Y Foster Care and Guardianship Subsidy Payments

 

 

Revised 10/12/2021

 

Policy

How foster care and guardianship subsidy payments are treated depends on the following:

If payment is under...

And the program is...

Then the treatment is...

Title IV-E Foster Assistance

ALTCS

·        The customer is categorically eligible (MA502); and

·        The income is counted as unearned income to the customer for the ALTCS Share of Cost (MA1201B).

Exception:  Any part of the payment intended for the foster care provider as an incentive or service payment, and not to support the child, is counted to the foster care provider.

·        SSI-MAO

·        MSP

Since the customer automatically gets AHCCCS Medical Assistance (MA414), this income is only counted as unearned income to the customer when determining the Child Allocation amount:

·        For SSI-MAO (MA611A); and

·        For MSP (MA612).

Exception:  Any part of the payment intended for the foster care provider as an incentive or service payment, and not to support the child, is counted to the foster care provider.

·        Adult

·        Caretaker Relative

·        Pregnant Woman

·        Child

·        KidsCare

Excluded.

Title IV-E Independent Living Initiatives payments from the Transitional Youth or Adult Living Programs.

All programs

Excluded.

Title IV-B or Title XX Foster Assistance

All programs

Excluded.

State Funded Foster Assistance

All programs

Excluded.

Guardianship Subsidy Payments

·        ALTCS

·        SSI-MAO

·        MSP

Counted as unearned income to the person in care.

·        Adult

·        Caretaker Relative

·        Pregnant Woman

·        Child

·        KidsCare

Excluded.

Grandparent Kinship Payments

All programs

Both the one-time payment of up to $300 and the monthly payment of $75 are excluded.

 

Definitions

Term

Definition

Foster Care Payments

A payment made to a foster care provider for the purpose of meeting the needs of the person in care. 

Grandparent Kinship Payments

Payments to a grandparent responsible for raising grandchild(ren) in the grandparent’s home.  There are two types of payments available:

·         A one-time payment of up to $300 per child to help cover the cost of additional furniture and other expenses related to moving the child into the home; and

·         A clothing and personal allowance of $75 per month per child.

Guardianship Subsidy Payments

Subsidy payments provided by the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) for children who are placed in the care of a Legal Permanent Guardian.

 

Proof

Income is first obtained through the Federal and State Data Services Hubs.  If needed, other proof includes:

·         Check stubs;

·         Written statement from the agency providing the money; or

·         Collateral contact with the agency providing the money.

 

Legal Authority

This requirement applies to the following programs:

Program

Legal Authorities

ALTCS

SSI-MAO

Medicare Savings Program

20 CFR 416.1102 and 1123

20 CFR 416.1124(c)(8)

AAC R9-22-1909

Adult

Caretaker Relative

Pregnant Woman

Child

KidsCare

42 CFR 435.603

42 CFR 457.10, 300, 301 and 315