Agency: Workforce Services

Line Item: General Assistance

Function

The General Assistance (GA) line item/program is a time--limited, state--funded program that provides financial assistance to adults who do not have dependent children living with them and who have physical or mental health impairments that prevent basic work activities in any occupation.

General Assistance provides minimal financial assistance to enable customers to meet some living expenses and may help with income requirements to qualify for some assisted housing programs.

Upon approval for assistance, GA customers are assigned to either the Short-Term track or the Long-Term track. This track assignment is based on the anticipated length of impairment reported on the medical form completed by the customer's health care provider. The following describes the two tracks:

• GA customers with impairments that will last less than 6 months are assigned to the Short-Term track. DWS can provide resources and referrals to help the customer prepare to reenter the labor market when they are able, but there are no case management services provided to customers on the Short-Term track.
• GA customers with impairments that will last longer than 6 months are required to apply for and actively pursue long-term Social Security disability benefits. Customers on the Long-Term track are assigned to a case manager who has been trained to assist the customer with the SSI (Supplemental Security Income)/SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) application and appeal processes.

General Assistance benefits are time limited to a total of 12-months of benefits in a 60-month period. GA customers on the Short-Term track are limited to 6-months of benefits in a 12-month period.

Statutory Authority

UCA 35A-3-401 establishes the General Assistance program providing financial support to individuals not receiving cash assistance under the Family Employment Program of the Supplemental Security Income program and who are unemployable "according to standards established by the department."

Intent Language

During the 2013 General Session, the Legislature approved the folling intent language for the Operations and Policy line item:

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code the Legislature intends that up to $600,000 of the appropriations provided for the General Assistance line item in Item 14 of Chapter 14 Laws of Utah 2012 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2013. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to computer equipment/software and one-time projects associated with client services.

Performance

Funding Detail

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