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Policies as of July 2004: Benefits
II. Benefits
The tables in this chapter of the Databook describe key aspects of the rules for calculating the assistance unit’s benefit as of July 2004.
A. If a family passes all eligibility tests, what is received?
If a family passes all eligibility tests, both nonfinancial and financial, a benefit is computed. Although states use many different formulas to determine benefits, there are general rules that most states apply. All but two states allow recipients to disregard a portion of their earned income before benefit computation and then use the unit’s total net income to calculate the benefit.14 In the more straightforward calculations, net income is subtracted from a state-determined standard (often called the payment standard), which varies by family size, and the benefit paid is the difference—sometimes referred to as the income deficit. Some states have, however, developed more complex calculations. For instance, some states impose a statutory maximum benefit. In these states, the benefit is either the income deficit or the statutory maximum, whichever is less. Still other states multiply the income deficit by a percentage, which is sometimes referred to as the benefit reduction rate. This percentage of the income deficit is the benefit provided to the unit. Some states combine both a statutory maximum and benefit reduction rate into their calculation. The following section describes these policies in greater detail.
Earned income disregards for benefit computation: Table II.A.1 describes the earned income disregards allowed in determining net income for benefit computation. If a state does not apply any earned income disregards to compute net income for benefit computation (so all of a family’s earnings are included as income for benefit computation), “No disregards allowed” appears in the table.
Some states disregard a portion of the child care expenses paid by a family and/or allow special disregards for units subject to a family cap or time limit. Those disregards are not included in the table but are captured in the WRD.
In rare cases, states use different earned income disregards to determine the benefit of a unit in its first month of eligibility versus subsequent months. If that is the case, the body of the table describes the rules for the subsequent months of eligibility, and the rules for the first month are footnoted.
Related tables: Disregards for benefit computation and income eligibility may differ. For information on the earned income disregards used for income eligibility, see table I.E.2. Table L4, in the last section of this book, describes the earned income disregards used for benefit computation from 1996 through 2004.
Benefit determination policies: Table II.A.2 describes how states compute benefits for units that pass all applicable eligibility tests. In most cases, net income is subtracted from a payment standard, which typically varies by the size of the assistance unit. The table indicates which income standards are used by states to determine the benefit. To determine the value of these standards for a family size of three, see table II.A.3.
Related tables: Table II.A.3 provides the benefit standard(s) used to compute benefits for a three-person family. To compute the net income used for benefit computation, table II.A.1 describes the earned income disregards allowed and tables I.D.1, I.D.2, and IV.A.2 include policies on treatment of unearned income (amounts deemed from grandparent units and stepparent units, and child support income). Table II.A.4 combines information from tables II.A.2 and II.A.3 and presents the benefit paid to a three-person assistance unit with no net income. Table L5, in the last section of this book, provides those maximum benefits for 1996 through 2004.
Benefit standards: As described earlier, most benefit computation procedures involve state-established income amounts that vary by the size of the assistance unit. The WRD includes the benefit standards used for each family size from 1 through 12. Table II.A.3 provides the standards for a three-person assistance unit only.
The table identifies the standard by the name used in the caseworker manual. Under the former AFDC program, the standards for benefit computation were the payment standard and, if the state included one, the maximum benefit. However, owing to the complexity of state programs, identifying the payment standard and maximum benefit is no longer clear. States may include multiple standards in the benefit calculation, depending on the type or amount of income. Therefore, the terms payment standard and maximum benefit are not used in the table unless the state explicitly uses them to refer to their benefit computation standards.
Some details concerning benefit standards are not included in the table. In some states, different dollar amounts are used in different regions of the state; in those cases, the table includes the amounts applied to the majority of the state’s caseload. In other states, the amounts may be higher for families with certain “special needs,” such as a pregnancy; the amounts in the table assume no special needs. Also, a few states vary standards for one-parent families, two-parent families, and child-only units; the table includes values for a one-parent family with two children. And some states prorate the eligibility and/or benefit standards depending on whether a unit pays for shelter; the amounts in the table assume the unit pays all shelter costs and does not live in public or subsidized housing.
Related tables: These standards by themselves are not necessarily comparable across states, since the benefit computation procedures might be quite different. To determine how the standards are used in practice, see table II.A.2. Also, table II.A.4 provides the benefit paid to a three-person unit with no other income, and table L5 provides that information for 1996 through 2004.
Maximum monthly benefit for a family of three with no income: Table II.A.4 provides information on the maximum benefit in each state. The maximum benefit calculation combines the information on a state’s benefit computation policies with the dollar amounts used for benefit computation to present the benefit paid to a three-person unit with no income. If a state computes benefits as a payment standard minus net income, then this figure will simply equal the payment standard. In other cases, this figure will equal a statutory maximum benefit that is less than the payment standard. In still other cases, it will be a percentage of the payment standard.
The calculation assumes the assistance unit includes one parent and two children, contains no children subject to a family cap, has no special needs, pays for all shelter costs with no subsidies, and is subject to the benefit standard that applies to the majority of the state’s caseload.
Related tables: Table L5 provides the benefit paid to a three-person assistance unit with no net income for 1996 through 2004.
| State | Earned income disregards | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 100% in first 3 consecutive months, 20% thereafter1 | |
| Alaska | $150 and 33% of remainder in first 12 months, $150 and 25% of remainder in months 13-24, $150 and 20% of remainder in months 25-36, $150 and 15% of remainder in months 37-48, $150 and 10% of remainder in months 49-60, $150 thereafter | |
| Arizona | All, except JOBSTART | $90 and 30% of remainder |
| JOBSTART | 100% of subsidized wages2 | |
| Arkansas | No disregards--flat grant amount | |
| California | $225 and 50% of remainder | |
| Colorado | 66.7% in first 12 months, $120 and 33.3% of remainder in next 4 months, $120 in next 8 months, $90 thereafter | |
| Connecticut | 100% up to the Federal Poverty Level | |
| Delaware | $120 and 33.3% of remainder in first 4 months, $120 in next 8 months, $90 thereafter | |
| D.C. | $160 and 66.7% of remainder | |
| Florida | $200 and 50% of remainder | |
| Georgia | $120 and 33.3% of remainder in first 4 months, $120 in next 8 months, $90 thereafter | |
| Hawaii | 20%, $200, and 36% of remainder | |
| Idaho | 40% | |
| Illinois | 66.7% | |
| Indiana | 75% | |
| Iowa | 20% and 50% of remainder | |
| Kansas | $90 and 40% of remainder | |
| Kentucky | 100% in first 2 months,3 $120 and 33.3% of remainder in next 4 months, $120 in next 8 months, $90 thereafter | |
| Louisiana | $1,020 in first 6 months4, $120 thereafter | |
| Maine | $108 and 50% of remainder | |
| Maryland | 40% | |
| Massachusetts | Exempt | $120 and 33.3% of remainder |
| Nonexempt | $120 and 50% of remainder | |
| Michigan | $200 and 20% of remainder | |
| Minnesota | 36% 5 | |
| Mississippi | 100% in first 6 months, $90 thereafter6 | |
| Missouri | 66.7% and $90 of remainder in first 12 months, $90 thereafter7 | |
| Montana | $200 and 25% of remainder | |
| Nebraska | 20% | |
| Nevada | 100% in first 3 months, 50% in months 4-12, $90 or 20% (whichever is greater) thereafter | |
| New Hampshire | 50% | |
| New Jersey | 100% in first month8, 50% thereafter | |
| New Mexico | All earnings in excess of 34 hours a week, $125, and 50% of remainder in first 24 months; $125 and 50% of remainder thereafter9 | |
| New York | $90 and 43% of remainder | |
| North Carolina | 100% in first 3 months of employment,10 27.5% thereafter | |
| North Dakota | $180 or 27% (whichever is greater) and 50% of remainder in first 6 months, $180 or 27% (whichever is greater) and 35% of remainder in months 7-9, $180 or 27% (whichever is greater) and 25% of remainder in months 10-13, and $180 or 27% (whichever is greater) thereafter11 | |
| Ohio | $250 and 50% of remainder | |
| Oklahoma | $120 and 50% of remainder | |
| Oregon | 50% | |
| Pennsylvania | 50% | |
| Rhode Island | $170 and 50% of remainder | |
| South Carolina | 50% in first 4 months, $100 thereafter | |
| South Dakota | $90 and 20% of remainder | |
| Tennessee | $150 12 | |
| Texas | $120 and 90% of remainder (up to $1,400) for 4 out of 12 months, $120 thereafter13 | |
| Utah | $100 and 50% of remainder14 | |
| Vermont | $150 and 25% of remainder | |
| Virginia | $134 and 20% of remainder15 | |
| Washington | 50% | |
| West Virginia | 40% | |
| Wisconsin | No disregards--flat grant amount | |
| Wyoming | $200 16 | |
|
Source: The Urban Institute's Welfare Rules Database, funded by DHHS/ACF and DHHS/ASPE. Notes: Only earned income disregards are described in the table. Child care disregards and other special disregards, such as deductions for units subject to time limits and family caps, are not included. The table describes the earned income disregards used to compute a recipient's benefit. If different disregards are used to compute an applicant's benefit in the first month, they are footnoted. When no duration is specified for the disregards, they remain for the entire period of receipt. 1 The earned income disregard cannot be applied to the earnings of an individual receiving assistance beyond the 60th month under an exemption or extension. 2 In addition to the 100% disregard of all subsidized JOBSTART wages, recipients can also disregard the standard $90 and 30 percent of the remainder for any non-JOBSTART earned income. 3 Recipients are eligible for the one-time 100 percent disregard if they become newly employed or report increased wages acquired after approval. 4 The six months in which the extra $900 is disregarded need not be consecutive; however, the recipient may use this extra disregard in no more than six months over the course of his or her lifetime. 5 This disregard applies to regular TANF recipients with earned income. Different disregards apply during the four-month mandatory diversion program. See table I.A.1 for details. 6 Recipients are eligible for the one-time 100 percent disregard if they find employment of 35 hours per week within 30 days of either their initial approval for TANF or the beginning of job readiness training. If work is not found, the recipient will never be eligible to receive the disregard again. An additional 100 percent disregard is available to units for three months when the unit's case is subject to closure due to increased earnings and the individual is employed for at least 25 hours a week at the federal minimum wage or higher. The recipient may not have already received the six-month disregard, unless there has been at least a 12-month break in receipt of TANF benefits. The three-month disregard may be received more than once during the 60-month TANF benefit period, provided that there is a period of at least 12 consecutive months in which a family does not receive TANF benefits before the family reapplies for assistance. Two-parent units may disregard 100 percent of earnings for the first six months, $120 and 33.3 percent of remainder in the next 12 months, and $90 thereafter. If a recipient marries for the first time, his or her new spouse may receive a one-time, 100 percent disregard for six consecutive months. 7 These disregards only apply to recipients who become employed while receiving TANF. Applicants and those recipients who gained employment before receiving TANF are allowed to disregard $120 and 33.3 percent of remainder for first four months, $120 next eight months, and $90 thereafter. 8 The 100 percent disregard is only applicable once every 12 months, even if employment is lost and then regained. Also, applicants are not eligible for the 100 percent disregard in the first month of benefit computation; they may disregard 50 percent of earnings only. 9 Two-parent units may disregard all earnings in excess of 35 hours a week for one parent and 24 hours a week for the other parent and $225 and 50 percent in the first 24 months. Thereafter, they may disregard $225 and 50 percent of the remainder. The disregard for earnings in excess of the participation requirement only applies to recipients for the first 24 months of benefit receipt, for both single- and two-parent units. 10 The 100 percent disregard is only available once in a lifetime and may be received only if the recipient is newly employed at a job that is expected to be permanent for more than 20 hours a week. 11 If a parent marries while receiving assistance, the income of his or her new spouse is disregarded for the first six months. The disregard for the new spouse only applies if his or her needs were not previously included in the unit. 12 If a parent marries while receiving assistance, and the new spouse's gross income (minus any court-ordered child support) is less than 185 percent of the Consolidated Need Standard for the entire assistance unit including the spouse, the unit may choose to include the new spouse in the unit. If the spouse is included, all of his or her income is excluded for eligibility purposes and benefit computation. If he or she is not in the unit, all of the spouse’s income and resources are excluded for eligibility and benefit computation. 13 Once the recipient has received four months of the 90 percent disregard, he or she is not eligible to receive the disregard again until the TANF case has been denied and remains denied for one full month, and 12 calendar months have passed since the denial. The 12-month ineligibility period begins with the first full month of denial after the client used the fourth month of the 90 percent disregard. The earnings of a TANF recipient's new spouse are disregarded for six months if the total gross income of the budget group does not exceed 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. 14 To be eligible for the 50 percent disregards, the recipient must have received benefits in at least one of the previous four months. 15 The disregard varies by family size; for one to four family members, the disregard is $134. For five members, the disregard is $149, and for six or more family members $171 may be disregarded. 16 Married couples with a child in common may disregard $400. |
| State | Benefit equals | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Payment Standard minus net income | |
| Alaska | Lesser of (75.46% of (Need Standard minus net income)) or Maximum Payment1 | |
| Arizona | All, except JOBSTART | Payment Standard minus net income |
| JOBSTART | The cash value of the unit's food stamp and TANF benefit minus earnings after taxes2 | |
| Arkansas | Maximum Payment Level or 50% of Maximum Payment Level (a flat grant amount)3 | |
| California | Maximum Aid Payment minus net income4 | |
| Colorado | 84.75% of (Need Standard minus net income) | |
| Connecticut | Payment Standard minus net income | |
| Delaware | Lesser of (50% of (Standard of Need minus net income)) or Payment Standard | |
| D.C. | Payment Level minus net income | |
| Florida | Payment Standard minus net income | |
| Georgia | Lesser of (Standard of Need minus net income) or Family Maximum | |
| Hawaii | Standard of Assistance minus net income | |
| Idaho | Lesser of (Work Incentive Payment minus net income) or Maximum Benefit | |
| Illinois | Payment Standard minus net income | |
| Indiana | Net Income Standard minus net income | |
| Iowa | Payment Standard minus net income | |
| Kansas | Budgetary Standards minus net income | |
| Kentucky | Lesser of (55% of (Standard of Need minus net income)) or Maximum Benefit | |
| Louisiana | Flat Grant Amount minus net income | |
| Maine | Lesser of (Standard of Need minus net income) or Maximum Benefit | |
| Maryland | Allowable Payment minus net income | |
| Massachusetts | Need Standard and Payment Standard minus net income | |
| Michigan | Payment Standard minus net income | |
| Minnesota | Lesser of (Family Wage Level minus net income) or Transitional Standard 5 | |
| Mississippi | Lesser of (60% of (Need Standard and Payment Standard minus net income)) or Maximum Benefit | |
| Missouri | Payment Standard minus net income | |
| Montana | Benefit Standard minus net income | |
| Nebraska | Lesser of (Standard of Need minus net income) or Payment Maximum | |
| Nevada | Payment Allowance minus net income | |
| New Hampshire | Payment Standard minus net income | |
| New Jersey | Maximum Benefit Payment Schedule minus net income | |
| New Mexico | Need Standard minus net income | |
| New York | Need Standard minus net income | |
| North Carolina | 50% of (Need Standard minus net income) | |
| North Dakota | Standard of Need minus net income | |
| Ohio | Payment Standard minus net income | |
| Oklahoma | Payment Standard minus net income | |
| Oregon | All, except JOBS Plus | Adjusted Income/Payment Standard minus net income; add the Cooperative Incentive Payment if in compliance6 |
| JOBS Plus | The cash value of the unit's food stamp and TANF benefit minus a measure of net earnings7 | |
| Pennsylvania | Family Size Allowance minus net income | |
| Rhode Island | Cash Assistance Monthly Standard minus net income | |
| South Carolina | Lesser of (Need Standard minus net income) or Maximum Benefit | |
| South Dakota | Payment Standard minus net income | |
| Tennessee | Lesser of (Consolidated Need Standard minus net income) or Maximum Benefit8 | |
| Texas | Maximum Grant minus net income | |
| Utah | Maximum Financial Assistance Payment minus net income | |
| Vermont | Payment Standard minus net income | |
| Virginia | VIEW | Lesser of (Federal Poverty Level minus net income) or (Payment Standard minus gross unearned income) or Maximum Benefit9 |
| All, except VIEW | Lesser of (Payment Standard minus net income) or Maximum Benefit | |
| Washington | Lesser of (Payment Standard minus net income) or Maximum Benefit10 | |
| West Virginia | Payment Standard minus net income11 | |
| Wisconsin | W-2 Transition/Community | Benefit Amount (a flat grant amount) |
| Service Jobs | ||
| Trial Jobs | Varies by hours worked12 | |
| Unsubsidized Employment | None13 | |
| Wyoming | Maximum Benefit minus net income | |
Source: The Urban Institute's Welfare Rules Database, funded by DHHS/ACF and DHHS/ASPE. Note: For information on the benefit standards, see table II.A.3. 1 Two-parent units in which both parents are able to perform gainful activities will have their benefits reduced by 50 percent for the benefit months of July, August, and September. 2 JOBSTART recipients receive wages from their subsidized employer. However, the state provides a supplemental payment for units whose adjusted gross income (earnings net of FICA and federal and state taxes) is less than the cash value of the food stamp and TANF benefits they would have otherwise received. The supplemental payment is determined by subtracting the unit's adjusted gross income from the cash value of its food stamp and TANF benefit. 3 The benefit is equal to the Maximum Payment Level for the unit size if the unit's gross income is less than $446. However, if the gross income is greater than $446, the benefit will be reduced to 50 percent of the Maximum Payment Level. Arkansas refers to this policy as the Gross Income Trigger. 4 In households with a stepparent not receiving assistance, the unit receives the lesser of 1) Maximum Aid Payment (for family size including the stepparent) minus net income or 2) the Maximum Aid Payment for family size excluding the stepparent. 5 The calculation applies to recipients with earned income only. The calculation for recipients without earned income is Transitional Standard minus net income. The calculation for recipients with earned and unearned income is the following: if the Family Wage Level minus earned income is less than the Transitional Standard, the benefit equals the Family Wage Level minus total net income (earned and unearned income). If the Family Wage Level minus earned income is greater than the Transitional Standard, the benefit equals the Transitional Standard minus unearned income. Also, the MFIP payment standards include the state's food stamp (FS) allotment. MFIP recipients' cash and FS grants are computed with the same calculation. A flat amount (based on family size) for the FS allotment is subtracted from the benefit amount, and any remaining amount is provided to the unit in cash. To calculate the TANF grant amount without FS, subtract the Food Portion of the MFIP standard from the benefit. Unless otherwise exempt, all applicants must first participate in a mandatory, four month diversion program before receiving TANF. See table I.A.1 for benefit determination policies that apply during this period. 6 If the benefit is positive and the unit is complying with all requirements, the Cooperative Incentive Payment is added to the benefit. (Most of the caseload receives the Incentive Payment). However, if the unit is not complying with requirements, the unit only receives the difference between the Adjusted Income/Payment Standard and net income. 7 The benefit is equal to the maximum of (A-C or B-D), where A equals the full benefit equivalent, the sum of welfare and food stamp benefits, calculated using normal rules. B equals the minimum benefit equivalent, A minus the difference between Adjusted Income/Payment Standard for the unit including the JOBS Plus participant and Adjusted Income/Payment Standard for the unit not including the JOBS Plus participant. C equals the JOBS Plus participant's wage times his or her available hours (all scheduled hours, regardless of whether the participant worked those hours), minus $90, $50 pass-through, $102 earned income credit refund, and any garnishment withheld. D equals the JOBS Plus participant's wage times hours actually worked, minus $90, $50 pass-through, $102 earned income credit refund, and any garnishment withheld. 8 When a caretaker marries while receiving assistance, a different set of benefit computation rules can potentially apply to the assistance unit. The spouse’s gross income less any court ordered child support is first tested against the gross income limit (185 percent of the Consolidated Need Standard) for the entire assistance unit plus the spouse. If the spouse's income exceeds this standard, regular deeming, eligibility, and benefit computation policies are used. However, if the spouse's income is below that standard, the unit has two choices: (1) The unit may include the spouse in the unit but disregard his income. His income is excluded for eligibility and benefit computation, but his needs and resources are included. (2) The unit may exclude the spouse from the unit. Eligibility and benefits for the unit are determined as if the spouse were not present in the home. No income is deemed, and the spouse’s needs are not included. These policies continue until the case is closed for any reason. This policy applies even if the spouse is the father of one of the assistance group children. 9 The benefit for two-parent units equals the lesser of (150 percent of (the Federal Poverty Level minus net income)), or (Payment Standard minus gross unearned income) or Maximum Benefit. For all units, the Maximum Benefit only limits benefits for units with six or more members. 10 The Maximum Benefit only limits benefits for units with nine or more members. 11 Units in which a man and a woman are legally married to each other are eligible for a marriage incentive that increases the benefit by $100. 12 Recipients in the Trial Jobs component participate in subsidized employment. These recipients do not receive benefits from the state. However, they do receive earnings from their employer. Employers are required to pay at least minimum wage for every hour worked. The employer receives a maximum subsidy of $300 per employee per month. 13 Units in the Unsubsidized Employment component receive wages from an unsubsidized job and are ineligible for a cash benefit; however, they may still receive support services if they are otherwise eligible. |
| State | Payment Standard | Statutory Maximum Benefit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State name | Amount for family of three | State name | Amount for family of three | ||
| Alabama | Payment Standard | $215 | — | — | |
| Alaska | Need Standard | $1,227 | Maximum Payment | $923 | |
| Arizona | All, except JOBSTART | Payment Standard | $347 | — | — |
| JOBSTART | Payment Standard and Food Stamps1 | — | — | — | |
| Arkansas | Maximum Payment Level | $204 | — | — | |
| California | Nonexempt | Maximum Aid Payment | $704 | — | — |
| Exempt | Maximum Aid Payment | $786 | — | — | |
| Colorado | Need Standard | $421 | — | — | |
| Connecticut | Payment Standard | $543 | — | — | |
| Delaware | Standard of Need | $954 | Payment Standard | $338 | |
| D.C. | Payment Level | $379 | — | — | |
| Florida | Payment Standard | $303 | — | — | |
| Georgia | Standard of Need | $424 | Family Maximum | $280 | |
| Hawaii | Standard of Assistance | $570 2 | — | — | |
| Idaho | Work Incentive Payment | $389 | Maximum Benefit | $309 | |
| Illinois | Payment Standard | $396 | — | — | |
| Indiana | Net Income Standard | $288 | — | — | |
| Iowa | Payment Standard | $426 | — | — | |
| Kansas | Budgetary Standards | $429 | — | — | |
| Kentucky | Standard of Need | $526 | Maximum Benefit | $262 | |
| Louisiana | Flat Grant Amount | $240 | — | — | |
| Maine | Standard of Need | $620 | Maximum Benefit | $485 | |
| Maryland | Allowable Payment | $477 | — | — | |
| Massachusetts | Exempt | Need Standard and Payment Standard | $633 | — | — |
| Nonexempt | Need Standard and Payment Standard | $618 | — | — | |
| Michigan | Payment Standard | $459 3 | — | — | |
| Minnesota | Transitional Standard | $852 (532)4 | Transitional Standard | $852 | |
| Family Wage Level | $937 | — | — | ||
| Food Portion of MFIP | $320 | — | — | ||
| Mississippi | Need Standard and Payment Standard | $368 | Maximum Benefit | $170 | |
| Missouri | Payment Standard | $292 | — | — | |
| Montana | Benefit Standard | $375 | — | — | |
| Nebraska | Standard of Need | $587 | Payment Maximum | $364 | |
| Nevada | Payment Allowance | $348 | — | — | |
| New Hampshire | Payment Standard | $625 | — | — | |
| New Jersey | Maximum Benefit Payment Schedule | $424 5 | — | — | |
| New Mexico | Need Standard | $389 | — | — | |
| New York | Need Standard | $691 | — | — | |
| North Carolina | Need Standard | $544 | — | — | |
| North Dakota | Standard of Need | $477 | — | — | |
| Ohio | Payment Standard | $373 | — | — | |
| Oklahoma | Payment Standard | $292 | — | — | |
| Oregon | All, except JOBS Plus | Adjusted Income/Payment Standard | $460 | — | — |
| Cooperative Incentive Payment6 | $43 | — | — | ||
| JOBS Plus | Adjusted Income/Payment Standard Food Stamps1 | — | — | ||
| Pennsylvania | Family Size Allowance | $403 | — | — | |
| Rhode Island | Cash Assistance Monthly Standard | $554 | — | — | |
| South Carolina | Need Standard | $635 | Maximum Benefit | $205 | |
| South Dakota | Payment Standard | $501 | — | — | |
| Tennessee | Consolidated Need Standard | $880 | Maximum Benefit | $185 7 | |
| Texas | Maximum Grant | $217 | — | — | |
| Utah | Maximum Financial Assistance Payment | $474 | — | — | |
| Vermont | Payment Standard | $640 | — | — | |
| Virginia | VIEW | Federal Poverty Level | $1,306 | —8 | — |
| Payment Standard | $320 | — | — | ||
| All, except VIEW | Payment Standard | $320 | —8 | — | |
| Washington | Payment Standard | $546 | —9 | — | |
| West Virginia | Payment Standard | $453 | — | — | |
| Wisconsin | W-2 Transition | Benefit Amount | $628 | — | — |
| Community Service Jobs | Benefit Amount | $673 10 | — | — | |
| Trial Jobs/Unsubsidized Employment | No cash benefit11 | — | — | — | |
| Wyoming | Maximum Benefit | $340 | — | — | |
|
Source: The Urban Institute's Welfare Rules Database, funded by DHHS/ACF and DHHS/ASPE. Notes: This table provides information on the standards only. For information on how the standards are used, see table II.A.2. The amounts in the table are based on the following assumptions about the assistance unit: there is one adult and two children; the children are not subject to a family cap; and the unit has no special needs, pays for shelter, and lives in the most populated area of the state. 1 See the footnote in table II.A.2 for a description of the standard. 2 Applies to units that have received assistance for at least two months in a lifetime. For units receiving their first and second months of benefits, the Standard of Assistance for a family of three is $712. 3 Applies to units that have at least one employable adult. For units where all adults either receive SSI or are exempt from work requirements for reasons other than caring for a child under three months old, the Payment Standard for a family of three is $477. 4 Minnesota’s Transitional Standard includes the food stamp allotment for each unit size. The food stamp and cash benefit are computed together for welfare recipients. The Food Stamp allotment is a flat benefit, based on family size, which is subtracted from the benefit amount. Any remaining benefit is given to the unit as cash. The value of the TANF benefit only is in parentheses. 5 An additional $150 is added to the benefit amount for exempt units receiving assistance beyond the 60th month. 6 If the unit is complying with all requirements, the Cooperative Incentive Payment is added to the benefit; however, if the unit is not complying with requirements, the benefit is computed using only the Adjusted Income/Payment Standard. The majority of the caseload receives the Cooperation Incentive Payment. 7 For units where the caretaker is over 60, disabled, caring full-time for a disabled family member, or excluded from the assistance unit, the Maximum Benefit for a family of three is $232. 8 The Maximum Benefit only impacts payments for units with six or more members. 9 The Maximum Benefit only impacts payments for units with nine or more members. 10 Community Service Jobs participants can receive a prorated payment if they are working 40 hours a week in a combination of unsubsidized employment, work training, and educational activities. Education may never fulfill more than 10 hours of the requirement. Participants working 20 to 29 hours per week in an unsubsidized job may receive $230, those working 15 to 19 hours receive $341, and individuals working 10 to 14 hours per week receive $452. Individuals who are working fewer than nine hours are eligible for the full payment. Individuals employed full time are not considered to have barriers to work, and are therefore ineligible for payments. 11 The benefits in these components are based on the wages earned by individual participants. |
| State | Maximum benefit | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $215 | |
| Alaska | $923 | |
| Arizona | $347 | |
| Arkansas | $204 | |
| California | Nonexempt | $704 |
| Exempt | $786 | |
| Colorado | $356 | |
| Connecticut | $543 | |
| Delaware | $338 | |
| D.C. | $379 | |
| Florida | $303 | |
| Georgia | $280 | |
| Hawaii | $570 1 | |
| Idaho | $309 | |
| Illinois | $396 | |
| Indiana | $288 | |
| Iowa | $426 | |
| Kansas | $429 | |
| Kentucky | $262 | |
| Louisiana | $240 | |
| Maine | $485 | |
| Maryland | $477 | |
| Massachusetts | Exempt | $633 |
| Nonexempt | $618 | |
| Michigan | $459 2 | |
| Minnesota | $532 | |
| Mississippi | $170 | |
| Missouri | $292 | |
| Montana | $375 | |
| Nebraska | $364 | |
| Nevada | $348 | |
| New Hampshire | $625 | |
| New Jersey | $424 | |
| New Mexico | $389 | |
| New York | $691 | |
| North Carolina | $272 | |
| North Dakota | $477 | |
| Ohio | $373 | |
| Oklahoma | $292 | |
| Oregon | $503 | |
| Pennsylvania | $403 | |
| Rhode Island | $554 | |
| South Carolina | $205 | |
| South Dakota | $501 | |
| Tennessee | $185 3 | |
| Texas | $217 | |
| Utah | $474 | |
| Vermont | $640 | |
| Virginia | $320 | |
| Washington | $546 | |
| West Virginia | $453 | |
| Wisconsin | W-2 Transition | $628 |
| Community Service Jobs | $673 | |
| Trial Jobs/Unsubsidized Employment | -4 | |
| Wyoming | $340 | |
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Source: The Urban Institute's Welfare Rules Database, funded by DHHS/ACF and DHHS/ASPE. Note: Maximum benefits are calculated assuming that the unit contains one adult and no children subject to a family cap, has no special needs, pays for shelter, and lives in the most populated area of the state. 1 Applies to units that have received assistance for two or more months in a lifetime. For units applying for their first or second months of benefits, the maximum monthly benefit for a family of three is $712. 2 Applies to units that have at least one employable adult. For units where all adults either receive SSI or are exempt from work requirements for reasons other than caring for a child under three months old, the maximum monthly benefit for a family of three is $477. 3 For units where the caretaker is over 60, disabled, caring full-time for a disabled family member, or excluded from the assistance unit, the maximum monthly benefit for a family of three is $232. 4 The benefits in these components are based on the wages earned by individual recipients.
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