Services: Domestic Violence: Resource Manual - How Can I Make It On My Own? (Section 2, Part 2)

APPENDIX TO SECTION 2

TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)

(See the Nevada Welfare Division website at www.welfare.state.nv.us/)

Nevada Welfare District Offices for the Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson areas:

• 538 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson Nevada 89015 1040
• W. Owens, Las Vegas, NV 89106
• 700 Belrose, Las Vegas, NV 89107
• 3700 E. Charleston, Las Vegas, NV 89158
• Cambridge Center: 3827 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 250, Las Vegas, NV 89119
• Howard W. Cannon Senior Service Center: 340 N. 11th Street, Suite 103, Las Vegas, NV 89101

You apply for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) at your local office: if you call Nevada State Welfare at 486-5000, you will be directed to the office closest to your home (determined by your zip code).

A TANF application is also a Medicaid application, and Medicaid eligibility will be determined at the same time as TANF eligibility. If you are eligible, Medicaid coverage will begin the first day of the month in which you applied (and can go back to three months before your application, if you request it and are found eligible).

(See the Nevada Welfare Division website at www.welfare.state.nv.us/)

The federal government sets minimum guidelines for the State of Nevada to follow in deciding who is eligible for the food stamp program and the amount of food stamps each eligible family receives.

You apply for food stamps at your local welfare office. The welfare office will screen your application to see if you are eligible for "expedited" services (if your household has less than $100 in income and/or $150 in resources, or your shelter expenses exceed your income). If you are entitled to expedited services, you may receive food stamps as soon as 7 days after you submit your completed application. Otherwise, the Welfare office has 30 days to make a decision on your application. If you are found eligible, you will be awarded food stamps retroactive to the date of your application.

MEDICAID

(See the Nevada Welfare Division website at www.welfare.state.nv.us/)

You may qualify for Medicaid even though you do not receive TANF:

• If you are eligible to receive TANF but choose to receive medical benefits only.
• If you are ineligible to receive TANF due to time limits or a failure to cooperate with a TANF eligibility requirement.
• If you are a sponsored immigrant who cannot receive TANF because of your sponsor's income.
• If you do not have legal immigration status but need emergency medical assistance and meet all the TANF requirements except for citizenship-related qualifications.
• If you are pregnant and eligible for TANF during any month of your pregnancy, you are eligible for pregnancy related services and post-partum services regardless of changes in your household income.
• If you become ineligible for TANF due to earned income or loss of disregard in the budgeting process you may still remain on Medicaid for 12 months.
• If you become ineligible for TANF because of child support payments you begin to receive, you may remain on Medicaid for 4 months after you become ineligible for TANF.

If you think that you might qualify for Medicaid under one of these categories, you must apply at your local Welfare office.

2003 TANF Need Standard and Payment Allowance (Benefit Schedule)

(See the Nevada Welfare Division website at www.welfare.state.nv.us/)

???[185% Monthly Household Need Need Payment Size Standard Standard Allowance 1 $1,032 $558 $230 2 1,297 701 289 3 1,561 844 348 4 1,826 987 407 5 2,091 1,130 466 6 2,355 1,273 524 7 2,260 1,416 583 8 2,884 1,559 642

APPEALING WELFARE DECISIONS

(information summarized from the Nevada Legal Services website at www.nlslaw.net/)

When do I have the right to ask for a Welfare hearing?

You can ask for a hearing whenever Nevada State Welfare denies, reduces, or ends your TANF, Medicaid, and/or Food Stamp benefits. You can also ask for a hearing if: Nevada State Welfare does not promptly process your application (within reasonable time limits), you disagree with the amount of TANF benefits you are awarded, or you disagree with other Medicaid-related decisions.

How do I ask for a hearing?

Every notice of decision sent out by Nevada State Welfare includes information on how to ask for a hearing if you disagree with their decision.

To ask for a hearing, check the box on the notice stating that you want a hearing and send it back to the Welfare Office. Otherwise, you may ask for a hearing by sending a letter to the Welfare Office within 90 days after the date of the notice asking for a hearing regarding the decision.

How long do I have to ask for a hearing?

You have only 90 days from the date on the notice of decision to ask for a hearing. The day after the notice date is the first day of the 90-day period and the Welfare Office must receive your request for a hearing before the 90 days are up.

How do I get "Continuing Benefits"?

If you ask for a hearing (appeal a decision) within 10 days, you have the right to receive "continuing benefits." This means that Welfare will leave your benefits as they are until after you have had a hearing and received a hearing officer's decision. For example: Welfare sends you a notice that they are reducing your food stamps from $80 to $50. You disagree. Within 10 days you return the notice to the Welfare Office asking for a hearing with continuing benefits. Welfare will continue to send you $80 in food stamps until you have a hearing and receive the hearing officer's decision. However, if you do not go to your hearing on the date scheduled, or if the hearing officer decides against you, you will have received a $30 overpayment for every month that you received $80 in food stamps when the notice stated that you were only entitled to $50 and you will be required to repay the State for each overpayment.

If you want continuing benefits, you must check the appropriate box on the notice and send it back to the Welfare Office within 10 days of the date of the notice.

Note that if you are a new applicant and Welfare sends you a notice denying you any benefits, you cannot ask to receive continuing benefits because you do not yet have any benefits that can be continued.

What is the difference between a conference and a hearing?

A conference is a meeting between you and your individual caseworker; any decisions or agreements made at a conference are not binding on the Welfare Office. A hearing is a procedure before a Hearing Officer and the decision reached after a hearing is binding upon the Welfare.

What happens if I ask for a hearing?

Within 10 days after it receives your request for a hearing, the Welfare Office will contact you to schedule a pre-hearing conference; this conference will be scheduled within 30 days after your request for a hearing is received. This is the first step in the hearing process. You will meet with a Hearing Representative at your local Welfare Office, who will explain why the Office took the action it did. You can then explain why you disagree with the action. You may be able to solve the disagreement at that time. If the Hearing Representative agrees that a mistake was made, Welfare will withdraw (or cancel) its decision. If the Hearing Representative does not agree that a mistake was made, he or she will ask you if you wish to continue on to a hearing. You must decide whether to continue on with the hearing process or withdraw your hearing request. If you withdraw your hearing request, there will be no hearing and the decision you disagree with will remain in effect. If you decide you want to continue to hearing, the Hearing Representative will send the paperwork to the Hearing Office and a hearing will be scheduled for a later date.

You have the right to receive a copy of any documents in your case file that the Hearing Representative will use at the hearing.

What happens at the hearing?

Only persons directly concerned can attend the hearing: namely, you and/or your authorized representative, interpreter (if needed), witnesses (if needed) and Hearing Representatives from the Welfare Office.

A Hearing Representative will prepare a written summary of the case called a "BASIS OF ACTION"; a copy will be given to you and the Hearing Officer when the hearing begins. It will contain a summary of the issue in dispute, the evidence relating to the issue, and the applicable law, federal regulations and Welfare Division policy relating to the decision the Welfare Office made in your case.

You will have the opportunity to state the reasons you disagree with the decision, present witnesses or other evidence that support your arguments, and cross-examine witnesses and examine evidence presented by the Hearing Representative. The Hearing Representative may cross-examine you and any witnesses you might present.

The conduct of the hearing is rather informal, but it will be tape-recorded.

You will receive a copy of the Hearing Officer's written decision by certified mail.

How long does the Hearing Officer have to make a decision?

TANF and Medicaid benefits: You will be sent the Hearing Officer's written decision within 90 days from the date your hearing request was received by the Welfare Office.

Food Stamp benefits: You will be sent the Hearing Officer's written decision within 60 days from the date your hearing request was received by the Welfare Office.

What if I lose the hearing?

You can appeal the Hearing Officer's decision to the District Court within 90 days from the date of the written decision letter. The day after the decision letter date is the first day of the 90-day period. You will also have to pay back any continuing benefits you may have received while the hearing process took place.

NEVADA CHECK-UP (2003)

(information summarized from the Covering Kids website, www.gbpca.net/coveringkids/)

INCOME QUALIFICATIONS

Family Household Maximum Income

(Number of people in your Household) Per Year

2 - 23,880
3 - 30,040
4 - 36,200
5 - 42,360
6 - 48,520
7 - 54,680
8 - 60,840
9 - 67,000
10 - 73,160
+ Add $6,040 for each additional member

You must provide proof of your total household income, with your Application. The following are the methods to prove income: Copies of most current pay stubs, OR a letter from employers certifying income for the current year, OR if you or a member of your household is self-employed, last year's Federal Income Tax Return.

Monthly Premiums are determined by family size and gross household income, ranging from $10 - $25 - $50 per child, payable every 3 months.

To Qualify, children must:

• Not have private insurance
• Be a U.S. Citizen or legal resident of the United States
• Be under age 18, and
• Live in a family household with a total income that falls within the income guidelines

COVERING KIDS is an agency that can provide you with information, assistance and application packets: call (702) 942-9213.

Applications are available in English and Spanish

(Information summarized from the Nevada Power Company website: www.nevadapower.com/)

Project L.I.F.T. (Low Income Financing Together)

Project L.I.F.T. is a local energy assistance program administered by the Salvation Army that helps southern Nevada residents who cannot afford to pay their energy bills. Applicants are screened by the Salvation Army representatives and must meet strict income guidelines and demonstrate an immediate need for energy assistance.

To Apply: Call the Salvation Army at (702) 649-8240 Monday through Friday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (L.I.H.E.A.)

The Federal Government gives money to the State of Nevada to help low-income households with the cost of home heating. If your total household income falls within the following income guidelines indicated, you might qualify for this program.

Household Size* Maximum Monthly Income

1 - $1043.75
2 - $1406.25
3 - $1768.75
4 - $2131.25
5 - $2493.75
6 - $2856.25
7 - $3218.75
8 - $3581.25

For households with more than eight members, add $362.50 for each additional member.

*A household is any group of people sharing a common heat source.

To receive an application, write or phone LIHEA at:

Nevada State Welfare Division
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
559 S. Saliman #101
Carson City, NV 8970105040
Telephone: Las Vegas: (702)-486-3000, Ext. 4420
Statewide Toll Free: 1-800-992-0900, Ext. 4420
FAX 1-(775)-687-1272

Your name is placed on a mailing list for applications that are mailed each September. Applications are accepted from September until April of the following year or until all federal money is given away, whichever happens first. It may take up to three months to determine your eligibility. Each person that applies will receive a written notice of their eligibility and benefit determination, and information concerning appeals from that decision.

HELP of Southern Nevada

(See website at www.lvrj.com/communitylink/helpofsn/)

953-35B E. Sahara - Suite 208
Las Vegas, NV 89104
(702) 369-4357
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

HELP of Southern Nevada can provide information and referrals to other assistance program providers, including:

• Rental Assistance
• Food & clothing assistance
• Utility Assistance
• Local Gas Vouchers
• Bus Tokens

HELP maintains a database of assistance programs and direct service availability that can help you pinpoint where to go to get assistance. HELP also offers direct services to those in short term need of food, shelter or other emergency services. HELP provides discounted bus tickets, gas and emergency food vouchers for emergency traveler assistance.

In addition, HELP also helps find employment for "Displaced Homemakers" and energy conservation education and "weatherization retrofitting" for near poverty level homeowners or renters.

Henderson Allied Community Advocates (HACA)

(see website at www.cityofhenderson.com/community/haca.html)

145 Panama Street
Henderson NV 89015
(702) 486-6770 x. 246

HACA is a community and family resource center, that partners with other service agencies to assist Henderson residents in attaining and maintaining self-sufficiency through: Life Skills Classes, Assessments of personal needs, Assistance with applications and necessary identification, Referrals to appropriate resources, Employment & Training Programs, Housing & Utility Assistance, Emergency Food and Clothing, First-time Home Buyer's Program, Training for In-Home Day Care Providers.

Proceed to Section 3, Part 1: Protection Orders Against Domestic Violence >