Special Needs

Overview

All GA eligibility requirements must be met in order for an applicant/recipient to qualify for a GA special needs allowance. Most allowable special needs are available as a one-time-only payment, with a few exceptions. If the need can be obtained through a public or private organization free of charge, then it does not qualify as a special need. The fact that the special need is not available through other resources must be clearly documented in the case record. Refer to the "Special Needs" topic in the Business Process handbook for additional processing instructions.

Policy GA 289 - Special Needs

Special needs are those needs which are urgent in nature and absolutely essential to maintain health and a minimum level of decency. Payments may be granted by the Department to cover special needs, which payments are in addition to the maximum aid authorized herein, when the special needs have been verified and are unavailable from other resources. Special needs and payments therefore are as follows, except that payments for special needs due to a catastrophe shall not exceed a total of $300.00 per catastrophe.

Special Diet

The actual cost of a therapeutic diet, but not to exceed $15.00 per month, when a therapeutic diet has been prescribed by a physician and the diet requires an identifiable additional expense to recipient.

Restaurant Meals

The actual cost of restaurant meals, but not to exceed $15.00 per month, for recipients other than those on a special diet who must eat in a restaurant. The actual cost of restaurant meals, not to exceed $30.00 per month, for recipients who have had a therapeutic diet prescribed by a physician, when the diet requires an identifiable additional expense, and who must eat in a restaurant, said amount being in lieu of the special diet allowance.
Special allowances for restaurant meals shall be allowed only if present living arrangements do not provide or permit cooking facilities and living arrangements which provide or permit cooking facilities are currently unavailable in the recipient's community.

Clothing

The actual cost, not to exceed $50.00, for a one-time replacement of basic clothing, but only if the recipient has been receiving aid for at least three consecutive months.

Linens or Bedding

An initial supply of linens or bedding may be allowed whenever these items are not provided by current living arrangements. Replacement of linens or bedding may be allowed when there has been a loss due to sudden and unusual circumstances. Items of linens and bedding shall be limited to:

Sheets: 3 per bed
Blankets: 2 per bed
Pillows: 1 per person
Pillow cases: 1 per pillow

The amount allowed shall be the actual cost, but not to exceed $50.00.

Household Furniture and Appliances

Repair or replacement (whichever costs less) of household furniture and appliances may be allowed whenever there has been loss due to sudden and unusual circumstances. The amount allowed shall be the actual cost, but not to exceed:

Stove: $55.00 (plus cost of installation)
Refrigerator: 70.00
Washing Machine: 100.00 (including delivery and installation)
Table and Chairs: 30.00 (including 4 chairs; each additional chair--$5)
Crib: 20.00 (including mattress)
Bed: 15.00
Springs: 15.00
Chest of Drawers: 15.00

Care in Home

The cost of care for a recipient in his or her own home may be allowed when such care: (a) is needed for more than a month; (b) is due to illness or incapacity; (c) such care is less costly than hospitalization, nursing home or boarding home, depending on the level of care needed; (d) the care is ordered by a doctor and approved by the County Medical Consultant; and (e) there is no immediate relative or other available resource which may provide such care.

Transportation

The actual cost of transportation when transportation is needed for medical treatment and when public transportation is unavailable or unsuitable. The cost shall be the lowest possible amount which is consistent with the needed transportation, such costs to be determined by the Department.

Recurring Special Need Allowances

These allowances are added to the maximum aid authorized. Payment for recurring special needs is limited to:

Special diets, and
Medical transportation.

Refer to Special Needs - Diet for more information on special/therapeutic diet allowances.

A special needs allowance for medical transportation (i.e., transportation needed for medical treatment) shall be allowed in addition to any maximum basic standard. The applicant/recipient must provide verification from their doctor showing the frequency and expected duration of the medical treatment. If the applicant/recipient owns and uses his/her own motor vehicle, or uses someone else's motor vehicle or pays another person for transportation, the following rates shall be observed:

The actual cost, OR
7 cents per mile, whichever is less.

Nonrecurring Special Needs

Nonrecurring special needs known as One-Time-Only Special Need Allowances are those needs unique to a particular individual which are urgent in nature and absolutely essential to maintain health and a minimum of decency.

All Special Needs must be verified of the occurred incident (i.e., fire, police or insurance reports must be obtained).

Nonrecurring special needs are limited to the following areas:

One-time replacement of clothing;
One-time supply of linens or bedding;
Repair/replacement of furniture resulting from a loss due to sudden/unusual circumstances;
Medical care in the home; and
Medical transportation (may also be a recurring special need, see above for more details)
- Note: This is separate from the transportation allowance provided for individuals participating with Vocational Services.

Important: Additional limitations apply to these special needs. Refer to GA Policy 289 above.

Refer to the "Special Needs" topic in the Business Process handbook for additional processing instructions.