(A) Emergency Assistance
is intended to be the program of last resort when no other sources of
assistance are available;
(B) With
the exception of catastrophic illness payments, total payments for the benefit
period of 12 months of Emergency Assistance must not exceed three times the
maximum Aid to Dependent Children payment amount for the applicant's household
size;
(C) This program includes
migrant workers and transients statewide if they are otherwise eligible. There
is no durational residence requirement;
(D) If the Medically Handicapped Children's
Program (MHCP), an insurance company, or other third party liability (TPL) is
involved, approval for assistance may be made before the receipt of a decision
by the third part;
(E) Emergency
Assistance must not be used to supplement foster care.
007.01
TIME PERIOD FOR
SERVICES. Payment can be made for services to meet needs which
arose up to 60 days before and which extend 60 days beyond the application
date. To be included, prior and subsequent needs must be directly related to
the emergency need for which the application was made and must be such that, if
they are met, the current emergency will be resolved. Assistance may be
authorized only once per household in any 12-month period.
007.02
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
BENEFITS. Payment may be made for the following items if
applicable eligibility requirements are met.
007.02(A)
SHELTER.
Payment may be made for a mortgage payment, rent, or a rental deposit if it is
verified that payment will alleviate the emergency situation. If the applicant
has received an eviction notice, or if an eviction notice is planned or
threatened, payment may be made only if it will forestall the eviction. Shelter
payment may also be made if the applicant was forced to move with no other
shelter arrangements.
007.02(B)
UTILITY BILLS. If the applicant has received a
shut-off notice, payment may be authorized for electricity, gas, or water.
Payment may also be made for delivery of bulk fuel. Emergency Assistance may be
used for payment of heating and cooling bills only if the applicant is not
eligible for the Nebraska Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (see Title
476).
007.02(C)
HOME
FURNISHINGS. Payment may be made for the purchase or repair of
only those home furnishings that are essential for health and safety.
007.02(D)
EMERGENCY NON-FOOD
ITEMS. Emergency non-food items such as toilet paper and cleaning
supplies may be purchased.
007.02(E)
EMERGENCY
FOOD. If Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits
cannot be used to meet the emergency, the purchase of food up to the amount of
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits a family of that size would
receive may be authorized. If the household has already received its total
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and an emergency occurs, the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program allotment may be
supplemented.
007.02(F)
EMERGENCY CLOTHING. Emergency clothing may be
purchased if it is essential for health and safety.
007.02(G)
MOVING
COSTS. Moving costs may be paid if it is necessary for the
applicant to move in order to lower housing costs, to move from substandard to
adequate housing, to leave an unsafe living arrangement, or to enable an
unemployed applicant to accept a bona fide job offer. The moving costs must be
by the least expensive means available consistent with the applicant's age and
physical condition. Emergency Assistance must not be used if the applicant is
moving from one job to another.
007.02(H)
TRANSPORTATION. Transportation may be provided:
(i) For a family traveling through the State
of Nebraska when an emergency occurs;
(ii) To obtain emergency medical treatment;
or
(iii) For a parent to visit a
hospitalized child who is included in the family unit.
007.02(I)
EMERGENCY SPECIAL
DIETS. Emergency Assistance funds may be used only if the diet is
more expensive than a normal diet. The applicant must provide a copy of the
diet and a written statement by a physician that the diet is
necessary.
007.02(J)
MEDICAL PAYMENTS. Medical payments may be made to
alleviate current needs of a family who are in a crisis situation because of a
catastrophic illness and only if the family is not eligible for Medicaid. The
illness must require hospitalization. Any member of the family may have the
illness. Medical services related to the illness, such as physician's fees and
ambulance charges, are included. Funeral expenses are not covered. If insurance
or third party liability is involved, every effort must be made to resolve
issues of liability before Emergency Assistance payment is made. If it is
impossible to resolve liability issues within 60 days from the date of
Emergency Assistance application, payment may be made but the insurance company
must be notified of the Department's right of subrogation. All payments for
medical care must be made at rates no higher than those paid by the Nebraska
Medicaid program.
007.02(K)
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE INSTALLATION. Payment may be made
for emergency telephone installation when a phone is necessary because of
medical needs.
