TO:	Commissioners; TA Directors; FS Directors; MA Directors; Staff Development Coordinators, WMS Coordinators; CAP Coordinators

FROM:	Patricia A. Stevens, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Temporary Assistance

SUBJECT:	Exemption of Disaster Relief Payments Reminder

EFFECTIVE DATE:	Immediately

CONTACT PERSON:	TA Policy – Central Region Team at 1-800-343-8859, extension 4-9344
FS Policy – Eastern Region Team at 1-800-343-8859, extension 3-1469

This is a follow-up to GIS 01 TA/DC040, titled “Exemption of Disaster Relief Payments”, regarding the Temporary Assistance (TA) treatment of disaster assistance payments to victims of the September 11, 2001 disaster.

These payments, including Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), are exempt for the purposes of determining TA eligibility.  However, persons receiving these exempt benefits who are applying for Family Assistance (FA) should be informed that most FA payments will count against the State sixty-month time limit and may jeopardize the use of TANF funded assistance if the individual or family needs future assistance.  Persons receiving these exempt benefits who are applying for Safety Net Assistance (SNA) should also be informed that most cash SNA payments will also count against the State sixty-month time limit.

 Payments authorized as Emergency Assistance to Families (EAF), Emergency Safety Net Assistance (ESNA) and Emergency Aid to Adults (EAA) are not counted against the State sixty-month time limit, therefore, do not impact TA that may be needed in the future.