A GA budget group is one person or group of persons:
Who occupy a common residence or would occupy a common residence if they were not homeless;
Whose needs are considered together in determining eligibility;
Who do not meet one of the criteria for being included in a TANF budget group; and
Who are exempt from the requirements in Section 110.7.
A person getting assistance in a TANF budget group is not eligible for GA.
In CIS, a budget group is identified by the category and the grant group (GG) data field. The budget group is usually on CIS as one grant group with one benefit issued as two semimonthly payments.
Separate grant groups are authorized within one budget group when a budget group contains members whose eligibility is based on special program requirements, as identified by specific program status codes. The family size allowance (FSA) is divided equally or unequally, depending on the circumstances of the recipient in each grant group.
NOTE: Persons who are paying room, board, or both are separate budget groups and get a full FSA.
The CAO must identify either the special budget or a separate budget group or grant group by a grant group number such as D, D2, or D3 if the case record contains:
Multiple grant groups within special program budget groups; or
Multiple budget groups within the same case record.
A child who is getting Title IV-E or state or local foster care or adoption assistance cannot be included as a member of a GA budget group unless the budget group’s benefits increase when the child is included. An adopted child must be included in the budget group if benefits increase with the child included.
If the adopted child is included in the budget group, then his or her income from federal, state, or local subsidies counts in the eligibility determination and benefit computation. See Chapter 150.
There are two GA eligibility status codes:
EC—under 18
EA—18 or older
A legally responsible relative of a GA recipient who lives elsewhere for the purpose of training or employment is not included in the budget group.
Citations:
Reissued June 27, 2005, replacing November 2, 2004; Reviewed January 31, 2012