Sec. 07.02.04.02. Definitions

A. "Administration" means the Social Services Administration of the Department of Human Services.

B. "TCA" means temporary cash assistance to eligible children and caretaker relative under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

C. "Application" means a form signed and dated by a client requesting services from the Department or from a purchase of service vendor funded by the Department.

D. "Documentation" means provision of documents such as pay stubs and benefit awards which verify the amount of monthly or annual gross income.

E. "Elderly Persons" means those persons who have reached age 65, and their spouses, regardless of age.

F. "Emancipated Minor" means a child who is freed from the custody of the parent and from the obligation to render services to the parent.

G. "Family" means the basic family unit consisting of one or more adults and children, if any, related by blood, marriage, or adoption, and residing in the same household. If related adults, other than spouses, reside together, each is considered a separate family. Children living with non-legally responsible relatives, emancipated minors, and children living under the care of unrelated persons are considered separate families. This definition is used for the determination of eligibility based on income and family size.

H. "Fee Scale" means a graduated fee for services related to the individual or family income which does not exceed the cost of the service to be charged the eligible individual. The fee charged for more than one service to a family or individual or more than one individual in a family receiving service is designed to remain reasonably related to income.

I. "Local department" means the local department of social services or the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.

J. Monthly Gross Income.

(1) "Monthly Gross Income" means the sum of monthly income received by an individual from sources such as money wages or salary, net income from non-farm self-employment, net income from farm self-employment, dividends, interest, Social Security, pensions or annuities, income from estates, or trusts, net rental income or royalties. Unemployment Compensation, Public Assistance payments, Worker's Compensation, Alimony, Child Support, or Veteran's pensions. These sources are identified by the U.S. Census Bureau in computing average income.

(2) The following are excluded from monthly gross income:

(a) Earned income of a child;

(b) Earned income tax credit;

(c) In-kind earnings (food, clothing, room, utilities, and similar items in exchange for labor);

(d) National and Community Service Trust Act (NCSTA) organization payments made to participants in AmeriCorps USA, AmeriCorps Vista, AmeriCorps NCCC, The Senior Corps, The Youth Corps, and The Learn and Serve;

(e) Grants, loans, or scholarships for education;

(f) TCA approved training allowances;

(g) Foster care payments;

(h) Adoption subsidy payments;

(i) Subsidized guardianship payments;

(j) Food stamp value;

(k) Uniform relocation assistance;

(l) Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred while performing volunteer work such as transportation, mileage, or parking expenses;

(m) Emergency Assistance to Families with Children grants (EAFC);

(n) Third party payments;

(o) Needs-based payments made to participants in Workforce Investment Act programs to cover transportation, clothes or uniforms, child care, or other training related expenses;

(p) Income or assets distributed to certain Indian tribes as required by Pub. L. No. 94-114, §5;

(q) Vietnam Veterans' allowances for children with spina bifida;

(r) Supplemental Security Income (SSI);

(s) Energy grants and allowances received through the Maryland Department of Human Services Maryland Energy Assistance Program or Electric Universal Service Program;

(t) Gifts;

(u) Lump sum inheritances or insurance payments; or

(v) Capital gains.

K. "Purchase of Service Vendor" means a public or private agency which provides social services under a contractual agreement with the Department.

L. "SSI (Supplemental Security Income)" means monthly cash payments made by the Social Security Administration to an aged, blind, or disabled individual who meets the requirements for this aid under Title XVI of the Social Security Act.