Economic Security - Financial Assistance

Eligibility

Qualifying for Temporary Family Assistance (TFA):

Who is eligible?

  • Families with dependent children up to age 18.
  • Families with dependent children who are 18 years of age and enrolled as a full-time student in high school or vocational school. 
  • Pregnant women.
  • Recipients must live in Connecticut and have income and assets under the program limits.
  • The child or children in the household must live with a related adult or an adult who has filed for guardianship.

What are the requirements?

  • Adult recipients who are able to work must participate in Jobs First Employment Services activities, coordinated by the Department of Labor.
  • Custodial parents may be required to provide information to help in collecting child support from a parent who is not living in the home. 

What are the income limits?

  • New applicants must have earnings under 55% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
  • Applicants for extensions must have earnings under 100% FPL.
  • Unearned income such as unemployment or Social Security benefits are counted dollar for dollar against the TFA benefit amount. This does not apply to Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
  • The income of a non-parent relative or guardian does not count when the relative or guardian does not receive TFA for themselves.  
  • Earned income of TFA recipients is entirely excluded up to 100% FPL.
  • Active TFA-eligible households whose earnings exceed the Federal Poverty Level may be able to keep their benefits for up to an additional six months.

What is the asset limit?

  • The household asset limit is $6,000.
  • One vehicle is excluded if the total value, minus and amount owed, is under $9,500 or used to transport a household member with a disability.
  • The value of all other vehicles counts toward the asset limit.
  • Home property is not counted.
  • Assets of a non-parent relative or guardian are not counted when the relative or guardian does not receive TFA for themselves. 

What is the time limit for TFA?

  • Connecticut has a 36-month time limit for benefits issued here, unless an exemption from the time limit is granted. See exemptions below.
  • Under certain circumstances, benefits may continue beyond 36 months.
  • Recipients cannot receive more than 60 months of TFA in a lifetime, counting benefits received in other states (federal rule).

Are there exemptions from time limits or work requirements?

Exemptions to the time limit or work requirements may be given under the following circumstances:

  • A disability, either physical or mental, that prevents a person from working.
  • If a recipient is 60 years of age or older, while caring for a dependent child.
  • If a recipient is caring for a child under the age of 1.
  • If a recipient is caring for a household member with a disability.
  • A non-parent relative or guardian, such as a grandparent, who only receives cash for children in their care.
  • A pregnant or postpartum woman, if certified by a physician to be unable to work.

Qualifying for State Supplement for the Aged, Blind and Disabled:

Who is eligible?

To be eligible an Individual must be:

  • Age 65 and older; or
  • Disabled between the age of 18 and 65; or
  • Blind

What are the requirements?

The individual must have a source of income to supplement such as Social Security, Veteran’s benefits, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to qualify.

What is the asset limit?

The asset limit is $1,600 for a single individual or $2,400 for a married couple.

An individual must not have transferred assets to qualify for assistance.

What is the income limit?

The income limit for the program is three times the current maximum SSI amount per eligible person.

The benefit amount is determined by comparing an applicant’s income and needs.

Qualifying for State Administered General Assistance (SAGA):

Who is eligible?

To qualify for SAGA benefits, individuals must be considered unable to work by meeting one of the following medical, non-medical or transitional unemployability criteria:

Medical Unemployability:

Determined by the Department’s disability examiners to have a physical and/or mental impairment (or combination or impairments) that will prevent employment for six months or more. The medical impairment criteria are identical to those used in the SSI and Medicaid programs.


Non-medical Unemployability:

  • Over age 65;
  • Over age 55 and no work history in the previous 5 years;
  • Full-time high school student over age 18 who is not residing in a TFA eligible household;
  • Needed in the home to care for an incapacitated spouse or child;
  • Needed in the home to care for a child under age 2;
  • Granted but pending receipt of Social Security benefits;
  • Is a VISTA volunteer;
  • Under age 16 and emancipated by a court or legally married.

Transitional:

  • Long-Term Transitional: Provides medical documentation verifying inability to work for six months or more. No work history required; however, all cases are referred to the Department’s disability examiners for a review of unemployability.
  • Short-Term Transitional: Provides medical documentation of inability to work for a period of 2-6 months. Must have recent work history (earned at least $500 in each of 3 of the last 5 calendar quarters or was eligible to collect Unemployment Compensation during the previous six months) unless otherwise determined exempt from this requirement.

What are the requirements?

  • Applicants and recipients must pursue all other potentially available income sources (including SSI and TFA).
  • Applicants and recipients must sign a form authorizing the Social Security Administration to reimburse DSS for any SAGA benefits provided while an SSI application is pending.

What is the income limit?

  • The income limit for the program is three times the current maximum SSI amount per eligible person.
  • Adjusted income (gross minus certain exclusions and deductions) may not exceed the monthly benefit amount.

What is the asset limit?

  • The asset limit is $500 for a single individual or $1,000 for a married couple.
  • One vehicle is excluded if the total value, minus and amount owed, is under $4,500, or used to transport a household member with a disability.
  • Home property is not counted.

Qualifying for Domestic Violence Cash benefits:

Applicants must be residents of Connecticut and a victim of domestic violence. Individuals applying may be required to provide supporting documentation to verify their status as a victim of domestic violence.

There are no income, asset, or citizenship requirements to receive this benefit.

Individuals with or without dependent children may qualify.

This is generally a one-time benefit. The benefit amount is equal to three times the monthly Temporary Family Assistance benefit for the family size and is issued as one lump sum. The alleged abuser is not included as a member of the household when determining the benefit amount.