Montgomery County, MD - Departments and Agencies

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Income Support Programs

Case managers provide benefits to eligible residents in the form of Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), Food Stamps, Temporary Disability Assistance Program (TDAP), Refugee Cash Assistance and Medical Assistance.

· Food Stamp Program: The Federal Food Stamp program provides monthly benefits to eligible households (all persons in a residence who purchase and prepare food together) to supplement their food budget. Eligibility is based upon household size, income and assets. Benefits are not intended to cover total monthly food expenses. Generally, U.S. citizenship is a requirement of the program. Non-citizens with “qualified immigrant” status may also meet eligibility requirements. A signed application and face-to-face interview is required in order to receive Food Stamps. Benefits are issued via an Electronic Benefit System (EBT) card, which can be used to purchase food in grocery stores and other approved locations. Some applicants must enroll in the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program (FSET), a program requiring participation in a job search.

· Temporary Disability Assistance Program (TDAP): TDAP helps single adult residents who are temporarily disabled and cannot work due to either physical or mental impairment. To receive benefits, an applicant’s physician must confirm the existence of a disability expected to last for three months or longer. Applicants must be financially needy U.S. citizens or individuals legally admitted for permanent residence who can verify their identity and show proof of a social security number. A TDAP recipient cannot be eligible for another category of assistance or have children under the age of 18 (19 in some instances). A medical diagnosis of substance abuse may require a recipient to name another person responsible for accepting the benefits (known as a “representative payee”) Persons with a 12-month disability must pursue social security benefits from the Disability, Entitlement, Advocacy Program (DEAP). See also Aging and Disability Services.

· Refugee Cash Assistance: Federal Refugee Cash Assistance program serves financially needy refugees, and is intended as a program of last resort. Benefits help refugees adjust to their first eight months in the United States. Refugees new to Montgomery County will be served at the Suburban Washington Refugee Resettlement Center located at 8700 Georgia Avenue, Suite 500; Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910. The telephone number is 301-562-8633.

· Maryland Medical Assistance or Medicaid (MA): Maryland Medical Assistance (or Medicaid) program provides health care benefits to eligible county residents. The coverage groups for Medical Assistance are as follows:

o Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA): Federally matched medical assistance is provided to all recipients of temporary Cash Assistance. In addition, TCA recipients who lose their eligibility because of increased earnings or employment also receive medical assistance for a period of 12 months after TCA benefits end. TCA recipients who lose their eligibility because of increased child support collections may receive medical assistance for four additional months.

o Families and Children: Federally matched medical assistance is provided to families and children under age 21 with income levels that are approximately 50 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. A family’s income and assets are considered in determining eligibility.

o Pregnant Women: Federally matched medical assistance is provided to pregnant women whose income is at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Newborns of mothers with coverage at the time of the birth receive coverage automatically for one year if they reside with the mother. The mother continues to receive coverage for 60 days following the birth of the child.

o Maryland Children’s Health Program: Federally matched medical assistance is provided for children up to age 19. Income levels allowed depend on the age of the child and range from 100 percent to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Children before October 1, 1983, and with income between 185 percent and 200 percent must meet an additional requirement relating to whether they can obtain private health insurance.

o Aged, Blind, Disabled (ABD): Federally matched medical assistance is provided to aged (65 years or older), blind to five years. To be eligible, children or disabled residents with income and assets within approximately 50 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Benefits are available to persons younger than 65 if they have a disability, as defined either by a review team or based on the fact that they receive Social Security. Those eligible for Supplemental Security Income automatically qualify for medical assistance.

o Medicare Beneficiary Program: Those eligible for Medicare may receive coverage for payment of premiums if their income is less than 175 percent of the Federal Poverty Level through the Special Low Income Medicare Beneficiary Program (SLMB). Coverage may also be provided for Medicare deductibles and co-pays through the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program (QMB).

o Refugee Medical Assistance: Coverage is provided to refugees who do not qualify for another medical assistance program during their first eight months in the United States. Refugees new to Montgomery County will be served at the Suburban Washington Refugee Resettlement Center.

o Medical Assistance for Aliens: Coverage on an emergency-only basis may be available to undocumented persons (as defined by Federal law) who meet all eligibility requirements except citizenship.

Department of Health and Human Services
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