is found to be in noncompliance with FIP requirements, a caseworker shall investigate the reasons for noncompliance.

      (ii) The investigation, to the extent resources allow, shall include personal contact with the family of the recipient.

   (3) The Secretary may not reduce or terminate temporary cash assistance to a family until 30 days after the day on which the first written notice of noncompliance was sent to the recipient.

   (4) For noncompliance with a FIP requirement other than a work activity, temporary cash assistance shall resume on compliance with the FIP requirement.

   (5) For noncompliance with a work activity, temporary cash assistance shall resume in the following manner:

      (i) for the first instance of noncompliance, temporary cash assistance shall resume immediately on compliance;

      (ii) for the second instance of noncompliance, temporary cash assistance shall resume after 10 days of compliance with the work activity; and

      (iii) for each subsequent instance of noncompliance, temporary cash assistance shall resume after 30 days of compliance with a work activity.

   (6) If temporary cash assistance is reduced or terminated under this subsection, a recipient shall retain eligibility for medical assistance and food stamps, as long as the recipient meets the medical assistance and food stamp program requirements.

(f) Transitional assistance. --

   (1) After termination of temporary cash assistance under this section, a recipient may receive transitional assistance.

   (2) If a caseworker determines that transitional assistance is appropriate, the FIP benefit that would have been paid to the recipient shall be paid instead to a third party payee on behalf of the recipient for a period of up to 3 months.

   (3) The caseworker of a recipient, in conjunction with the recipient and subject to the approval of the Secretary, shall select a third party payee described in paragraph (2) of this subsection.

   (4) The third party payee shall provide transitional assistance to the recipient in one or more of the following forms:

      (i) counseling;

      (ii) housing;

      (iii) child care;

      (iv) household supplies and equipment;

      (v) direct assistance other than a cash payment; and

      (vi) any other noncash assistance that may be necessary to assist the recipient to make the transition from welfare.

   (5) A local department may pay an administrative fee to a third party payee to cover the administrative costs of the third party payee for providing the services described in paragraph (4) of this subsection.

   (6) The funds provided through transitional assistance may not be used to further sectarian religious instruction.

   (7) The Secretary shall adopt regulations specifying the selection criteria for third party payees under this subsection.

   (8) A recipient who has received transitional assistance may reapply for the FIP benefit and the benefit shall be furnished with reasonable promptness to all eligible individuals.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 88A, § 50(a)-(c), (f), (g); 2007, ch. 3, § 2; 2009, ch. 469.