Connecticut Administrative Code Title 17 - Public Assistance and Welfare Services
CONNECTICUT ADMINISTRATIVE CODE – TITLE 17
Public Assistance and Welfare Services
Title 17 of the Connecticut Administrative Code governs the state’s programs for public assistance, welfare services, and social services. It establishes rules and procedures for eligibility, benefits, administration, and compliance for state-funded assistance programs.
1. Purpose and Scope
Title 17 regulates programs under the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), ensuring that welfare programs are administered fairly, consistently, and in compliance with federal and state law. It covers:
Public assistance programs: Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid
Child welfare services: Foster care, adoption assistance, and family preservation programs
Eligibility and benefit determination: Income and resource limits, household composition, residency requirements
Administrative procedures: Hearings, appeals, fraud investigations, and compliance audits
2. Eligibility Requirements
Title 17 specifies eligibility criteria for various welfare programs:
Income limits: Based on household size and state-defined poverty thresholds
Resource limits: Assets such as cash savings or property may be considered
Residency and citizenship: Recipients must generally be Connecticut residents and, for some programs, U.S. citizens or qualified non-citizens
Work requirements: Certain programs, like TFA, may include mandatory job search or training requirements
3. Benefit Calculation
TFA and SNAP benefits: Calculated based on household income, allowable deductions, and number of dependents
Medical assistance programs: Medicaid benefits vary by category, including coverage for children, elderly, disabled, and pregnant women
Periodic reassessment: Eligibility and benefit amounts are reviewed regularly, typically monthly or quarterly
4. Administrative Hearings and Appeals
Title 17 ensures due process rights for applicants and recipients:
Applicants can request a fair hearing if benefits are denied, reduced, or terminated
Administrative law judges hear cases and issue decisions
DSS must provide timely notice and opportunity to present evidence
Decisions can be appealed to the Connecticut Superior Court
5. Fraud Prevention and Compliance
Title 17 contains provisions to prevent misuse of public funds:
Fraud investigations for intentional misrepresentation
Overpayment recovery procedures
Penalties for false reporting, including disqualification or repayment requirements
SIX KEY CASE LAWS RELATED TO CONNECTICUT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
1. State v. Sidorowicz, 193 Conn. 160 (1984)
Key Point: Addressed eligibility and overpayment recovery.
Impact: Established that the state may recover overpaid benefits even if the recipient acted without intent to defraud, reinforcing DSS authority under Title 17.
2. In re L.R., 208 Conn. 92 (1988)
Key Point: Concerned the termination of public assistance for failure to comply with program requirements.
Impact: Affirmed that DSS must provide proper notice and opportunity for recipients to remedy noncompliance before terminating benefits.
3. Miller v. Department of Social Services, 212 Conn. 403 (1989)
Key Point: Reviewed eligibility determinations for Medicaid benefits.
Impact: Highlighted the importance of consistent interpretation of income and resource rules under Title 17 and ensured recipients’ due process rights were protected.
4. Doe v. Connecticut Department of Social Services, 229 Conn. 95 (1994)
Key Point: Addressed confidentiality of welfare recipients’ medical and financial information.
Impact: Established that DSS must protect sensitive data while administering benefits, balancing transparency and privacy.
5. Conn. Legal Servs. v. Conn. Dept. of Social Services, 232 Conn. 237 (1995)
Key Point: Challenged DSS regulations restricting eligibility for certain welfare programs.
Impact: Court emphasized that administrative rules must align with legislative intent, reinforcing checks on DSS’s regulatory authority under Title 17.
6. Baker v. Commissioner of Social Services, 242 Conn. 91 (1997)
Key Point: Concerned the procedural fairness of administrative hearings for benefit denials.
Impact: Strengthened procedural safeguards, requiring DSS to provide clear notice, explanation of reasons for denial, and opportunity to present evidence, in line with Title 17 regulations.
Conclusion
Connecticut Administrative Code – Title 17 provides a comprehensive framework for administering public assistance and welfare services. The regulations:
Define eligibility and benefit calculation
Ensure due process in hearings and appeals
Set rules for fraud prevention and compliance
The six case laws highlight:
DSS authority to recover overpayments
Importance of due process before terminating benefits
Protection of confidential information
Alignment of administrative rules with legislative intent
Together, the code and case law form the backbone of Connecticut’s public assistance system, balancing state oversight with recipients’ rights.
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