1. A. “Administration” means the Social Services Administration of the Department of Human Services.
2. B. “TCA” means temporary cash assistance to eligible children and caretaker relative under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).
3. C. “Application” means a form signed and dated by a client requesting services from the Department or from a purchase of service vendor funded by the Department.
4. D. “Documentation” means provision of documents such as pay stubs and benefit awards which verify the amount of monthly or annual gross income.
5. E. “Elderly Persons” means those persons who have reached age 65, and their spouses, regardless of age.
6. F. “Emancipated Minor” means a child who is freed from the custody of the parent and from the obligation to render services to the parent.
7. G. “Family” means the basic family unit consisting of one or more adults and children, if any, related by blood, marriage, or adoption, and residing in the same household. If related adults, other than spouses, reside together, each is considered a separate family. Children living with non-legally responsible relatives, emancipated minors, and children living under the care of unrelated persons are considered separate families. This definition is used for the determination of eligibility based on income and family size.
8. H. “Fee Scale” means a graduated fee for services related to the individual or family income which does not exceed the cost of the service to be charged the eligible individual. The fee charged for more than one service to a family or individual or more than one individual in a family receiving service is designed to remain reasonably related to income.
9. I. “Local department” means the local department of social services or the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.

10. J. Monthly Gross Income.

    1. (1) “Monthly Gross Income” means the sum of monthly income received by an individual from sources such as money wages or salary, net income from non-farm self-employment, net income from farm self-employment, dividends, interest, Social Security, pensions or annuities, income from estates, or trusts, net rental income or royalties. Unemployment Compensation, Public Assistance payments, Worker's Compensation, Alimony, Child Support, or Veteran's pensions. These sources are identified by the U.S. Census Bureau in computing average income.

    2. (2) The following are excluded from monthly gross income:

       1. (a) Earned income of a child;
       2. (b) Earned income tax credit;
       3. (c) In-kind earnings (food, clothing, room, utilities, and similar items in exchange for labor);
       4. (d) National and Community Service Trust Act (NCSTA) organization payments made to participants in AmeriCorps USA, AmeriCorps Vista, AmeriCorps NCCC, The Senior Corps, The Youth Corps, and The Learn and Serve;
       5. (e) Grants, loans, or scholarships for education;
       6. (f) TCA approved training allowances;
       7. (g) Foster care payments;
       8. (h) Adoption subsidy payments;
       9. (i) Subsidized guardianship payments;
       10. (j) Food stamp value;
       11. (k) Uniform relocation assistance;
       12. (l) Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred while performing volunteer work such as transportation, mileage, or parking expenses;
       13. (m) Emergency Assistance to Families with Children grants (EAFC);
       14. (n) Third party payments;
       15. (o) Needs-based payments made to participants in Workforce Investment Act programs to cover transportation, clothes or uniforms, child care, or other training related expenses;
       16. (p) Income or assets distributed to certain Indian tribes as required by Pub. L. No. 94-114, §5;
       17. (q) Vietnam Veterans' allowances for children with spina bifida;
       18. (r) Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
       19. (s) Energy grants and allowances received through the Maryland Department of Human Services Maryland Energy Assistance Program or Electric Universal Service Program;
       20. (t) Gifts;
       21. (u) Lump sum inheritances or insurance payments; or
       22. (v) Capital gains.
11. K. “Purchase of Service Vendor” means a public or private agency which provides social services under a contractual agreement with the Department.
12. L. “SSI (Supplemental Security Income)” means monthly cash payments made by the Social Security Administration to an aged, blind, or disabled individual who meets the requirements for this aid under Title XVI of the Social Security Act.

Authority: Human Services Article §§4-205 and 4-207, Annotated Code of Maryland
Federal Statutory Reference: 42 U.S.C. §§621 AND 9902

Effective date: October 1, 1975

Regulation .01 amended effective April 8, 1985 (12:7 Md. R. 699)

Regulation .01H amended effective June 27, 1980 (7:13 Md. R. 1271)

Regulation .02 amended effective April 8, 1985 (12:7 Md. R. 699)

Regulations .02E, F, H, J; .03A, B; .04A, D, E, F, G, H; .05A, C, E; .09C amended effective May 3, 1976 (3:17 Md. R. 912) as emergency; adopted permanently at 3:17 Md. R. 912

Regulation .02F amended effective December 12, 1980 (7:25 Md. R. 2333)

Regulation .02H amended effective June 2, 1978 (5:11 Md. R. 886) and June 1, 1979 (6:11 Md. R. 977)

Regulation .03C amended effective April 8, 1985 (12:7 Md. R. 699)

Regulation .04A amended effective June 30, 1978 (5:13 Md. R. 1041); July 1, 1980 (7:13 Md. R. 1272)

Regulation .04B amended effective July 1, 1980 (7:13 Md. R. 1272); June 12, 1981 (8:12 Md. R. 1060); March 1, 1983 (10:3 Md. R. 208)

Regulation .04E adopted effective June 2, 1978 (5:11 Md. R. 886)

Regulations .04, .05, and .06 repealed effective June 3, 1985 (12:11 Md. R. 1046)

Regulation .06 amended effective September 14, 1981 (8:18 Md. R. 1477)

Regulations .07, .08, and .09 amended effective June 2, 1978 (5:11 Md. R. 886)

Regulation .07B amended effective October 6, 1986 (13:20 Md. R. 2208)

Regulation .07D amended effective April 8, 1985 (12:7 Md. R. 699)

Regulation .08A amended effective October 6, 1986 (13:20 Md. R. 2208)

Regulation .08B amended effective April 8, 1985 (12:7 Md. R. 699)

Regulation .08C amended effective May 15, 1981 (8:10 Md. R. 875)

Regulation .10 amended effective January 5, 1977 (4:1 Md. R. 15); October 6, 1986 (13:20 Md. R. 2208)

Regulation .11 amended by emergency provision effective July 1, 1976 (3:19 Md. R. 1050)

Regulation .11 amended effective April 13, 1977 (4:8 Md. R. 633); August 31, 1977 (4:18 Md. R. 1394); November 3, 1978 (5:22 Md. R. 1672); September 7, 1979 (6:18 Md. R. 1457); July 1, 1980 (7:13 Md. R. 1272); August 17, 1981 (8:16 Md. R. 1362); March 1, 1983 (10:3 Md. R. 208); January 30, 1984 (11:2 Md. R. 111); January 14, 1985 (12:1 Md. R. 15); April 8, 1985 (12:7 Md. R. 699); October 20, 1985 (12:21 Md. R. 2029); September 8, 1986 (13:18 Md. R. 2018); October 5, 1987 (14:20 Md. R. 2140); July 1, 1988 (15:11 Md. R. 1330); August 21, 1989 (16:16 Md. R. 1749); November 12, 1990 (17:22 Md. R. 2654); October 28, 1991 (18:21 Md. R. 2307); March 15, 1993 (20:5 Md. R. 513); January 17, 1994 (21:1 Md. R. 29); December 19, 1994 (21:25 Md. R. 2104); December 4, 1995 (22:24 Md. R. 1893); December 16, 1996 (23:25 Md. R. 1784); September 8, 1997 (24:18 Md. R. 1295)

Regulation .11 repealed and new Regulation .11 adopted effective November 2, 1998 (25:22 Md. R. 1651)

Regulation .11 repealed and new Regulation .11 adopted effective December 13, 1999 (26:25 Md. R. 1897)

Regulation .11 repealed and new Regulation .11 adopted effective November 13, 2000 (27:22 Md. R. 2059)

Chapter revised effective December 24, 2001 (28:25 Md. R. 2189)

Regulation .08 repealed and new Regulation .08 adopted effective November 25, 2002 (29:23 Md. R. 1810); October 13, 2003 (30:20 Md. R. 1447); December 9, 2004 (31:24 Md. R. 1725); October 10, 2005 (32:20 Md. R. 1655); October 9, 2006 (33:20 Md. R. 1614); May 19, 2008 (35:10 Md. R. 972); November 30, 2009 (36:24 Md. R. 1856); November 15, 2010 (37:23 Md. R. 1609); October 17, 2011 (38:21 Md. R. 1276); December 24, 2012 (39:25 Md. R. 1610); December 12, 2013 (40:24 Md. R. 2016); August 3, 2015 (42:15 Md. R. 1015)