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DE Diversion Assistance - TANF

Diversion Assistance is intended to help a family through a financial problem which jeopardizes employment and which, if not solved, could result in the family needing regular ongoing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) assistance. When the primary case worker and the client agree that the one-time payment will alleviate the crisis, Diversion Assistance will be explored. The Diversion Assistance payment will not exceed $1,500 or the financial need resulting from the crisis, whichever is less.

Diversion Assistance is not a supplement to regular assistance but is in place of it. Diversion Assistance is available to both applicant and recipient families.

Eligibility for Diversion Assistance

The eligibility requirements for Diversion Assistance are as follows:

·      The parent must be living with his/her natural or adopted child(ren). Diversion Assistance is not an option for non-parent caretaker relatives.

·      The family has not received a Diversion Assistance payment in the past 12 months.

·      The Diversion Assistance amount will alleviate the crisis.

·      The parent (a) is currently employed but having a problem that jeopardizes the employment; or (b) has been promised a job but needs help in order to accept the job.

·      The family’s income (not counting the income from the job) would qualify the family for TANF as a recipient household. (NOTE: When calculating eligibility for Diversion Assistance the family is given the "$30 plus 1/3" disregard, if applicable and the family’s net income is compared to the Standard of Need.)

·      The family’s resources would qualify the family for TANF

NOTE: Diversion Assistance is not for families whose income is so low that even with obtaining or retaining employment the family would still be financially eligible for TANF.

Items/Services Covered

The Diversion Assistance payment may be used for items and/or services such as but not limited to:

·      Transportation (such as down payment on a vehicle, vehicle repairs, tires, insurance, driver’s license fee, gas, etc.),

·      Clothing such as uniforms or other specialized clothing and footwear or other employment-related apparel,

·      Tools and equipment,

·      Medical expenses not covered by Medicaid. (for example, eye glasses),

·      Union dues, special fees, licenses or certificates,

·      Up-front costs of employment such as agency fees and testing fees,

·      Unpaid child care expenses which, if they remain unpaid, preclude the provision of future child care,

·      Relocation expenses for verified employment in another county or state. These expenses may include:

·               Moving equipment rental, gas, and lodging for the days of the move,

·               First month’s rent, rental and utility deposit.

Diversion Assistance Payments

Diversion Assistance payments are made to a third party vendor, not the parent.

Diversion Assistance and TANF Cash Assistance

When parents receive Diversion Assistance they agree to forego TANF cash assistance in accordance with the amount of Diversion Assistance received as follows:

·      $0 through $500.99 -- no TANF benefit for 1 month.

·      $501 through $1,000.99 -- no TANF benefit for 2 months.

·      $1,001 through $1,500 -- no TANF benefit for 3 months.

Good Cause

The once a year limitation on Diversion Assistance and the period of ineligibility can be eliminated when good cause exists. Good cause exists when circumstances beyond the client’s control make re-application for Diversion Assistance or TANF necessary. Examples of good cause are the employer lays off the parent or a serious illness forces the parent to stop working.

Eligibility For Other Programs

A. Medicaid Eligibility

The family is eligible for TANF related Medicaid in the month in which the Diversion Assistance payment is made. The family would remain eligible for Section 1931 Medicaid. until the family’s income exceeds the standard of need. If the family’s income exceeds the standard of need because of increase earnings or loss of the "$30 plus 1/3" disregard and the parent is working, the family may be eligible for Transitional Medicaid.

B. Child Care

Diversion Assistance does not count as income in the child care programs.

C. Child Support

The family will not have to assign child support to the state. Child support received by the parent or the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DSCE) will belong to the family. DCSE will not use child support to offset or reimburse the Diversion Assistance.

See also:

Earned Income Disregards

DE Unearned Income

DE Excluded Income

DE TANF - Income Eligibility

DE TANF - Resource Eligibility

DE GA - Financial Eligibility

DE DSS - Application Procedures

DE DSS - Change Reporting Requirements

DE DSS - Contact Information

Source:

DSS Policy Manual (Sects. 3032, 3032.1.1-6, & 3032.2), Administrative Notices A-20-2003 and A-05-2004

Back to:

DE TANF - Financial Eligibility

DE TANF Overview

DE Division of Social Services - Overview

DE Benefit Information System Overview

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