10A NCAC 71W .0704     Emergency assistance

(a)  Counties shall use their Work First block grant funds to provide emergency assistance to families. This assistance is designed to assist with families' sporadic emergency needs, such as a utility cut-off or an eviction notice. Emergency assistance is not designed specifically to help families move to self-sufficiency, although, use of this assistance may help a family's progress.

(b)  Emergency assistance shall be provided to or on behalf of a child under the age of 21, the specified relative of the child, and any other member of the household in which he or she is living. The child under the age of 21 who is within the specified degree of relationship shall be living with the specified relative or have lived with the specified relative within six months prior to the month in which emergency assistance is requested.

(c)  The public agency shall determine if the household is eligible for emergency assistance as follows:

(1)           The households countable reserve is at or below two thousand two hundred dollars ($2200).

(2)           The maximum emergency assistance benefit per household is three hundred dollars ($300.00) during 30 consecutive days. Assistance cannot be received again within a 12 consecutive month period.

(3)           When the public agency purchases in-kind goods or contracts for the purchase of services to alleviate or to prevent destitution of the family, the value of the in-kind goods or contracted services purchased with the emergency assistance shall be established and considered when authorizing the benefit level.

(A)          For in-kind goods, the value shall be the actual purchase price of the goods; and

(B)          For contracted services, the provider shall submit to the agency a written statement of the value of the service purchased with the emergency assistance.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 108A-27; 143B-153; 45 C.F.R. 233.120;

Temporary Rule Eff. November 1, 1986 for a period of 62 days to expire on January 1, 1987;

Eff. January 1, 1987;

Amended Eff. June 1, 1990; August 1, 1988;

Temporary Amendment Eff. November 7, 1994 for a period of 180 days or until the permanent rule becomes effective, whichever is sooner;

Temporary Amendment Eff. January 1, 1995 for a period of 180 days or until the permanent rule becomes effective, whichever is sooner;

Amended Eff. March 1, 1995;

Readopted Eff. October 1, 2021.