cafcacalculator.cafca.orgBenefits Calculator ABC

Benefits Calculator > ABC FAQs Glossary of Programs Glossary of Terms Language / Idioma : English Español WELCOME! HOW DOES ABC WORK? By answering just a few questions you can see if you may be able to get help with groceries, school lunches, your doctor bills, medication, heating costs, or even money for your day to day expenses. There are many state and federal human service programs available for people who live in Connecticut. You may be eligible for the help you need. Based on the information you provide, ABC will help you start the process on how to receive benefits. This includes connecting you to local resources to assist you in completing applications for help. To continue with ABC please enter your e-mail address, telephone number and zip code. IT'S CONFIDENTIAL Any information you provide will be used only to contact you to begin your application process. This information is confidential and will not be stored or shared with any other sources. KEEP IN MIND that ABC (Automated Benefits Calculator) does not determine exact eligibility but it will give you a very good idea of benefits available for you. And it really is ... As Easy As ABC! HINT If there are other adults in your home, we strongly recommend that they also complete the ABC questionnaire. This way, you and the people you live with are given the broadest range of opportunities to get the help you need. Let’s get started! Let’s Get Started! Please provide the following information: First Name: Last Name: Zip code: And one of the following: (at least one is required) E-mail: Telephone #: Glossary of Terms A - G | H - N | O - U | V - Z Able to Work: In order to NOT be able to work you must qualify as one of the following: Unemployable: Determined by the Department’s disability examiners to have a physical and/or mental impairment (or combination or impairments) that will prevent employment for six months or more. The medical impairment criteria are identical to those used in the SSI and Medicaid programs, adjusted for duration and severity. Individuals may also qualify as unemployable for the following documentable non-medical reasons: under age 16; over age 65; over age 55 and no work history in the previous 5 years; full-time high school student; needed in the home to care for an incapacitated spouse or child; needed in the home to care for a child under age 2; or, pending receipt of a state or federal means-tested program, e.g., State Supplement or TFA. Short-Term Transitional: Medical documentation of inability to work for 2 – 6 months. Must have a recent work history in order to qualify under this category (earned at least $500 in 3 of the last 5 calendar quarters, or was eligible to collect Unemployment Compensation during the previous six months). Long-Term Transitional: Medical documentation of inability to work for six months or more. No work history required; however, all cases are referred to the Department’s disability examiners for a review of being unemployable. Assets: Resources such as: Savings and Checking Accounts 401k plans Stocks Bonds Mutual Funds Trust Funds Certificates of Deposits (CDs) Money market accounts Any real estate property owned other than your home Cash value of life insurance Blind: To qualify as blind, an individual must meet the criteria of the Social Security Disability program, or the Connecticut State Board of Education and Services for the Blind. Boarder: A person who rents a room in your home, receives meals from you, and pays you either weekly or monthly. Child Support: The amount of money the people in your home pay for legally obligated child support for children who do not live in your home. Disability: An individual: with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; with a record of such impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment. Documented Non-Citizen: A documented non-citizen is a person who is not a US citizen and is living in the United States with legal right or permission. A Green Card is evidence of lawful permanent resident status in the United States. Earned Income: Earned income is any money earned from any kind of job including self employment. This also includes any rent or money received from a roomer and or a roomer/boarder. Federal Poverty Level (FPL): The Federal Poverty Level are income amounts determined by the US Department of Health and Human Services; used as a measure to determine if a person or family is eligible for assistance through various federal programs. 2011-2012 POVERTY GUIDELINES* ALL STATES (EXCEPT ALASKA AND HAWAII) AND D.C. MONTHLY GUIDELINES FAMILY PERCENT OF POVERTY GUIDELINE Size 100% 120% 133% 135% 150% 175% 185% 200% 250% 1 $1,073.33 $1,288.00 $1,427.53 $1,449.00 $1,610.00 $1,878.33 $1,985.67 $2,146.67 $2,683.33 2 $1,451.67 $1,742.00 $1,930.72 $1,959.75 $2,177.50 $2,540.42 $2,685.58 $2,903.33 $3,629.17 3 $1,830.00 $2,196.00 $2,433.90 $2,470.50 $2,745.00 $3,202.50 $3,385.50 $3,660.00 $4,575.00 4 $2,208.33 $2,650.00 $2,937.08 $2,981.25 $3,312.50 $3,864.58 $4,085.42 $4,416.67 $5,520.83 5 $2,586.67 $3,104.00 $3,440.27 $3,492.00 $3,880.00 $4,526.67 $4,785.33 $5,173.33 $6,466.67 6 $2,965.00 $3,558.00 $3,943.45 $4,002.75 $4,447.50 $5,188.75 $5,485.25 $5,930.00 $7,412.50 7 $3,343.33 $4,012.00 $4,446.63 $4,513.50 $5,015.00 $5,850.83 $6,185.17 $6,686.67 $8,358.33 8 $3,721.67 $4,466.00 $4,949.82 $5,024.25 $5,582.50 $6,512.92 $6,885.08 $7,443.33 $9,304.17 9 $4,100.00 $4,920.00 $5,453.00 $5,535.00 $6,150.00 $7,175.00 $7,585.00 $8,200.00 $10,250.00 10 $4,478.33 $5,374.00 $5,956.18 $6,045.75 $6,717.50 $7,837.08 $8,284.92 $8,956.67 $11,195.83 Gross Income: Gross Income is your combined earned and unearned income before taxes and other deductions are taken out. Home: A house or apartment where people who may or may not be related live together. Medical Expenses: Prescriptions Equipment Rentals Health Insurance Premiums Deductibles Any out-of-pocket medical-related expense Medicare: Medicare is a federally funded health insurance program administered by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. There are four parts: Medicare Part A: hospital insurance which is free to anyone ages 65+, or under age 65 with a disability, if they have earned enough work credits to qualify. There are deductibles and co-pays Medicare Part B medical insurance helps cover doctors' services, outpatient care, home health care, and some preventive services. There is a monthly premium and deductibles and co-pays for Medicare B; low income eligible individuals can have these expenses paid by a Medicare Savings Program. Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage Plans is a health coverage option offered by private insurance companies. To join a Part C plan, a person must be enrolled in Parts A and B and continue to pay the Part B premium. Part C plans require enrollees to get their medical care through the plan's network of providers. Medicare Part D Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage helps cover prescription drugs. Part D plans are offered by private insurance companies. Part D has premiums, deductibles and co-pays. Low income individuals can apply for Extra Help, also known as Part D low income subsidy (LIS), to help pay these costs. Relationships: Husband or Wife: Someone who is legally recognized by the state of CT as one of the partners in a married couple. Parent: A biological or legal guardian. Step-Parent: A non-biological parent through marriage. Child: A biological or legal child. Step-Child: A non-biological child through marriage. Foster Child: A child who is cared for by a person other than the parents, through an order of the court. It is not a formal adoption. The biological parents still have parental rights. Foster parents receive a monthly allowance from DCF (Department of Children and Families) to cover the child's needs. Relative: A biological or legal relative. Non Relative: Someone of no biological or legal relation. Roomer: A pers...