Hurricane Katrina: Legal Issues - Columbus School of Law

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Who Is Eligible To Receive Food Stamps? In order to qualify for Mississippi's Food Stamp Program, you must be a resident of the State of Mississippi AND your current bank balance (savings and checking accounts combined) must be under $2,001. If you share your household with either a person age 60 or over or a person with a disability, your current bank balance (savings and checking accounts combined) must be under $3,001. For a chart regarding income maximums for receiving food stamps, please visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/applicant_recipients/income.htm. There are rules on resource limits, income limits, and rules on allowable deductions from income that must be applied to determine eligibility to receive food stamps. Furthermore, there are certain employment requirements. These can be found at the Food and Nutrition Service/Department of Agriculture website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/applicant_recipients/eligibility.htm There are also special rules for the elderly and the disabled. These rules can be found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/rules/Elderly_Disabled.htm. How Do I Apply? In order to apply for food stamps, an individual must visit the visit their local county Department of Human Services Economic Assistance office. They will accept the application the day it is turned in, even if an interview is unavailable at that time. After the office receives the application, a worker will hold an interview with either the client, another member of the household, or an authorized representative of the household in order to gather information. After verification procedures are completed, the household will be notified by mail regarding their eligibility, the amount of the benefit, certification period and issuance procedure. If you qualify for food stamps, the household will receive the food stamps no later than 30 days from the date which the office receives the outcome. Please see below for information regarding expedited application process. For a list of Mississippi counties' Department of Human Services Economic Assistance offices, visit http://www.mdhs.state.ms.us/eadirectory1.htm. Is There A Way To Expedite The Application Process? Expedited food stamps are available. To be eligible for expedited food stamps, a person must have less than $150 in gross monthly income, less than $100 in liquid resources, have a combined gross household income less than the household's expenses. Eligible applicants must receive food stamps within seven calendar days of the application. Through October 15, 2005, the State will certify evacuees from areas affected by Katrina under the expedited service rule. How Much Can I Receive? The amount of money in food stamps depends upon income, resources and expenses as well as the size of the household. In 2000, a single older person received, on average, $44 monthly. The maximum amounts receivable are $139 for one person, $256 for a couple and $366 for three people. Are There Replacement Food Stamps Available? Following the declaration of disaster, the Secretary of Agriculture, must issue food stamps to replace food destroyed during the disaster. Replacement food stamps are required to be at least equivalent to the amount of food lost, but cannot be greater than the applicable monthly allotment for the household. Louisiana residents who have lost their card and do not know their EBT card number should call 18663348304 or
18889971117. Mississippi residents who have lost their card and do not know their EBT card number should call 18664499488. Alabama residents who have lost their card and do not know their EBT card number should call 18009978888 or 18665125087. Are The Requirements For Obtaining Food Stamps Relaxed For Evacuees? Yes. The Food Stamp Program is implementing a onemonth policy for evacuees who have left Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi because of Hurricane Katrina referred to as The National Enhanced Policy for Evacuees. This policy applies in all states, the District of Columbia, and the territories only for the month of September, 2005. Any evacuee household may receive a onemonth maximum food stamp benefit. Eligibility is based on evacuee status. How Much Will I Receive Under The National Enhanced Policy for Evacuees? The household will receive the maximum allotment for its household size. Only one monthly allotment may be issued (for September or October). The state will ask about household size and use that information to calculate the allotment. The state will treat the evacuee household as a separate household even if the evacuee household purchases and prepares meals with others. Are There Income Or Resource Eligibility Requirements Under The National Enhanced Policy for Evacuees? No. There are no income or resource eligibility tests. There are no other nonfinancial tests. And, the state will not ask about deductible expenses. How Do I Prove That I Am An Eligible Evacuee? The state will verify every applicant's identity to the extent possible. The $2,000 debit card issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sufficient. For other criteria, the other documentation, collateral contacts, or the applicant's selfdeclaration will be sufficient. TANF What Is TANF? TANF is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The TANF program, administered by the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS), provides assistance for needy families with children up to age 18 years without regard to race, creed, color, gender, age, disability or national origin. Monthly TANF money payments are made for children and their caretaker relatives who do not have enough income or resources to meet their everyday needs by state Program standards. What Time Limits Are Imposed For TANF Benefits? An eligible family, which includes an adult in the family seeking assistance, may receive TANF for no more than 60 months lifetime benefits unless they meet certain exceptions. Also, no benefits will be paid if the TANF parent or needy caretaker relative is not participating in an approved work activity after being determined "work ready", or no longer than 24 months (within the 60 month lifetime maximum), whether or not consecutive, after receiving benefits, whichever comes first. How Is Eligibility Determined For A TANF Family? When an application is received, a worker will conduct an investigation to see whether the family is eligible according to all TANF eligibility factors. The parent or caretaker relative will receive a notice by mail within 30 days
Page 1 and 2: Hurricane Katrina: Legal Issues Fro
Page 3 and 4: 5.1 Homeowner's Insurance 5.1.1 Cov
Page 5 and 6: 7.1.2 Who Is Eligible To Receive Fo
Page 7 and 8: 10.1 Child support 10.1.1 Are FEMA
Page 9 and 10: 10.6.4.1 Right to remain silent 10.
Page 11 and 12: 14.1.5 If I have a client that has
Page 13 and 14: website are urged to seek individua
Page 15 and 16: landlord to be released from his or
Page 17 and 18: (1) the landlord has a written leas
Page 19 and 20: the loan and the fees associated wi
Page 21 and 22: General suggestions. Contact Your M
Page 23 and 24: Liability for damages Does a proper
Page 25 and 26: from its foundation. What if damage
Page 27 and 28: If the mortgagee (bank) is named in
Page 29 and 30: used. A company should be able to f
Page 31 and 32: esources of state and local governm
Page 33 and 34: directions to your damaged property
Page 35 and 36: Yes, FEMA is authorized to accept l
Page 37 and 38: eceipts to FEMA through the IHP pro
Page 39: from FEMA, you must repay the amoun
Page 43 and 44: MEDICAID, CHIP, WIC What Is Medicai
Page 45 and 46: What Is WIC? WIC is The Supplementa
Page 47 and 48: How Do I Replace My Social Security
Page 49 and 50: should contact the state Department
Page 51 and 52: Self-employed individuals who lost
Page 53 and 54: 146.113(b)(2) (2004). What health i
Page 55 and 56: The FMLA provides an option for emp
Page 57 and 58: award. A decrease in child support
Page 59 and 60: How does the foster care system wor
Page 61 and 62: What are the criteria for appointin
Page 63 and 64: When, or under what circumstances,
Page 65 and 66: Investigation 1. Review any court f
Page 67 and 68: confidential (meaning it is not a p
Page 69 and 70: A child must be immediately informe
Page 71 and 72: e a runaway. “Probable cause” m
Page 73 and 74: Tell your child to show respect, bu
Page 75 and 76: Check out the charity's financial i
Page 77 and 78: If your car was submerged or standi
Page 79 and 80: hurricane that live outside of the
Page 81 and 82: Because of the difficulty in comfir
Page 83 and 84: International Educators http://www.
Page 85 and 86: The answer to this question is comp
Page 87 and 88: timely manner - that is, Plaquemine
Page 89 and 90: transportation within a short perio
Page 91 and 92:
As with airlines, each travel searc
Page 93 and 94:
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, m
Page 95 and 96:
Certain death and disability benefi
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employment) and to pay any taxes wi
Page 99 and 100:
. American Strategic Insurance 866-
Page 101 and 102:
. Great American 900-221-7274 . Gui
Page 103 and 104:
. St. Paul Travelers 800-CLAlM33 (8
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Hurricane Katrina: Legal Issues - Columbus School of Law

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