FEDERAL AGENCY:

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Public Law 104-193; Title I, 42 U.S.C. 301-306; 42 U.S.C. 1308, Title X, 42 U.S.C. 1201-1206; Title XIV, 42 U.S.C. 1351-1355; Title XVI (AABD), 42 U.S.C. 1381 note - 1385 note; Public Laws 97-35, 97-248, 97-300, 98-369, 100-485, and 103-66.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide aid to the aged, blind, and the permanently and totally disabled in Guam, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands.

Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

Applicant Eligibility: Agencies must operate under Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) approved plans and agreements, which must comply with all Federal statutory and regulatory requirements governing these programs. The applicant must be needy -- i.e., meet specific income and resource requirements. In addition, the individual must be at least age 65 to receive assistance for the aged; must be determined blind to receive aid to the blind; or must be at least eighteen years of age and totally disabled to receive aid to the permanently and totally disabled.

Beneficiary Eligibility: The beneficiary must be needy -- i.e., meet specific income and resource requirements. In addition, the individual must be at least age 65 to receive assistance for the aged; must determined blind to receive aid to the blind; or must be at least eighteen years of age and totally disabled to receive aid to the permanently and totally disabled. These programs also have specific unearned and earned income disregards that are applied in determining the amount of assistance payable.

Credentials/Documentation: Federal funds must go to a certified Territorial welfare agency. Individuals must meet all eligibility requirements. Cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, the Social Security Act, and Federal Regulations.

Pre-application Coordination: The standard application forms, as furnished by DHHS and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 for State and local governments, must be used for this program. Applications are available from the Administration for Children and Families (OFA/ACF) Regional Offices. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for addresses.) This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure: Eligible individuals should apply directly to their Territorial or local welfare agency. The Territories should contact the OFA/ACF Regional Administrators for application forms. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for addresses.) OFA/ACF Regional Administrators have authority to approve applications and amendments; disapproval authority is held by the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. Territories contact HHS Regional Offices for applications for administrative funds. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure: Once an application is approved, Territories are awarded funds quarterly based on ACF-approved estimates of maintenance assistance and administrative costs. Notification of awards must be made to the designated Territorial agency. Eligible individuals receive monthly subsistence checks from Territorial welfare agencies.

Deadlines: Individuals may apply anytime to their local welfare agencies for Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Welfare agencies must have a time standard for notifying applicants of approval/disapproval; not over 45 days after application, except 60 days for aid to disabled.

Appeals: Individuals denied assistance must be given a fair hearing on appeal (45 CFR, Chapter 2, Section 205.10). Territorial agencies may request a hearing before the Assistant Secretary for Family Support regarding adverse decisions (45 CFR, Chapter 2, Section 201.14; 45 CFR, Part 16).

Renewals: The agency must conduct periodic reviews to determine whether conditions justifying eligibility still exist.

Formula and Matching Requirements: Formula and Matching Requirements: Essentially the Federal share of expenditures for Old Age Assistance, Aid To The Blind, and Aid To The Permanently and Totally Disabled programs is equal to about 75 percent, not to exceed a maximum amount per recipient. However, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. Thus, there is a statutory limit placed on the total payments each territory may receive in certain programs (the above-named Adult programs, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, and the Federal Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and Independent Living Programs authorized under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. If the Territory has not exceeded its ceiling amount for the fiscal year, then the Territory may also request and receive a Matching Grant. The amount of Matching Grant funds each Territory may receive is equal to 75 percent of the amount, if any, by which the Territory's expenditures for the current fiscal year under its TANF and IV-E programs exceed the sum of historical fixed amounts.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Individuals receive support from the Territorial or local welfare agency until they no longer meet the eligibility requirements.

Reports: Territory must submit fiscal FSA-231 and statistical reports as required by the Secretary of HHS to ACF. A Treasury Report, TUS- 5104, is required from the States each time funds are drawn and no less frequently than monthly.

Audits: Audits are performed by the HHS Office of Inspector General. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non- Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal government officials.

Records: Territories must maintain records which substantiate eligibility determination and grants that are made.

Account Identification: 75-1501-0-1-609.

Obligations: FY 01 $23,000,000; FY 02 est $23,000,000; and FY 03 est $23,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
The range for these three Territories is $707,436 and $30,560,246 with an average of $10,829,401.

There were 3 awards made to the territories of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands in fiscal year 2001. It is estimated that similar awards will be made to these 3 territories in fiscal year 2002 and fiscal year 2003.

ACF regulations are published in the Federal Register, 45 CFR 200 et seq.

Regional or Local Office:

See Regional Agency Offices. Region II (NJ, NY, PR, VI):

Frank Ceruto, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, New York Regional Office, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 4114, New York, NY 10278. Telephone: (212) 264-2890, ext. 133.

Region IX (AZ, CA, GU, HI, NV):

Julie Fong, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, San Francisco Regional Office, 90 7th Street, Ninth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103. Telephone: (415) 437-7579.

Headquarters Office: Susan Golonka Office of the Director, Office of Family Assistance, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, 330 C Street SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20201 Email: Susan.Golonka@acf.hhs.gov Phone: 202-401-4731 Fax: 202-205-5887

Web Site Address:  
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/

Assistance payments made to eligible needy aged, blind, or totally disabled persons in Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. During FY 2001, Puerto Rico served approximately 457,744 recipients and the Virgin Islands served approximately 7,908 persons under Adult Programs.

Not applicable.