Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) is the name for Maryland’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. This program provides cash assistance to families with dependent children while also preparing participants for financial independence through work.
To qualify for TCA, you must meet the following criteria:
- Maryland resident;
- US citizen, legal alien, or qualified alien;
- Unemployed or underemployed with low income; and
- Have a child 18 years old or younger that lives with you, are pregnant, or is 18 or younger and head of household.
You also have to comply with certain employment and education requirements to collect TCA, unless you are taking care of a child under 12 months. Generally, there is a limit on how much TCA you can collect. You can only collect a total of 60 months worth of benefits, but you can go on and off collecting as needed until you have used all 60 months. You also cannot collect child support and TCA at the same time. The State is able to collect child support from the other parent while you receive TCA. There is an exception to these requirements under the Family Violence Option.
Family Violence Option
Maryland has adopted the Family Violence Option, which requires screening for domestic violence in order to refer survivors to counseling and other support services. This Option also allows waivers for good cause for some program requirements. If you are a victim of domestic or family violence and receiving counseling, you may be able to waive the 60-month lifetime limit on collecting TCA. Additionally, a good cause waiver can also waive the requirement of the State to collect child support.
You can apply in person at the local Department of Social Services, or online.
Click here to find your local office.
There are two kinds of disability benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI and SSI are both cash benefits paid monthly to people with disabilities. However, both SSDI and SSI have different eligibility requirements. To qualify for SSDI, you must have a prior working history with a job covered by social security, meaning that you paid into Social Security from taxes in your paycheck. You would not qualify if you worked a job “under the table.” On the other hand, in order to qualify for SSI, you do not necessarily need a working history, and only have to show you have limited income.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI is a cash benefit paid to you monthly for a disability. Besides working a job that is covered by social security, your disability must also meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability. To meet this definition of disabled, you must:
- Not currently be working,
- Cannot perform work you previously did or any other work because of a medical condition, and
- Have a medical condition that is expected to last at least 1 year or result in death.
If you are approved for SSDI, your benefit is based on your lifetime average earnings covered by Social Security. The Social Security Administration is required to help you fill out an application if you ask for assistance. You can file an application online, in person at your local Social Security Administration office, or by phone, 1-800-772-1213.
Click here to find your local office.
You are allowed to have an attorney help you.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI pays cash benefits to help adults 65 or older, disabled adults, or disabled children with limited income or assets to help meet their basic needs. If you are a student under 22 years old who regularly attends school, college, or a vocational or technical training program, you can still collect SSI while earning a limited income. The more income you have, the less your benefit will be. The Social Security Administration evaluates disability differently for children and adults. A spouse is entitled to their ex-spouse’s SSI benefits upon retirement as long as the spouses were married for at least 10 years, which would be collected at 65 years old.
Formerly known as food stamps, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) is a program run through the Department of Social Services that pays benefits to help pay for groceries. The benefit amount depends on the size of your household and the government’s estimate of how much it costs to buy food.
To be eligible, you must meet income requirements, provide Social Security numbers for every household member, and any able-bodied adults aged 16-60 years must register for work, accept a suitable offer of work, and take part in employment and training programs when referred by the Department of Social Services.
Students can qualify for SNAP if they are between ages 18-49 years old and:
- Receive Temporary Cash Assistance;
- Participate in a work study program;
- Work at least 20 hours a week;
- Taking care of a dependent household member under 6;
- Taking care of a dependent household member over 5 but under 12 and lack adequate child-care to attend school and work minimum 20 hours;
- Are a single parent in school full-time with child under 12; OR
- Placed in college or other school through a training program.
To apply, you can go in person to your local Department of Social Services, or online.
Click here to find your local office.
If your SNAP benefits are stolen, you can file a claim for reimbursement. You qualify to file for reimbursement for stolen benefits as far back as January 1, 2021. There are timelines to file based on when your benefit was stolen. Claims can be submitted by filing in person at your local Department of Social Services office or filing online.
There are three health insurance programs in Maryland for low income individuals: Medicaid, Medicare, and Maryland Children’s Health Program.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a free or low-cost health insurance for those who cannot afford health insurance. To qualify, you must meet income and asset levels. If you receive Supplemental Security Income, you are automatically eligible for Medicaid. If you receive Temporary Cash Assistance, you can potentially qualify for Medicaid.
You can apply in person at the local Department of Social Services, or by mail.
Click here to find your local office.
Medicare
Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older and young people with disabilities. This program helps with health care costs but does not cover all medical expenses or long-term care costs. Medicare is a large program that has different parts for hospital insurance and medical insurance.
If you are 65 years old or older and receive Social Security benefits, you are automatically enrolled in hospital insurance. There is an enrollment period during which you must enroll for Medicare, otherwise, a lifelong late enrollment penalty will be added to all insurance premiums.
Maryland Children’s Health Program
Also referred to as CHIP, this program provides free or low-cost health insurance benefits to children. The program provides health insurance up to age 19.
You must meet income levels to qualify. You can potentially qualify if your income is too high to qualify for Medicaid but still below income limits. The adult that lives with a child would apply. If parents do not live with a child, an adult that resides with the child can apply. That adult’s income would not be counted toward that child’s eligibility for income limits unless that adult adopted the child.
Generally, undocumented children are only eligible for emergency Medicaid services. Montgomery and Prince George’s counties offer CHIP to undocumented children with certain conditions. Monthly premiums are $67 to $71, depending on your income.
You can apply in person at the local Department of Social Services, or online.
Click here to find your local office.
In general, if you are undocumented, you are not eligible to receive public benefits.
Low-income, undocumented pregnant, breastfeeding women, postpartum non-breastfeeding women, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk qualify for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This is a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program that provides supplemental food, health care referrals, and nutrition education. You can apply at your county WIC office. Click here to find your local WIC office.
You may be eligible for emergency services only under Medicaid or Maryland Children’s Health Program if you are undocumented. Additionally, in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, you may be able to receive health care services if you meet certain income limits.
You may qualify for some benefits if you have certain visas or legal status in the United States. Speak with an attorney to discuss your options.
If your benefits are denied, you can appeal that denial. The time you have to appeal depends on the benefit. An attorney may be able to help. Speak with an attorney for help assessing your options.
45 C.F.R. Part 260 (TANF) Subpart B – What Special Provisions Apply to Victims of Domestic Violence?
§260.50 What is the purpose of this subpart?
§260.51 What definitions apply to this subpart?
§260.52 What are the basic provisions of the Family Violence Option (FVO)?
§260.54 Do States have flexibility to grant good cause domestic violence waivers?
§260.55 What are the additional requirements for Federal recognition of good cause domestic violence waivers?
§260.58 What penalty relief is available to a State whose failure to meet the work participation rates is attributable to providing federally recognized good cause domestic violence waivers?
§260.59 What penalty relief is available to a State that failed to comply with the five-year limit on Federal assistance because it provided federally recognized good cause domestic violence waivers?
20 C.F.R. Part 404 Subpart D - Old-Age, Disability, Dependents’ and Survivors’ Insurance Benefits; Period of Disability
§404.330 Who is entitled to wife’s or husband’s benefits.
§404.331 Who is entitled to wife’s or husband’s benefits as a divorced spouse.
§404.332 When wife’s and husband’s benefits begin and end.
§404.333 Wife’s and husband’s benefit amounts.
§404.335 How do I become entitled to widow’s or widower’s benefits?
§404.336 How do I become entitled to widow’s or widower’s benefits as a surviving divorced spouse?
§404.337 When does my entitlement to widow’s and widower’s benefits start and end?
§404.338 Widow’s and widower’s benefits amounts.
§404.339 How do I become entitled to mother’s or father’s benefits as a surviving spouse?
§404.340 How do I become entitled to mother’s or father’s benefits as a surviving divorced spouse?
§404.341 When mother’s and father’s benefits begin and end.
§404.342 Mother’s and father’s benefit amounts.
§404.344 Your relationship by marriage to the insured.
§404.345 Your relationship as wife, husband, widow, or widower under State law.
§404.346 Your relationship as wife, husband, widow, or widower based upon a deemed valid marriage.
§404.347 “Living in the same household” defined.
§404.348 When is a child living with me in my care?
§404.349 When is a child living apart from me in my care?
20 C.F.R. Part 416 Subpart B - Eligibility
General
§416.200 Introduction.
§416.201 General definitions and terms used in this subpart.
§416.202 Who may get SSI benefits.
§416.203 Initial determinations of SSI eligibility.
§416.204 Redeterminations of SSI eligibility.
Reasons Why You May Not Get SSI Benefits for Which You Are Otherwise Eligible
§416.207 You do not give us permission to contact financial institutions.
§416.210 You do not apply for other benefits.
§416.211 You are a resident of a public institution.
§416.212 Continuation of full benefits in certain cases of medical confinement.
§416.214 You are disabled and drug addiction or alcoholism is a contributing factor material to the determination of disability.
§416.215 You leave the United States.
§416.216 You are a child of armed forces personnel living overseas.
Eligibility for Increased Benefits Because of Essential Persons
§416.220 General.
§416.221 Who is a qualified individual.
§416.222 Who is an essential person.
§416.223 What happens if you are a qualified individual.
§416.250 Experimental, pilot, and demonstration projects in the SSI program.
Maryland Code Title 5 Human Services
Subtitle 5 - Food Stamps
§5-501 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
§5-501.1 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Matching Funds.
§5-502 Conflicts with Federal Law.
§5-503 Legal Immigrants.
§5-504 Prohibited Acts.
§5-505 Restaurant Meals Program Within the. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
§5-506 Heat and Eat Program.
