The General (GA) program provides time-limited services to single adults and married couples who have no dependent children residing with them 50% or more of the time 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. General Assistance is a state-funded program. For 2014, 2,210 individuals and 2,197 households were assisted by the GA program.
During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $5,130,500 from all sources for General Assistance. This is a 5.6 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $4,880,500 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 0.4 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.
In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:
Separate tables are shown under the tab labeled "Financials" in each COBI section. These tables provide information regarding: 1) funding sources (where the money comes from), 2) standardized state expenditure categories (where the money goes), and 3) agency sub-programs (when viewed at the line item level). For the most recent completed fiscal year, the following information represents the purposes for which the money was used:
Upon approval for assistance, GA customers are assigned to either a short-term track or a 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. The program provides resources and referrals to help the customer prepare to re-enter the labor market when they are able. No case management services are 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.
Eligibility: Assistance is based on income, assets, and disability. GA customers must:
- be at least age 18 or no longer being supported by parents;
- provide "Verification of Impairment" that prevents basic work activities in any occupation
- have a monthly gross income of $608 or less for a one-person household;
- have a monthly gross income of $843 or less for a two-person household; and
- have $2,000 or less in household assets.
Amounts/Restrictions:
- $287 monthly cash assistance for a one-person household;
- $398 monthly cash assistance for a two-person household; and
- some participants are required to apply for long-term disability benefits.
For analysis of current budget requests and discussion of issues related to this budget click here.
COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.