N.J. Admin. Code § 10:90-19.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 10:90-19.3 - Determining eligibility for the KCSP

(a) When it has been confirmed that kinship legal guardianship has been granted, eligibility for KCSP participation shall be approved if the kinship legal guardian's family income is less than or equal to 150 percent of the FPL and funds are available.

(b) Based upon the total gross income of the kinship legal guardian's family and the child, the designated entity shall calculate the annual income to determine if the family's income is less than or equal to 150 percent of FPL eligibility requirement. Income definitions reflective of those used to determine WFNJ/TANF eligibility will be utilized when determining eligibility for the KCSP.

1. All countable earned and unearned income of the kinship legal guardian's family and the child, with the exception of Work First New Jersey (WFNJ)/TANF benefits received on behalf of the child, is to be counted in the financial determination. Kinship subsidy eligibility shall not exist if the total countable gross annual income exceeds 150 percent of the FPL guidelines 66 Fed. Reg. 10,695 (February 16, 2001) for the appropriate family size.

(c) For purposes of determining eligibility for the kinship care subsidy, the kinship legal guardian's family shall include the kinship legal guardian(s), his or her spouse, his or her children and the child or children for whom kinship legal guardianship has been awarded. The family also includes dependent children who are over the age of 18 or other adults who are not legally responsible for the children for whom kinship legal guardianship has been awarded but who are dependent on the kinship legal guardian and who live in the household.

(d) Sources of countable income reflect WFNJ/TANF income definitions found at N.J.A.C. 10:90-3.9(b) and include, but are not limited to, employment (including self-employment), rental income, Social Security (disability, retirement, or survivor's) benefits, State disability, rental property managed by an agent, worker's compensation, pensions/annuity/401K payments, alimony received, railroad retirement, General Assistance payments, TANF payments (excluding payments for the kinship child), unemployment, interest and dividend income, veterans' benefits, and any child support received.

1. For purposes of determining kinship family eligibility, exempt income, as stipulated at N.J.A.C. 10:90-3.19, includes, but is not limited to, SSI benefits, and payments for resource family care and shall be excluded from the 150 percent FPL income eligibility test in the same manner that such benefits are excluded when determining WFNJ/TANF eligibility. Any member of the family who receives SSI or any child for whom CP&P is making a resource family care payment is not counted as a member of the kinship family for this determination.

(e) Resources shall not be considered when determining financial eligibility for the kinship subsidy.

(f) Kinship subsidy eligibility calculations shall be based on an estimate of the gross annual income of the kinship legal guardian's family, using income averaging and a prospective budgeting methodology reflective of that used to determine WFNJ/TANF eligibility as stipulated at 10:90-3.11. To determine the estimated income of the family, all earned and unearned income shall be considered.

1. For purposes of determining financial eligibility for the kinship subsidy, the entity shall determine earnings by obtaining wage information for the four consecutive week period immediately preceding the date of application or redetermination. Likewise, all unearned income received within this four-week period shall be verified and documented in the case file.

(g) Once it is determined that a kinship legal guardian meets the criteria for participation in the KCSP, the designated entity shall refer him or her to the appropriate county welfare agency (CWA) to apply for the subsidy benefit for the child.

1. Eligibility for the kinship subsidy shall be redetermined on an annual basis (12 months from the date of application) by the designated entity.

i. Once determined KCSP eligible, the recipient shall continue to receive the subsidy for the remaining balance of the 12-month eligibility period. However, there are circumstances that may result in termination of the kinship subsidy payment prior to the 12-month redetermination date. These include, but are not limited to, termination of kinship legal guardianship, if the child leaves the kinship legal guardian's home, if the child moves out of New Jersey or if the child's countable income exceeds $ 250.00 per month.

(h) Kinship subsidy eligibility shall extend beyond the age of 18 if the child is a full-time student in a secondary school (or equivalent level of vocational or technical training) and expected to complete the program before reaching age 19. Kinship subsidy eligibility shall be extended to age 21 if the child is enrolled in a special education program per 10:90-2.7(a). If the court terminates kinship legal guardianship prior to the child's 18th birthday, eligibility for the KCSP shall no longer exist.

(i) Continued participation in the KCSP shall not be affected by time limitations on WFNJ/TANF benefits for the kinship legal guardian's family. If a TANF recipient who has kinship legal guardianship reaches the 60 month time limit, the child may continue to receive the kinship subsidy with the caregiver continuing to act as the "payee." If the family meets WFNJ/TANF exemption or extension criteria, the case continues unchanged. The child remains eligible for the subsidy until eligibility is redetermined.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:90-19.3

Amended by 51 N.J.R. 1461(c), effective 9/16/2019