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DE Emergency Assistance Program - DSS

The Delaware Emergency Assistance Program is funded through Division of Social Services (DSS) and administered by the Division of State Service Centers (DSSC). It provides payments to needy citizens in Delaware for emergency needs.

Payments are limited to $1,200 for emergency shelter, $450 for mortgage or rent assistance, and $200 for other costs related to self-sufficiency of the household during one period of 30 consecutive days in any twelve consecutive months.

Eligibility

Delaware residents may participate in the Emergency Assistance Program if the individual or family is receiving or is eligible for one of the following:

·      Cash assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Assistance (GA), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI); or

·      Section 1931 Medicaid, Transitional Medicaid, or Prospective Medicaid; or

·      Poverty-related Pregnant Women, Infants and Children Medicaid.

In addition, the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families (DSCYF) administers emergency services for:

·      Families who have children at risk of removal or removed from their home due to, or suspected at risk of, abuse or neglect; or

·      Families who have children removed from, or at risk of removal from, the community.

In order to qualify for Emergency Assistance Services (EAS):

The emergency must have resulted from unforeseen circumstances beyond the recipient's control; and

·      The Medicaid individual/family must be without resources that are immediately available to meet their needs; or

·      The child is without resources that are immediately available for meeting his/her needs; or

·      The emergency assistance is necessary to provide living arrangements for the child in a home.

EAS Covered Items Include:

·      Home repairs

·      Shelter expense

·      Moving expenses

·      Household appliances and furnishings

·      Medical needs

·      Fuel and utility bills

·      Food expenses

·      Clothing

·      Transportation

For details see DSS Policy Manual (Sect. 6005).

Sanctions/Disqualifications

No assistance will be authorized when the emergency was due to a recipient's failure to comply with a requirement of a Social Services program.

EXAMPLE: A recipient who is sanctioned or disqualified and whose cash grant is reduced is not eligible if the emergency is a direct result of the reduction of the grant amount. The inability to pay the rent or electric due to the reduction of the grant would make the recipient ineligible for EAS. If the emergency is a broken refrigerator or stove that needs replaced or repaired, this is not a direct result of the reduction of the grant, and the recipient would be eligible for EAS. DSS determines case-by-case whether or not the emergency was a direct result of the reduction in the grant amount.

An example of circumstances not beyond the recipient's control is when the recipients carelessly spend their money on non-necessities, such as cable TV paid channels and telephone features like call waiting and caller ID.

A recipient whose money is stolen can receive assistance, if otherwise eligible, provided the recipient furnishes a police report of the incident.

See also:

DE Diversion Assistance

DE DSS - Application Procedures

DE DSS - Contact Information

Source:

DSS Policy Manual (Sects. 6000, 6001, 6004, 6005)

Back to:

DE Division of Social Services - Overview

DE Benefit Information System Overview

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