Immunizations
All children under the age of six must receive all of the immunizations (shots) recommended by the Department of Community Health (DCH). Your family's Family Independence Program (FIP) grant will be reduced by $25 per month if this requirement is not met. However, if your religious beliefs do not permit you to have your child immunized, your FIP grant might not be reduced. Please speak with your Department of Human Services (DHS) specialist.
Child Support From an Absent Parent
If you request assistance for a child under the age of 18 years of age, you might be required to help DHS establish paternity (establish a legal father for the child and/or obtain support from a legal parent who is not living in the home). If you are getting FIP, support payments will be kept by the state to pay back a part of the cash assistance you receive.
You might also receive a participation payment of up to $50 per month if support is paid to the state on your behalf. This will not affect your FIP grant, but might result in a reduction in your Food Assistance Program (FAP) benefits.
Reporting Responsibilities
It is your responsibility to report changes in your situation that might affect your eligibility or your benefit amount within 10 days of the change.
Note: If you receive FAP and have earned income your reporting requirements may be different. Your DHS specialist will let you know.
Report all of the following changes:
Earned Income (e.g., wages, self-employment earnings, rental income etc.)
- Starting, stopping, changing jobs or rate of pay within 10 days of receiving your first/last check or first check with the increase rate of pay.
- Change in work hours of 5 or more hours per week that is expected to continue for more than one month unless your DHS specialist tells you differently
Unearned Income (e.g., Unemployment benefits, Child Support benefits, Social Security benefits, Veterans benefits etc.)
- Changes in unearned income by more than $50.00 a month
Exception: If receiving Medicaid only (except for Healthy Kids), report changes of $25.00 or more a month
- Starting or stopping a source of unearned income.
Other Reporting Requirements Include (but are not limited to) Changes In:
- Persons entering or leaving the home.
- Marital status (you or anyone in your name gets married, separated or divorced).
- Address.
- Shelter costs (rent, house payments, telephone, utilities etc.).
- Cars.
- Assets.
- Amount of child support paid or received.
- Health or medical premiums or change in coverage.
- Child care need, cost or provider(s).
Redetermination of Eligibility
After your case is opened, your eligibility will be redetermined from time to time. This means you will fill out a redetermination form, provide new verification of some information and be interviewed (some programs do not require an interview). Each program has its own requirements. Your DHS specialist will tell you what is needed from you and when it is due.
Repayment of Benefits
If you or anyone in your household receives benefits they are not eligible for, all adults in the household are responsible for repaying the extra benefits even if they no longer live in the home. The benefits must be repaid even if DHS makes the error. If you are receiving benefits, DHS may keep part or all of your benefits to repay the extra benefits you received.
Hearings, Conference Rights and Appeals
If you believe that a decision DHS has made about your case is wrong, you have the right to ask for an administrative hearing. You should first discuss the problem with your DHS specialist, so he or she can explain the situation. Most hearing requests must be in writing and signed by you. However, you do not have to ask for a FAP hearing in writing, it can be done in person or by phone. All case decisions cannot be appealed. If you request a hearing about a non-hearable or, non-appealable issue your request will be denied. Ask your DHS specialist for more information about the hearing rules and appeals process.
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