(1) “Categorical eligibility” means the automatic eligibility for SNAP as determined by the enrollment in a separate TANF funded program.
(2) Repealed.
(3) “LIHEAP” means the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program.
(4) “Maximum standard utility allowance” means the maximum level of accepted utility-based income deductions used in determining benefits under the food stamp program.
(4A) "SNAP" means the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to section 4 of the Food Stamp Act of 1964, approved August 31, 1964 (78 Stat. 703; 7 U.S.C. § 2013).
(5) “TANF” means the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
§ 4–261.02. Categorical eligibility for SNAP.
(a) The Mayor shall establish a TANF funded program or service for the purpose of establishing categorical eligibility.
(b) Categorical eligibility shall be granted to all applicants with an income, as that term is defined in § 4-205.05(4), at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
§ 4–261.03. LIHEAP Heat and Eat initiative.
(a) The Mayor shall establish a LIHEAP Heat and Eat initiative for the purpose of providing the maximum standard utility allowance to all participants.
(b) All SNAP recipients who would receive additional SNAP benefits if they received the minimum annual benefit described in subsection (c) of this section shall be automatically enrolled in the LIHEAP Heat and Eat initiative.
(c) All LIHEAP Heat and Eat participants shall receive a minimum annual benefit of $ 20.01.
(d) Participation in the LIHEAP Heat and Eat initiative shall not preclude any recipient from receiving standard LIHEAP benefits for which he or she is eligible.
§ 4–261.04. Locally funded supplemental benefits.
(a) Beginning on or after January 1, 2015, but beginning no later than October 1, 2015, a household participating in SNAP whose federally funded benefit is less than $30 per month shall receive locally funded benefits to bring the household's total benefit to $30 per month.
§ 4–261.21. Implementation of transitional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits.
A qualified household that ceases to receive cash assistance under the District’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (“TANF”) program, funded by federal TANF funds, District Maintenance of Effort (“MOE”) funds, or any other cash assistance received under a state-funded program (collectively “cash assistance”) due to a change in income, shall receive transitional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (“SNAP”) benefits for a period of 5 months after the date on which the cash assistance was terminated, automatically adjusted for the loss of the cash assistance, pursuant to section 11(s) of the Food Stamp Act Food Stamp Act of 1964, approved August 31, 1964 (78 Stat. 703; 7 U.S.C. § 2020(s) ) (“Food Stamp Act”).
§ 4–261.22. Implementation of simplified self-employment deduction.
No later than March 31, 2011, the Mayor shall submit to the United States Department of Agriculture, a proposal to use a standard self-employment deduction, with an option for an applicant to prove actual expenses in the event that the applicant’s expenses exceed the set standard deduction under SNAP, pursuant to section 5(m) of the Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. § 2014 (m) ) and to 7 C.F.R. § 273.11(b)(3)(v) ).
§ 4–261.23. Reporting.
Beginning on January 1, 2011, and every 6 months thereafter, the Mayor shall provide the following information, delineated by month, to the Council, the:
(1) Number of households participating in the District’s cash assistance TANF programs;
(2) Number of households participating in SNAP;
(3) Number of homeless households participating in SNAP;
(4) Number of households who left the District’s cash assistance TANF programs, including the reasons they left;
(5) Number of households who left SNAP, including the reasons they left; and
(6) Number of SNAP participants who are self-employed.
