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The Hyde County
Department of Social Services has twenty full-time employees and one
part-time employee, along with a contract employee who is a Social Worker
for Ocracoke.
The Hyde County
Department of Social Services consists of four units: the Administrative
Unit; the Income Maintenance Unit; the Children Services; and Adult
Services.
INCOME
MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
The Work First Program
assists families to achieve self-sufficiency so they can support themselves
and provide for their children. Work First promotes personal responsibility
and employment.
In Work First, one parent
must be sick or injured, absent from the home or unemployed and the family
must also meet income and resource rules to qualify for assistance. Work
First Family Assistance provide employment services and other supportive
services such as child support services, Medicaid, food stamps and a monthly
check to families with children under the age of 18.
Work First Benefits
Diversion is an alternative to the Family Assistance. Under this program a
family is provided a one-time cash payment of up to three months of Work
First Family Assistance benefits. Cash payments stop after this one check as
do the other services such as Medicaid, food stamps, and childcare. While
the Benefit Diversion is not appropriate for all families, it provides
immediate help to families who are unemployed or between jobs. Its purpose
is to help families needing only one-time temporary assistance.
FOOD STAMP
PROGRAM
The Food Stamp Program
helps low-income families or individuals purchase foods. Families must meet
income, resource, citizenship, and work rules. Persons who buy and cook
their food separately from other living with them may be able to apply as a
separate household. Eligible households receive coupons to buy food every
month.
EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE
There are two parts of
Emergency Assistance – Cash and Services. The cash part pays up to $300.00
once a year to help families in an emergency pay overdue bills such as rent
and utilities. This money does not have to be paid back if Work First Family
assistance is applied for. The Services part provides child protective
services, counseling, treatment, family preservation, and other services.
LOW INCOME
ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIEAP)
LIEAP pays a check once a
year to eligible low-income households to help with their heating bills.
Applications are taken in October and November. Many families getting food
stamps receive this check automatically, without a separate application.
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (Medicaid)
The Medicaid program
helps families or individuals with medical bills such as doctor fees,
prescription drugs, hospital charges and home care. Persons who get
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Work First Family Assistance, or
State/County Special Assistance (SA) also get Medicaid. SSI receipients do
not have to apply at the County Department of Social Services to get
Medicaid. Other persons may also get Medicaid, as there are several types of
Medicaid. All have income limits and some have resource limits. Check with
the Department for more information.
STATE/COUNTY SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
TO ADULTS (SA)
This program provides
assistance to persons living in adult care homes (rest homes) who are in
financial need and who are age 65 or older, or who are between the ages of
18 and 65 and are disabled or blind. There are income and resource limits.
If you qualify for SA, you will get a monthly check to help pay for your
cost of care and a Medicare card. The adult care home will also receive a
payment from the Medicaid Program to cover one hour of personal care
services per day for you.
SERVICES
PROGRAMS
The following is a list
of Services Programs and a brief description of each:
As you can see, there are
many programs available to help individuals and families in a time of need.
Please call or visit the Hyde County Department of Social Services for more
information.
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