How Does Cash Aid Work?
States usually set aside money in their budgets for assisting those in financial trouble. Cash aid programs prevent needy children and parents from living without shelter or food. United States families should apply for cash aid immediately when they need it. Processing times for cash aid applications could take a few days or a few weeks.
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Purpose
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Cash aid is available for families suffering financial hardship that need money to pay for their basic needs. Any item or service that keeps children and their parents safe and healthy is a legitimate cash aid expense. For instance, if two parents need diapers for their young child, the parents can use cash aid to pay for the diapers at a grocery store. Cash aid may also be used for food, health checkups, clothing and any other qualifying items. The state that offers the cash aid typically specifies what purchases are legitimate cash aid expenses.
Dispersal
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States typically disperse cash aid to families using electronic cards that work similarly to credit or debit cards. Once a month or once every two weeks, the state aid office "loads" the cash aid card with funds to be used for family expenses. For example, a qualifying family might receive $400 every other week on its cash aid card. Every time a parent from the family purchases food, the amount of the purchase is subtracted from the card's balance. Individuals cannot convert balances on cash aid cards to cash.
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Application
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To apply for cash aid, families must typically meet certain qualifications set by the state. For instance, Arizona requires individuals who apply for cash aid to be residents of the state and a U.S. citizen with children under the age of 19. If a family meets the qualifications of its state, the family then completes an application for cash aid. The application usually asks about the family's financial information, job information, current assets and children in the household. Once the application is approved, the state might conduct an interview with the parents of the family.
Considerations
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States and the federal government place restrictions on the length of time families receive cash aid. The time limit for cash aid varies by state, but the federal government restricts cash aid to five years. Cash aid is intended as a temporary assistance program to help families get back on their feet and find work for long-term financial stability.
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References
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