Bill Text: NJ A1318 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Increases benefit amounts and income eligibility limits for the Work First New Jersey program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee [A1318 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A1318-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Increases benefit amounts and income eligibility limits for the Work First New Jersey program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning eligibility for the Work First New Jersey program and amending P.L.1997, c.38.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 5 of P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-59) is amended to read as follows:
5. a. All adult persons, except as otherwise provided by law governing the Work First New Jersey program, are charged with the primary responsibility of supporting and maintaining themselves and their dependents; the primary responsibility for the support and maintenance of minor children is that of the parents and family of those children; and benefits shall be provided only when other means of support and maintenance are not present to support the assistance unit.
b. Benefits shall be temporary and serve the primary goal of fostering self-sufficiency. Failure to cooperate with any of the program eligibility requirements without good cause, as determined by the commissioner, shall result in ineligibility for benefits for some or all assistance unit members.
c. If the county agency or municipal welfare agency, as appropriate, determines, based upon an applicant's written statement signed under oath, that the applicant is in immediate need of benefits because the applicant's available resources are insufficient , as determined by the commissioner, to meet the minimal current living expenses pursuant to regulations adopted by the commissioner, of the applicant's assistance unit, the county agency or municipal welfare agency shall issue cash assistance benefits to the applicant on the date of application, subject to the applicant meeting all other program eligibility requirements.
d. The commissioner shall establish by regulation, standards and procedures to screen and identify recipients with a history of being subjected to domestic violence and refer these recipients to counseling and supportive services. The commissioner may waive program requirements, including, but not limited to, the time limit on benefits pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1997, c.37 (C.44:10-72), residency requirements pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-60), child support cooperation requirements pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.1997, c.14 (C.44:10-45) and the limitation on increase of cash assistance benefits as a result of the birth of a child pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-61), in cases where compliance with such requirements would make it more difficult for a recipient to escape domestic violence or unfairly penalize the recipient who is or has been victimized by such violence, or who is at risk of further domestic violence.
e. (1) The income eligibility limits for the Work First New Jersey program, including eligibility for benefits provided for dependent children and their parents pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.) and general public assistance to single adults and couples without dependent children pursuant to P.L.1947, c.156 (C.44:8-107 et seq.), shall be increased by 50% for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2011.
(2) For the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2012; and for each succeeding fiscal year, the income eligibility limits provided for under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall increase by the percentage amount of the Social Security benefit cost-of-living increase for the previous calendar year. The commissioner shall adopt the new income eligibility limits annually by regulation pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
(3) The commissioner shall establish regulations [determining] concerning the determination of eligibility and other requirements of the Work First New Jersey program. Regulations shall include provisions for the deeming of income, when appropriate, which include situations involving the sponsor of an eligible alien in accordance with federal law, and legally responsible relatives of assistance unit members.
(cf: P.L.1997, c.38, s.5)
2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011, and if enacted after that date shall be retroactive thereto.
STATEMENT
This bill expands eligibility for public assistance benefits provided under the Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) program and increases the monthly benefit amount for current WFNJ recipients.
The bill provides specifically as follows:
· WFNJ income eligibility limits, including those for benefits provided for dependent children and their parents pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.) and general public assistance to single adults and couples without dependent children pursuant to P.L.1947, c.156 (C.44:8-107 et seq.), are to be increased by 50% for fiscal year (FY) 2012.
· For FY 2013; and for each succeeding FY thereafter, the WFNJ income eligibility limits are to increase by the percentage amount of the Social Security benefit cost-of-living increase for the previous calendar year.
· The commissioner is to adopt the new income eligibility limits annually by administrative regulation.
· The bill takes effect July 1, 2011, and if enacted after that date will be retroactive thereto.
