Department of Health and Human Services logo Skip ACF banner navigation
Questions?  
Privacy  
Site Index  
Contact Us  
  Home   |   Services   |   Working with ACF   |   Policy/Planning   |   About ACF   |   ACF News Search  
Administration for Children and Families US Department of Health and Human Services
skip to primary content
Office of Community Services -- Asset Building Strengthening Families...Building Communities

AFI IDAs and Major Government Support Programs for Low-Income Families - Eligibility and Strategies

Focus:

The call focused on the varying requirements for major public benefits programs (Food Stamps, TANF, Medicaid, SCHIP) and on strategies for linking AFI Project participants with benefits for which they may be eligible.

Key Points:
  • The rules for eligibility vary from program to program and, in some cases, from state to state.
  • The AFI statute specifies that having an AFI IDA and matched savings should not affect eligibility or amount of benefit from other public programs, but many front-line staff in relevant agencies may not be aware of or understand this point. A template letter was provided to use when needed.
  • Combining benefits assessment and linking eligible participants to other supports may increase the retention and success rate for AFI Projects as it may mean fewer emergency situations for participants.
  • One stop arrangements where eligibility for both AFI and various benefits can take place simultaneously can support more seamless and cost-effective services and may enhance recruitment.
Presenters:
  • James Gatz, Manager, Assets for Independence Program, Office of Community Services
  • Zoe Neuberger, Senior Policy Analyst, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), Washington, DC
  • Kate Ouverson, Director of Family Self-Sufficiency Program, West Central Minnesota Community Action, Elbow Lake, MN
  • Rebecca Ross, Program Manager, EarnBenefits with Seedco, New York, NY

  • Rachel Banov, Assets for Independence Resource Center

Resources:
  • Asset Limits in Federal Benefit Programs for AFI Grantees (.pdf 123KB) (.ppt 194KB)
  • AFI Resource Center Participant Disregard Letter (.doc 27KB) (.pdf 17KB)
  • EarnBenefits: Linking IDAs to a Comprehensive Benefits Strategy (.pdf 120KB) (.ppt 214KB)
  • AFI IDAs and Major Government Support Programs for Low-Income Families (.doc 144KB) (.pdf 68KB)

For more information on this topic, please contact the Assets for Independence Resource Center: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding; info@idaresources.org; 1-866-778-6037.