700 Client Eligibility

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
CSBG Policy Manual

Policy Title:

Client Eligibility

Chapter:

700

Effective Date:

October 2020

Policy Number:

700

Previous Policy Number(s):

Overview and Requirements

Complete, accurate and timely eligibility determination, application processing, payment of services, and referral for service is crucial for the CSBG Program. Eligible entities must complete an application for all persons who request assistance through the Community Services Block Grant Program. Approval for services is based on funds available.

All households have the right to apply for services and must be given the opportunity to make an application. Eligibility is determined for a household or a family unit. Eligibility, once established is effective for twelve (12) months, unless circumstances change which makes the person ineligible. Persons with Limited English Proficiency must have equal access to all benefits and services.

Basic Consideration

Basic Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must meet the basic eligibility criterion below:

  • Households must be at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

  • Household applicant must be a US citizen or a legally admitted alien with a social security card (see Citizenship).

  • Households applying for assistance must reside in the geographic area serviced by the service provider

Household Composition

The applicant must be a member of the household and must provide information on all individuals living in the household. The information must include:

  • Name

  • Relationship to the head of household

  • Age/Date of Birth

  • Social Security Number

  • Income

Categorically Eligible

A household will be considered categorically eligible if:

  • The only income/resources in the household are SSI and/or , TANF, and/or Food Stamps

  • The head of household receives Medicaid

  • Adult members who receive specific services under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) in a One-Stop Service Center when the service provider is a partner in the local WIA initiative and is housed at a One-Stop Center covered by the WIA legislation

At least seventy-five percent (75%) of those served under categorically eligibility must meet the CSBG eligibility guidelines. Service providers must verify this condition is met by a 10% sampling of categorical households during the specific program year. The results of the sampling must be available for review by the State Department staff.

In addition to being in the client’s file, copies of Categorical Eligibility forms and/or client applications will be kept in a separate file by month of service. Files must be available to the State Department staff for review.

Group Eligibility

Group eligibility can only be used in situations where a disaster has been declared by either the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Agencies may determine eligibility on a group basis if it can reasonably conclude that substantially all members of the group of households affected in a specific area have income that does not exceed CSBG limits.

At least seventy-five percent (75%) of the members of the group must be CSBG eligible. In the event of a disaster, agencies must notify the State Department staff that they will be doing group eligibility in the affected areas.

Only emergency services should be provided for this type of service and services should not continue past thirty (30) days of each major occurrence. The activity will not duplicate benefits provided by another state or voluntary agency such as Red Cross.

A written application is not necessary; however, a log must be kept with the client’s name, address, telephone number and declared income for each household requesting service. The agency must develop and maintain on file by disaster, the agency’s plan for providing service during the disaster and for validating that at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the households served meet CSBG guidelines.

This should include verification of at least a ten percent (10%) random sampling within six (6) months of the activity. Group eligibility will be based on one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the poverty income guideline except when designated otherwise by the State Department.

The agency must also maintain a file by disaster of families served under the group eligibility provision.