CHAPTER 319t

STATE-ADMINISTERED GENERAL ASSISTANCE

Table of Contents


Note: Readers should refer to the 2024 Supplement, revised to January 1, 2024, for updated versions of statutes amended, repealed or added during the 2023 legislative sessions.


Sec. 17b-190. (Formerly Sec. 17b-111). State-administered general assistance program.

Sec. 17b-191. Operation of state-administered general assistance program. Cash assistance. Eligibility.

Sec. 17b-192. (Formerly Sec. 17b-257). Medical assistance component of state-administered general assistance program. Eligibility. Medical services provided. Enrollment in federally qualified community health centers. Pharmacy services. Reimbursement to providers. Amendment to state Medicaid plan. Regulations.

Sec. 17b-193. Hearing request re denial, modification or termination of state-administered general assistance cash benefits.

Sec. 17b-194. (Formerly Sec. 17b-689). Definitions. Recommendations of medical review team.

Sec. 17b-195. (Formerly Sec. 17b-118). Residential substance abuse treatment. Payment of costs.

Sec. 17b-196. (Formerly Sec. 17b-118a). Eligibility of persons aged eighteen to twenty-one for state-administered general assistance.

Sec. 17b-197. (Formerly Sec. 17b-119). Denial or termination of aid under federal Supplemental Security Income Program. Notice of right to appeal.

Sec. 17b-198. (Formerly Sec. 17b-78). Adoption of regulations concerning the state-administered general assistance program.

Sec. 17b-199. Authority of Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to cancel receivables associated with prior general assistance program.

Sec. 17b-200. Memorandum of understanding re Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services management of behavioral health managed care program.

Secs. 17b-201 to 17b-219. Reserved


Sec. 17b-190. (Formerly Sec. 17b-111). State-administered general assistance program. On and after July 1, 1998, the commissioner shall implement a state-administered general assistance program and on or before April 1, 1997, the commissioner shall implement said program in the fourteen towns in which the regional or district offices of the Department of Social Services are located, subject to the restrictions of section 17b-195. The commissioner may contract for the implementation of such program.

(May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16, S. 20, 89; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-418, S. 6, 41; P.A. 95-194, S. 22, 33; 95-265, S. 3, 7; 95-351, S. 7, 26, 30; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 52, 165; P.A. 04-76, S. 12.)

History: P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-418 changed deadline for implementing program from July 1, 1994, to July 1, 1996, and made technical change, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-12hh transferred to Sec. 17b-111 in 1995; P.A. 95-194 altered the state general assistance program from a program to be implemented on and after July 1, 1996, for unemployable individuals and families ineligible for certain assistance to a program to be implemented on or before April 1, 1997, for both employable and unemployable persons and families ineligible for certain assistance in the fourteen towns in which a regional office of the department is located and required a town to be responsible for the certification of a medical bill of a recipient of the state general assistance program, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-265 deleted provision requiring the commissioner to establish a schedule for the transfer of employable individuals to the Labor Department for services and assistance, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-351 required that the state-wide general assistance program begin on and after July 1, 1998, and implementation of such program in the fourteen towns where a regional or district office of the department is located begin on or before April 1, 1997, and added a provision allowing towns with a regional or district office of the department to petition the commissioner to continue operation of its general assistance program, effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 subjected the state-administered general assistance program to the restrictions of Sec. 17b-118, deleted a provision requiring towns to be responsible for the certification of medical bills for recipients of the state-administered general assistance program and made a conforming change, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 04-76 deleted provisions that permitted a town, with a regional or district office of the department and a general assistance office, to petition the commissioner to continue the operation of such town's general assistance program; Sec. 17b-111 transferred to Sec. 17b-190 in 2005.

Annotation to former section 17b-111:

Cited. 233 C. 557.

Sec. 17b-191. Operation of state-administered general assistance program. Cash assistance. Eligibility. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 17b-190, 17b-195 and 17b-196, the Commissioner of Social Services shall operate a state-administered general assistance program in accordance with this section and sections 17b-131, 17b-193, 17b-194, 17b-197 and 17b-198. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, on and after October 1, 2003, no town shall be reimbursed by the state for any general assistance medical benefits incurred after September 30, 2003, and on and after March 1, 2004, no town shall be reimbursed by the state for any general assistance cash benefits or general assistance program administrative costs incurred after February 29, 2004.

(b) The state-administered general assistance program shall provide cash assistance of (1) two hundred dollars per month for an unemployable person upon determination of such person's unemployability; (2) two hundred dollars per month for a transitional person who is required to pay for shelter; and (3) fifty dollars per month for a transitional person who is not required to pay for shelter. The standard of assistance paid for individuals residing in rated boarding facilities shall remain at the level in effect on August 31, 2003. No person shall be eligible for cash assistance under the program if eligible for cash assistance under any other state or federal cash assistance program. The standards of assistance set forth in this subsection shall be subject to annual increases, as described in subsection (b) of section 17b-104.

(c) To be eligible for cash assistance under the program, a person shall (1) be (A) eighteen years of age or older; (B) a minor found by a court to be emancipated pursuant to section 46b-150; or (C) under eighteen years of age and the commissioner determines good cause for such person's eligibility, and (2) not have assets exceeding two hundred fifty dollars or, if such person is married, such person and his or her spouse shall not have assets exceeding five hundred dollars. In determining eligibility, the commissioner shall not consider as income (A) Aid and Attendance pension benefits granted to a veteran, as defined in section 27-103, or the surviving spouse of such veteran; and (B) any tax refund or advance payment with respect to a refundable credit to the same extent such refund or advance payment would be disregarded under 26 USC 6409 in any federal program or state or local program financed in whole or in part with federal funds. No person who is a substance abuser and refuses or fails to enter available, appropriate treatment shall be eligible for cash assistance under the program until such person enters treatment. No person whose benefits from the temporary family assistance program have terminated as a result of time-limited benefits or for failure to comply with a program requirement shall be eligible for cash assistance under the program.

(d) Prior to or upon discontinuance of assistance, a person previously determined to be a transitional person may petition the commissioner to review the determination of his or her status. In such review, the commissioner shall consider factors, including, but not limited to: (1) Age; (2) education; (3) vocational training; (4) mental and physical health; and (5) employment history and shall make a determination of such person's ability to obtain gainful employment.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or section 17b-194, a victim of domestic violence, as defined in section 17b-112a, who is not eligible for diversion assistance under the provisions of section 17b-112g, shall be eligible for a one-time assistance payment under the state-administered general assistance program within resources available to the Department of Social Services. Such payment shall be equivalent to that which such victim would be entitled to receive as diversion assistance if such victim and his or her family, if any, were eligible for diversion assistance. In determining whether and in what amount a victim of domestic violence and his or her family are eligible for a one-time assistance payment pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner shall not include as a member of such victim's family the spouse, domestic partner or other household member credibly accused of domestic violence by such victim, nor shall the commissioner count the income or assets of such a spouse, domestic partner or other household member. For purposes of this subsection, allegations of domestic violence may be substantiated by the commissioner pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of section 17b-112a, and “family” has the same meaning as used in section 17b-112, except as otherwise provided in this subsection.

(June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 42; P.A. 04-76, S. 47; P.A. 08-28, S. 1; P.A. 11-44, S. 139; P.A. 12-208, S. 2; P.A. 14-161, S. 2; P.A. 21-78, S. 14; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 329.)

History: June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-76 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting references to Secs. 17b-7, 17b-118b and 17b-221 that were repealed by the same act and making a technical change (Revisor's note: In 2005, a reference to repealed Sec. 17b-111b was deleted editorially by the Revisors in Subsec. (a)); P.A. 08-28 amended Subsec. (d) to remove time limits imposed on certain transitional individuals receiving cash assistance and remove the one-year period of ineligibility imposed on a transitional individual who is determined by commissioner to be employable; P.A. 11-44 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting reference to Sec. 17b-192 and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-208 amended Subsec. (c) to add provision re income disregard for veterans' Aid and Attendance pension benefits, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 14-161 replaced references to individual with references to person, amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re annual assistance increase and delete references to 2003 dates and to general assistance program operated by a town, amended Subsec. (c)(1) to delete former Subpara. (C) re eligibility for cash assistance for family member under 18 years of age, redesignate existing Subpara. (D) as Subpara. (C), and add provision re asset limit for married person and spouse, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 21-78 added Subsec. (e) re one-time assistance payment for a victim of domestic violence, effective July 1, 2021; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (c)(2) by adding Subpara. (B) re disregard of certain tax refunds or advance payments and designating existing provision re Aid and Attendance pension benefits granted to veterans as Subpara. (A), effective July 1, 2021.

Sec. 17b-192. (Formerly Sec. 17b-257). Medical assistance component of state-administered general assistance program. Eligibility. Medical services provided. Enrollment in federally qualified community health centers. Pharmacy services. Reimbursement to providers. Amendment to state Medicaid plan. Regulations. Section 17b-192 is repealed, effective July 1, 2011.

(May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16, S. 21, 89; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 93-418, S. 7, 41; P.A. 95-351, S. 8, 30; P.A. 96-268, S. 23, 34; P.A. 97-143, S. 1, 4; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 68, 165; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 59, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 19; P.A. 03-2, S. 18; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 43; P.A. 04-16, S. 5; 04-258, S. 9; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 87; P.A. 05-280, S. 13; P.A. 07-185, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-2, S. 14; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 118; P.A. 09-8, S. 2; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-5, S. 55; P.A. 10-3, S. 23; P.A. 11-25, S. 9; 11-44, S. 178; 11-51, S. 134.)

Sec. 17b-193. Hearing request re denial, modification or termination of state-administered general assistance cash benefits. A person whose application for state-administered general assistance cash benefits is denied or whose receipt of such assistance is terminated or modified may request a hearing pursuant to section 17b-60.

(June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 44; P.A. 04-258, S. 38; P.A. 11-44, S. 120.)

History: June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-258 replaced former Subsecs. (a) to (c), inclusive, with provision permitting persons aggrieved by a decision of the department with respect to state-administered general assistance cash or medical benefits to request a hearing pursuant to Sec. 17b-60, provided recipients of medical benefits who seek a review of denial of specific medical service must first exhaust grievance process set forth in Sec. 17b-192, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 11-44 deleted reference to medical benefits and provision requiring exhaustion of grievance process, effective July 1, 2011.

Sec. 17b-194. (Formerly Sec. 17b-689). Definitions. Recommendations of medical review team. (a) For the purposes of this section and sections 17b-131, 17b-191 to 17b-193, inclusive, 17b-195, 17b-197 and 17b-198, (1) an “employable person” means one (A) who is sixteen years of age or older but less than sixty-five years of age; and (B) who has no documented physical or mental impairment prohibiting such person from working or participating in an education, training or other work-readiness program, or who has such an impairment which is expected to last less than two months, as determined by the commissioner; (2) an “unemployable person” means a person who (A) is under sixteen years of age or sixty-five years of age or older or fifty-five years of age or older with a history of chronic unemployment; (B) has a physical or mental impairment prohibiting such person from working or participating in an education, training or other work-readiness program, which is expected to last at least six months, as determined by the commissioner; (C) is pending receipt of supplemental security income, Social Security income or financial assistance through another program administered by the Department of Social Services; (D) is needed to care for a child under two years of age or to care for an incapacitated child or spouse; (E) is a full-time high school student in good standing; or (F) is a VISTA volunteer; and (3) a “transitional person” means one (A) who has a documented physical or mental impairment which prevents employment and is expected to last at least two months, but less than six months, as determined by the commissioner, and who has a recent connection to the labor market, unless circumstances precluded participation in the labor force, as determined by the commissioner; or (B) whose determination of unemployability or disability, as defined by the commissioner, is pending and who provides medical documentation of a severe physical or mental impairment which is expected to last at least six months. A person who is a substance abuser shall be required to participate in treatment, including counseling, and shall be eligible for assistance while waiting for treatment.

(b) The Commissioner of Social Services, when making determinations concerning disabilities or impairments which are expected to last a period of six months or longer in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, shall make such determinations based on the recommendations made by a medical review team.

(1961, P.A. 503; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 608, 610; P.A. 79-337, S. 2; P.A. 80-395, S. 1, 7; P.A. 81-134, S. 1, 2; P.A. 82-78, S. 1, 2; 82-147, S. 2, 4; 82-214, S. 2, 3, 6; P.A. 83-535, S. 1, 3; P.A. 84-168, S. 1, 4; P.A. 86-415, S. 2, 10; P.A. 87-176; 87-308, S. 1, 2; P.A. 88-156, S. 17; 88-236; P.A. 89-62, S. 1, 2; 89-239, S. 3; 89-293; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16, S. 11, 89; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 96-268, S. 24, 34; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 78, 165; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 46; P.A. 14-161, S. 3.)

History: P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of social services; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of social services with commissioner of income maintenance, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-337 allowed towns to require persons receiving support to participate in education or training programs; P.A. 80-395 required towns to establish work programs and required assistance recipients to participate in town program or other approved work, training, education etc. program, amending provisions accordingly and designating former Subsecs. (b) and (c) as (d) and (e), deleting former Subsec. (d) and inserting new Subsecs. (b), (c) and (f); P.A. 81-134 amended Subsec. (e) to allow towns to apply the $35 payment for each recipient toward the cost of workers' compensation insurance and added Subsec. (g) providing that workfare participants are included in definition of employee for purposes of workers' compensation insurance, establishing pay rates for participation in work, training or education program, etc.; P.A. 82-78 redefined “employable person” in Subsec. (c) to add the restriction that the person not be in full-time attendance in high school; P.A. 82-147 amended Subsec. (a) to allow placement of employable persons in private employers' training programs and added exceptions for persons participating in such programs to the hour and payment restrictions; P.A. 82-214 amended Subsec. (a) to require that persons who refuse or wilfully fail to report for work or to participate in the program be ineligible to apply for assistance for 30 days for the first refusal or failure, 60 days for the second and 90 for the third and all subsequent refusals or failures, replacing provision whereby ineligibility continued until person reported for and performed work or participated in education or training program to which he was assigned, to give the person the ability to request placement during ineligibility and payment at his benefit rate at the end of each week's work, to specify that the period of ineligibility commence on the day immediately following the actual date of termination and to require the commissioner of income maintenance to adopt regulations to administer the ineligibility provisions and added the requirement that payment for work over the budget deficit be within 30 days, and amended Subsec. (f) to require participation by at least two-thirds of the employable recipients within two years of plan approval and to require the commissioner of income maintenance to develop positions in state agencies for up to 12% of the participants from each town with a population in excess of 100,000, specifying that if such positions are not developed and the town has the required number of participants minus 12% the town shall not be denied reimbursement for the 12%; P.A. 83-535 amended Subsec. (f) to change the requirement from all employable recipients participating after four years to 85% after five years, changed the number of positions which the commissioner has to develop for the placement of recipients from up to 12% of the workfare participants from each town whose population exceeds 100,000 to 25% from each town which has over 180 participants and added the provision for positions in public or private nonprofit agencies and the requirement that the commissioners of other state agencies cooperate in the development of positions; P.A. 84-168 amended Subsec. (a) by adding the one-time limitation on a request for placement during each period of ineligibility and by changing the payment date from at the end of the week's work to the next scheduled date for assistance payments and amended Subsec. (f) by removing the requirement that 85% of the employable recipients become participants within five years of plan approval; P.A. 86-415 amended Subsec. (a) to require that if a one-year period elapses, from a prior to a subsequent refusal, the result shall be a 30-day period of ineligibility; P.A. 87-176 amended Subsec. (a) by removing provisions increasing the time a person is ineligible to apply for assistance based on the number of times he refused or wilfully failed to report or to participate; P.A. 87-308 amended Subsec. (e) to increase the payment for administrative costs from $35 to $50; P.A. 88-156 authorized the continuation of the two-thirds placement ratio and required the commissioner to adopt regulations to establish the criteria for calculating such compliance ration in Subsec. (f); P.A. 88-236 added provision exempting a town liable to support a general assistance recipient from including the recipient in the town's work, education or training program if the recipient is not a resident of the town providing support in Subsec. (f); P.A. 89-62 deleted the references to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and added a reference to the minimum hourly wage pursuant to Sec. 31-58 in Subsecs. (a) and (g); P.A. 89-239 amended Subsec. (c) by excluding from the definition of “employable person” one who is without a permanent domicile and is temporarily residing in an emergency shelter for the homeless; P.A. 89-293 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize a work program to include substance abuse counseling; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision re retention of $10 per week by person participating in program and provision permitting a person deemed ineligible for assistance due to refusal to participate in program to be reinstated during the period of ineligibility, increasing period of ineligibility for refusal to participate in program to 90 days, adding Subdivs. (1), (2) and (3) establishing grounds for the imposition of a 90-day period of ineligibility, and deleting requirement that the commissioner adopt regulations to administer the ineligibility provisions of this section, amended Subsec. (c) by redefining “employable person” and defining “unemployable person”, amended Subsec. (e) by deleting provision granting a town $50 per month for administrative costs for each employable recipient who participates in the program, amended Subsec. (f) by adding a provision permitting the commissioner to exempt a town from the requirements of the Subsec. and added Subsec. (h) requiring towns to develop an employability plan for each employable recipient; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-281a transferred to Sec. 17b-689 in 1995; P.A. 96-268 amended Subsec. (c) to add definitions of “employable person who is job-ready” and “employable but not job-ready”, effective July 1, 1996; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 deleted former Subsecs. (a) and (b) re towns required to offer work programs for employable persons, deleted definitions of an “employable person who is job-ready” and a person who is “employable but not job-ready”, added definition of “a transitional individual,” deleted former Subsecs. (d) to (h) re work plans established for employable persons and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 1997; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same by replacing references to Secs. 17b-63 and 17b-134 with references to Secs. 17b-119, 17b-131, 17b-190, 17b-191 and 17b-257, and by redefining “employable person”, “unemployable person”, and “transitional individual”, and added new Subsec. (b) requiring commissioner, when making determinations concerning disabilities or impairments which are expected to last six months or longer, to make determination based on recommendations of a medical review team, effective August 20, 2003; Sec. 17b-689 transferred to Sec. 17b-194 in 2005; P.A. 14-161 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2014.

Annotations to former section 17b-689:

Cited. 232 C. 599; 233 C. 557.

Sec. 17b-195. (Formerly Sec. 17b-118). Residential substance abuse treatment. Payment of costs. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, when a person who is ineligible for financial assistance due to his or her employability status is currently in or enters a residential substance abuse treatment facility, the Department of Social Services or the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall pay his or her room and board while at such facility, provided the person is eligible to receive medical assistance. Such assistance shall be paid directly to the treatment facility at a rate established by the Department of Social Services or negotiated by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

(1963, P.A. 543; P.A. 80-395, S. 2, 7; P.A. 82-214, S. 1, 6; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16, S. 6, 89; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-418, S. 9, 41; P.A. 95-194, S. 9, 33; P.A. 96-268, S. 22, 34; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 55, 165; P.A. 02-89, S. 29; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 97; P.A. 04-76, S. 13; P.A. 14-161, S. 4.)

History: P.A. 80-395 denied assistance or care to persons who have refused to participate in work, training or education program; P.A. 82-214 added the provision denying assistance to an employable person who wilfully fails to report for work in a program pursuant to Sec. 17-281a; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16 added provisions re 9-month durational limit on assistance, possible 3-month extension of assistance, date a person determined unemployable who is subsequently determined employable is eligible for assistance provided to an employable person and the adoption of regulations; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-418 made a technical change, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-273b transferred to Sec. 17b-118 in 1995; P.A. 95-194 amended Subsec. (a) by establishing a 24-month period of eligibility for financial assistance and an opportunity to petition the commissioner every 12 months after such period for a 6-month extension for good cause, added Subsec. (b) providing for a person previously determined to be employable the opportunity to petition the commissioner for a review of employability prior to or upon discontinuance of assistance and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-268 excluded job-ready employable persons from general assistance financial benefits and referred such persons to the grant program administered by the Labor Department pursuant to Sec. 17b-689a and added Subsec. (c) re reimbursement for room and board at a substance abuse treatment facility, effective July 1, 1996; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 amended Subsec. (a) by eliminating assistance or care to employable persons by the state or a town, limiting financial assistance under the general assistance program and the state-administered general assistance program to persons determined to be transitional individuals, as defined in Sec. 17b-689, eliminating obsolete provision concerning the request for extensions of support by employable persons, including transitional individuals who are not classified as such solely due to mental illness or substance abuse in the classification of those not subject to durational limits on assistance, amended Subsec. (b) by establishing a procedure for a transitional individual to petition the commissioner to review the determination of his status, added Subsec. (d) requiring this section to take effect no later than August 31, 1997, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 1997 (Revisor's note: The references in Subsec. (a) to “17b-115 to 17b-133, inclusive,” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “17b-116 to 17b-133, inclusive,” to reflect the repeal of certain sections by section 164 of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2); P.A. 02-89 amended Subsec. (a) to replace reference to Sec. 17b-133 with reference to Sec. 17b-132, reflecting the repeal of Sec. 17b-133 by the same public act; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, in repealing Secs. 17b-19, 17b-62 to 17b-65, inclusive, 17b-116, 17b-116a, 17b-116b, 17b-117, 17b-120, 17b-121, 17b-123, 17b-134, 17b-135, 17b-220, 17b-259 and 17b-287, authorized deletion of internal references to said sections in this section, effective March 1, 2004; P.A. 04-76 deleted former Subsecs. (a) and (b) re financial assistance to persons determined to be transitional individuals, deleted Subsec. (c) designator and provision in existing Subsec. (c) which referred to time limits in Subsec. (a) and deleted former Subsec. (d) re effective date of the section; Sec. 17b-118 transferred to Sec. 17b-195 in 2005; P.A. 14-161 deleted provisions re town payment and the general assistance program, added provision re Department of Social Services or Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to be responsible for substance abuse treatment payments and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2014.

See Sec. 17b-190 re cash assistance for transitional individuals.

See Sec. 17b-688b et seq. re supported work, education and training programs.

Annotations to former section 17b-118:

Cited. 232 C. 599. Does not violate Art. I, Sec. 10 of Connecticut Constitution. 233 C. 557. Cited. Id., 701.

Sec. 17b-196. (Formerly Sec. 17b-118a). Eligibility of persons aged eighteen to twenty-one for state-administered general assistance. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17b-191, a person (1) at least eighteen years of age and under twenty-one years of age, (2) living with his or her family that is receiving benefits under the temporary family assistance program, and (3) who would be an eligible dependent in such program if under the age of eighteen shall be eligible for state-administered general assistance in the amount of assistance such person would be eligible for as a dependent in such family under the temporary family assistance program.

(P.A. 95-194, S. 16, 33; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 56, 165; P.A. 04-76, S. 14; P.A. 14-161, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 95-194, S. 16 effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 replaced references to aid to families with dependent children with temporary family assistance, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 04-76 replaced reference to “general assistance” with reference to “state-administered general assistance”; Sec. 17b-118a transferred to Sec. 17b-196 in 2005; P.A. 14-161 added provision re notwithstanding Sec. 17b-191(c), added “as a dependent in such family” re amount eligible for under temporary family assistance program and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2014.

Sec. 17b-197. (Formerly Sec. 17b-119). Denial or termination of aid under federal Supplemental Security Income Program. Notice of right to appeal. If a recipient of state-administered general assistance or person receiving aid under both the Social Security Disability Income Program and the state supplement to the federal Supplemental Security Income Program has been denied aid under the federal Supplemental Security Income Program, or has been notified by the Social Security Administration that his benefits under such program will be terminated, the Commissioner of Social Services shall advise the recipient of the recipient's right to appeal and the availability of local legal counsel. For legal representation of a recipient that began prior to April 14, 2010, the attorney chosen by the recipient shall be reimbursed by the state for his reasonable fees, on a contingency basis, limited to the amount approved by the Department of Social Services, and limited to the amount approved by the Social Security Administration when such approval is required by federal regulations for such appeals. Such attorney's fees shall not be recoverable from such recipient or his estate. The full amount of any interim assistance reimbursement received by the state shall be applied to reduce any obligation owed to the town by such recipient.

(P.A. 81-449, S. 7, 11; P.A. 82-236, S. 1, 3; P.A. 86-415, S. 3, 10; P.A. 90-80, S. 1; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 49; P.A. 04-16, S. 3; P.A. 10-3, S. 9.)

History: P.A. 82-236 applied provisions to recipients of general assistance as well as applicants and to persons whose Supplemental Security Income benefits are terminated as well as persons denied such benefits, replaced requirement that the attorney be reimbursed from any retroactive award with reimbursement by the state for reasonable fees for cases accepted after July 1, 1981, limited to the amount approved by the Social Security Administration when such approval is required by federal regulations, prohibiting recovery of attorney's fees from the applicant or recipient or his estate, and further mandated that any interim assistance reimbursement be applied to reduce any obligation owed to the town; P.A. 86-415 applied Subsec. (a) provisions to persons notified that their benefits would be terminated by the Social Security Administration and limited the amount the state will reimburse for attorney's fees to one approved by the department of income maintenance and added Subsec. (b) providing for the payment of attorney's fees when a recipient appeals a termination of benefits decision, limited to the amount approved by the department and the Social Security Administration; P.A. 90-80 added Subsec. (a)(2) limiting the applicability of its provisions to recipients of general assistance; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-273c transferred to Sec. 17b-119 in 1995; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdiv. (1) re denial or termination on or before September 30, 1990, deleting “(2) On or after October 1, 1990”, replacing “general assistance” with “state-administered general assistance”, and transferring responsibility for advising clients of right to appeal and availability of local counsel from towns to Commissioner of Social Services, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-12 made technical changes in Subsec. (a); Sec. 17b-119 transferred to Sec. 17b-197 in 2005; P.A. 10-3 applied provisions to recipients of benefits under Social Security Disability Income Program and state supplement to federal Supplemental Security Income Program, limited reimbursement for attorney's fees to recipients whose legal representation began prior to April 14, 2010, made technical changes and deleted former Subsec. (b) re payment for attorney's fees, effective April 14, 2010.

See Sec. 17b-10a re implementation of policies and procedures while in the process of adopting as regulation.

Annotations to former section 17b-119:

Cited. 233 C. 557.

Cited. 38 CA 522.

Sec. 17b-198. (Formerly Sec. 17b-78). Adoption of regulations concerning the state-administered general assistance program. The Commissioner of Social Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement policies and procedures necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 17b-131, 17b-191 to 17b-194, inclusive, and 17b-197. The Commissioner of Social Services shall implement such policies and procedures while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures as regulations, or amending existing regulations provided notice of intent to adopt or amend the regulations is published in the Connecticut Law Journal within twenty days of implementation, and such policies and procedures shall be valid until the time final regulations are effective. The commissioner shall also amend any regulations in existence on August 20, 2003, to conform to the provisions of this section and sections 17b-131, 17b-191 to 17b-194, inclusive, and 17b-197.

(1961, P.A. 345, S. 2; February, 1965, P.A. 540, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 730, S. 32; June, 1971, S.A. 1, S. 17; P.A. 73-218, S. 1, 2; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 608, 610; P.A. 83-535, S. 2, 3; 83-575, S. 4, 10; P.A. 84-464, S. 2; 84-546, S. 51, 173; P.A. 85-564, S. 2, 12; P.A. 88-156, S. 8; 88-317, S. 68, 107; P.A. 91-401, S. 16, 20; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16, S. 2, 89; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-418, S. 2, 41; P.A. 95-194, S. 8, 33; 95-351, S. 3, 30; P.A. 96-268, S. 21, 34; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 28, 165; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 30, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 45.)

History: 1965 act added words “mandatory minimum” to describe standards and allowed withholding of reimbursement if uniform standards not complied with within grace period; 1969 act added provisions re incentive earnings program; 1971 act deleted word “minimum” to describe standards, deleted “recommended” modifying procedures and deleted provisions re incentive earnings program; P.A. 73-218 deleted word “uniform” to describe standards; P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of social services; P.A. 77-614 replaced social services commissioner with commissioner of income maintenance, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 83-535 added the requirement that the standards be established by regulation; P.A. 83-575 required that the commissioner adopt regulations and that standards be established for the granting of medical assistance as well as general assistance, and added provisions for uniform application and billing forms and time limits for determining eligibility and payment for medical bills; P.A. 84-464 added language allowing an appeal to superior court; P.A. 84-546 made technical grammatical change; P.A. 85-564 made the existing section Subsec. (a), removed language in Subsec. (a) on withholding reimbursement, and added Subsecs. (b), (c) and (d) re audits and adoption of regulations re recovery of reimbursements and withholding of reimbursements; P.A. 88-156 added language re minimum level of assistance provided at the expense of a town subject to Sec. 17-2(b), 17-12f and 17-82n and added words “financial aid” to describe type of aid granted in Subsec. (a); P.A. 88-317 amended references to Ch. 54 and Sec. 4-177 in Subsec. (d) to include new sections added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 91-401 amended Subsec. (b) by adding “Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 4-230 to 4-236, inclusive,”; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16 amended Subsec. (a) by setting standard of financial assistance for single employable person at $314 per month and standard for single unemployable person at $356 per month; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-418 reduced the general assistance flat grant from $314 to $300 for a single employable person, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-3a transferred to Sec. 17b-78 in 1995; P.A. 95-194 amended Subsec. (a) by reducing the financial assistance to be provided by a town to a maximum of $300 per month for a single employable person and a maximum of $350 per month for a single unemployable person and added Subdivs. (1) to (4), inclusive, requiring regulations to include provisions for an earned monthly gross income disregard, a central distribution location for financial assistance, an identification card for recipients and a prohibition against a town charging a fee for distributing financial assistance and added Subsec. (b) requiring the department to adopt regulations to establish reduced levels of financial assistance based on rental obligations, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-351 amended Subdiv. (1) of Subsec. (a) by requiring the earned monthly gross income disregard be “up to” $150, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-268 amended Subsec. (a) to exclude job-ready employable persons from general assistance financial benefits, effective July 1, 1996; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting an obsolete reference to the financial assistance available to an employable person who is not job-ready, adding a provision effective no later than August 31, 1997, requiring the state or town to make available $200 per month for a transitional individual required to pay for shelter and $150 per month for such individual not required to pay for shelter, deleted Subsec. (b) requiring the commissioner to adopt regulations establishing reduce levels of financial assistance to a single employable person with no rental obligation or a shared rental obligation and relettered the remaining Subsecs. accordingly, effective July 1, 1997; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 amended Subsec. (b) to limit scope of regulations to general assistance programs in towns “where the commissioner has determined an audit shall be conducted”, and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 but without affecting this section; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 replaced former Subsecs. (a) to (d) with provisions requiring commissioner to adopt or amend regulations to implement policies and procedures necessary to carry out operation of the state-administered general assistance program, effective August 20, 2003; Sec. 17b-78 transferred to Sec. 17b-198 in 2005.

Annotations to former section 17-3a:

Cited. 206 C. 1; 229 C. 664.

Cited. 42 CS 323.

Annotations to former section 17b-78:

Cited. 233 C. 370; Id., 557.

Sec. 17b-199. Authority of Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to cancel receivables associated with prior general assistance program. At the request of the Commissioner of Social Services, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management is authorized to cancel any receivable that has resulted from an audit against a town, including any receivables associated with the prior general assistance program operated by towns. The secretary may direct the Commissioner of Social Services to estimate any potential receivables from future audits in the former general assistance programs operated by towns and authorize the commissioner to suspend any future audits. If the secretary authorizes the suspension of future audits in the program, the commissioner shall notify the towns of such suspension.

(May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 38.)

History: May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2 effective July 1, 2004.

Sec. 17b-200. Memorandum of understanding re Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services management of behavioral health managed care program. Section 17b-200 is repealed, effective July 1, 2011.

(Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 56; P.A. 11-44, S. 178.)

Secs. 17b-201 to 17b-219. Reserved for future use.

Note: Chapter 319u is also reserved for future use.