Transitional Transportation Benefits:
When You Leave TANF to Work
NOTE: This is just one benefit you can get when you leave TANF to go to work.
For more information about additional benefits (health care, food stamps, and child care),
read "What Happens to My Benefits When I Get Job
and Leave TANF?" posted by MEJP.
| What is the Transitional Transportation Program? |
The Transitional Transportation Program helps working
parents pay for transportation for 12 months after they can no longer get TANF because of
earnings from a job. If you get PaS benefits, instead of TANF, the same rules apply to
you.
| Who can get Transitional Transportation? |
You can get Transitional Transportation if:
- You are working and can't get TANF any longer because you
started earning too much money to qualify for TANF.
- You are working and can't get TANF/UP (unemployed parent
benefit) any longer because you started working too many hours to qualify for
TANF/UP.
- You were getting TANF/IC (incapacitated parent benefit) and you lost
TANF because you are now working more than 20 hours per week.
| Can I get this benefit if I go off of TANF before DHHS finds me ineligible? |
No. You must wait until you get a notice that DHHS is
closing your grant because of one of the reasons listed about. If you
volunteer to go off of TANF because you know you earned too much, for example,
you will not be able to get Transitional Transportation.
| How do I apply for Transitional Transportation? |
When your TANF grant is closed, DHHS should notify you
about Transitional Transportation benefits. You must tell your worker that you want this
benefit within 30 days of getting the notice.
If you don't appeal within 30 days, you may still be able to get this benefit, but you
must be able to show that you had a good reason for not making the request on time.
| When will I get Transitional Transportation Benefits? |
The Transitional Transportation benefit
covers your transportation cost for the first 12 months after you get your last TANF check.
The benefit is given as 4 lump sum payments in the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th months. For example, if
you got your last TANF check in May, you could get Transitional Transportation checks in
August and November, and February and May of the next year.
| How much help will I get? |
If your TANF household's gross earnings are 125% of the poverty
level or less, you can get 24 cents per mile, up to $10.00 per
day.
If your income is between 126% and 185%
of the poverty level, you can get 12 cents a mile up to
$5.00 per day.
If your income is over 185% of the
poverty level, you can get 6 cents a mile up to $1.00 per
day.
To estimate which income category you are
in, see the chart below.
Mileage is measured as the most direct
route to and from your job. It includes any extra mileage to your child care provider or
to pick up any car-pool passengers. You don't have to drive your own car to work to get this benefit; you
only have to incur a travel expense (for example: riding the bus or paying a car-pool driver).
| What do I do if I'm denied Transitional Transportation or disagree with
the amount DHHS gives me? |
You have the right to a fair hearing
if you disagree with any decision DHHS makes. You have a
right to legal counsel at your fair hearing. Call your nearest
Pine Tree Legal office
if you have questions about your benefit or want help with your fair hearing.
FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVELS
The following dollar amounts are based on the
federal poverty level published in the Federal Register. The amounts will be changed
whenever the Federal Poverty Level is adjusted (February of each
year).
Monthly Levels
Family Size |
100% of Poverty Level |
125% of Poverty Level |
133% of Poverty Level |
185% of Poverty Level |
1 |
$867 |
$1,084 |
$1,153 |
$1,604 |
2 |
$1,167 |
$1,459 |
$1,552 |
$2,159 |
3 |
$1,467 |
$1,834 |
$1,951 |
$2,714 |
4 |
$1,767 |
$2,209 |
$2,350 |
$3,269 |
5 |
$2,067 |
$2,584 |
$2,749 |
$3,824 |
6 |
$2,367 |
$2,959 |
$3,148 |
$4,379 |
7 |
$2,667 |
$3,334 |
$3,547 |
$4,934 |
8 |
$2,967 |
$3,709 |
$3,946 |
$5,489 |
Each Additional Person |
$300 |
$375 |
$399 |
$555 |
|
Notice
Prepared by Pine Tree
Legal Assistance
July 2005
Sometimes the laws
change. We cannot promise that this information is always
up-to-date and correct. If the date above is not this year,
call us to see if there is an update.
We provide this
information as a public service. It is not legal advice.
By sending you this information, we are not acting as your lawyer.
Always consult a lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.
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