Payments to Territories – Adults

To provide aid in the form of cash benefits for food, clothing, shelter, and/or other essentials to the aged, blind, and the permanently disabled in Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Certified territorial welfare agencies in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam are eligible and 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 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 be determined blind to receive aid to the blind; or must be at least 18 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.

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.

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 the disabled.