TO:	  Commissioners; TA Directors; FS Directors; WMS Coordinators; CAP Coordinators, HEAP Coordinators

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

SUBJECT:	2002 Emergency Safety Net Assistance (ESNA) Eligibility Standards Update

EFFECTIVE DATE:	April 1, 2002

CONTACT PERSON:	Central Team (TA) at 1-800-343-8859; extension 3-9344, Eastern Team (FS); extension 3-1469, Western Team (HEAP); extension 3-0332.

Effective July 19, 1991, an income eligibility standard was established for emergency Home Relief.  The Welfare Reform Act of 1997 eliminated the Home Relief Program and replaced it with the Safety Net Assistance Program (SNA).  Districts continue to authorize emergency assistance through Emergency Safety Net Assistance (ESNA).  The income standard for ESNA remains at 125% of the Federal Income Official Poverty Line, which is updated annually by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.  As in the past, this standard does not apply if the emergency is the result of a fire, flood or other like catastrophe or if the emergency assistance is granted in accordance with Department regulations 352.5 (c), (d) and (e).

Districts must remember that some former recipients of Family Assistance (FA), the Child Assistance Program (CAP) and Safety Net Assistance (SNA-FP) are no longer eligible to receive federally funded recurring assistance due to their State 60-month time limit.  However, these former recipients will generally still be eligible to receive assistance under the federally funded Emergency Assistance to Families with Needy Children (EAF).  Districts must explore the use of EAF for these applicants for emergency assistance prior to authorizing benefits under ESNA.  If emergency benefits must be authorized under ESNA, ESNA income standards apply.  Districts must also explore the use of diversion payments to meet the needs of these former recipients of FA, CAP and SNA-FP who are now applying for recurring temporary assistance (TA), if authorizing such a payment will divert the applying household from the need for on-going assistance.  Diversion payment income standards are based on EAF resource/income criteria, not on the ESNA income standards, or those for recurring SNA.  For further information on diversion payments, see 00 INF-03, "TA Diversion Payments: Clarification of Purpose and the Use".

Districts are reminded that the diversionary requirements of TA do not apply to food stamps. Districts must process applications for food stamps even if diverting applicants from TA and encourage applications from those expressing concerns about not having enough food or money to buy food (food insecurity).

These guidelines are effective April 1 of each year and are effective until March 31 of the following year.  The following new guidelines will be effective April 1, 2002 until March 31, 2003:
125% of Federal Income Official Poverty Lines
By Family Size, 2002

Household Size	Annual	Monthly	
1	11,075	923	
2	14,925	1,244	
3	18,775	1,565	
4	22,625	1,885	
5	26,475	2,206	
6	30,325	2,527	
7	34,175	2,848	
8	38,025	3,169	
Additional Household Member	3,850	321