• State and Local Hospitalization reimburses hospitals for inpatient and outpatient care for low-income County residents who are not eligible for Medicaid. Funding for the program varies, generally averaging 75 percent state and 25 percent County, with only the local share appearing in the County budget. The state allocates the amount of funding annually with the local share changing based on availability of state funds.

• Auxiliary Grants provides payment for the custodial care of low income aged, disabled, or blind adults living in licensed adult care homes. Clients are County residents who now reside in licensed homes throughout the state. Grants are paid monthly to cover the costs above the client's income. Recipients also receive Medicaid. The funding ratio is 80 percent state and 20 percent County.

STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDED PROGRAMS:

• The Refugee Assistance Program assists refugees with their expenses for eight months while they resettle in the United States and work towards becoming self-sufficient. The program provides a basic grant for newly arrived refugees, mostly single adults, who do not qualify for assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Medicaid benefits are automatically provided to persons included in the grant. This program is 100% federally funded.

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides financial support to families where minor children live in the home of a parent(s) or relative who is unable to provide adequately for their needs. Assistance can be provided for children up to age 18 and to their parents or other needy related caretakers in the home. As part of the Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare (VIEW), parents of children are required to actively participate in employment activities unless they meet strictly defined exemption criteria. There is a two-year time limit to receive assistance for those not exempt from the work requirement, followed by a two year disqualification period. Other families are encouraged to obtain Arlington Employment Center services that promote self-sufficiency. TANF provides a monthly grant. Families are generally eligible for Medicaid. Caseloads and applications are expected to remain stable. Total state and federal expenditures are estimated at $1,225,887 and are paid directly by the state to the clients. Funding is state and federal.
  
  

  Maximum Monthly Income Limits:
  Number of Persons Receiving the Grant	Non-VIEW	VIEW Single- Parent Families	VIEW Two-Parent Families	Maximum Monthly Benefit
  1 person	$450	$739	$1,108	$242
  2 persons	$605	$995	$1,493	$323
  3 persons	$727	$1,252	$1,878	$389

• The Food Stamp Program provides additional food purchasing power to low income County residents. Benefits are provided through the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) statewide issuance method. Each household receives a debit card which is credited monthly with their food stamp benefit. The income levels and the deductions given are adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index. In FY 2004, a total of $3,630,802 in Food Stamp benefits were issued to County residents. Benefits are 100% federal.

  	Maximum Gross Monthly Income	Maximum Monthly Benefit
  1 person	$1,009	$149
  2 persons	$1,354	$274

• Medicaid provides medical insurance for low-income residents who are aged, blind, disabled, pregnant, and for children up to 19 years old. The program covers prescription drugs, physician's visits, in-patient and outpatient hospital care, nursing home, transportation, and preventive care. Medicaid also pays for part B Medicare premiums, co-payments and deductibles. Medicaid income and resource guidelines, as well as services covered vary with the category of Medicaid received. Medicaid expenditures on behalf of County residents in FY 2004 were $52,832,157. Medicaid expenditures do not flow through the County budget.

• The Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan (FAMIS) This program provides medical coverage for low-income children without health benefits, with income less than 200% of Federal Poverty Level. Intake for this program may be handled by the local agencies, with the continuing case management handled by the state vendor.

• The Energy Assistance Program pays a portion of primary fuel and cooling costs for eligible households. Payments are made directly to the vendor by the state and are based on family income and size. The program paid $79,547 for Arlington County residents in FY 2004. This funding does not flow through the County budget. Funding is 100% federal.

SIGNIFICANT BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS:

• Public Assistance Expenditures and Revenues decrease due to reductions in Prescription Medication Program ($147,000) and General Relief ($94,016), partially offset by increases in Auxiliary Grants ($9,605) and State and Local Hospitalization ($3,112).

• State Share revenue reimbursement from the Virginia Department of Social Services increases based on the departmental allocation of projected funds.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

• Internal standards for timely application processing are 90% for all programs except for the Food Stamp Program, which is state-mandated at 97%.

• Customer Survey begins January, 2005.

COUNTY FUNDED PROGRAMS:

Housing Grants Program

• In FY 2004 the program began serving priority populations only with emphasis on households with transitional and supportive housing needs which lowered the number of Housing Grant applications.

• In FY 2006 20% of the budget remains targeted to Working Families.

• The number of clients who can be served within the FY 2006 budget decreases because the cost of serving each household increases as rents rise.

Prescription Medication Program (PMP)

• Effects of the new Medicare drug benefit are anticipated to lower the need for PMP starting in mid-FY 2005.

• The percentage of need met is equal to the number of clients served divided by the number of clients served in addition to those on the waiting list.

Real Estate Tax Relief Program

Ambulance Relief

STATE and COUNTY FUNDED PROGRAMS:

General Relief

• In FY 2006 the cost of the medical components are expected to cause expenditures to rise slightly.

• The General Relief emergency component is projected to have a lower cost per client than in the FY 2005 budget.

State and Local Hospitalization

Auxiliary Grants

• Auxiliary Grant numbers fluctuate annually as use of adult care homes changes for Arlington residents.

STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDED PROGRAMS:

Refugee Assistance Program

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Food Stamp Program

Medicaid

• Caseload increase is attributable to a grant received in FY 2004 from Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services to provide outreach and retention services for applicants and recipients of Children's Medical Health Insurance (FAMIS and Medicaid).

The Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan (FAMIS)

Energy Assistance Program