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PAL Benefits
(Preparation for Adult Living)
Benefits
for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care to Adult Living
This assistance is coordinated
through the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) Program
of Child Protective Services.
1) Transitional Living
Allowance (up to $1,000 to be distributed in
increments not to exceed $500 per month)
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Must have been in FPS paid
foster or Medicaid-paid substitute care within the
24 months prior to initiating the allowance;
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Must be a U.S. citizen or
qualified alien;
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Must have completed at
least five hours of training in each of five of the
six PAL life skills core elements, one of which must
be Money Management (Any substitution of training
hours or variance must be approved by the regional
PAL supervisor);
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Must be making or have
made a planned move into an independent living
arrangement, or a supervised or semi-supervised
setting;
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Must not be living with a
designated perpetrator while receiving assistance;
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Must be employed, be
actively seeking employment (for those youth who are
able to work), be enrolled and attending school or
college, or be receiving prevocational or vocational
training services; and
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Must provide all
information required by regional CPS staff.
Note: All payments must be
made by the young adult's 21st birthday.
Participation in PAL training
or services, while strongly encouraged, is not required
for the following three benefits:
2) Aftercare Room and Board
Assistance (based on need, up to $500 per month
with a total cap of $3,000 of accumulated payments per
young adult; variances may be considered in emergency or
special circumstances.)
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Must be between 18 and 21
years of age;
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Must be a U.S. citizen or
qualified alien;
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Must have aged out of
foster care at age 18 or older (FPS conservatorship
and control must have been maintained until age 18);
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Must be in an educational
program, be employed or actively seeking employment
(for those who are able to work), or be receiving
prevocational or vocational training services; and
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Must prove financial need.
Note: Some time-limited exceptions may be made in
special medical or emergency situations.
3) Transitional Medicaid
[a provision of federal (Chafee Foster Care Independence
Act) and Texas State Law]
You are eligible for
continuous Medicaid coverage through the month of your
21st birthday if:
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You have aged out of foster care at age 18 or older
You are a current Texas resident between 18 and 21
years of age
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You are a U.S. citizen, a legal permanent resident,
or other qualified alien
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You have no private comprehensive medical insurance
through a family member or work, or other Medicaid
coverage through SSI, TANF, or another HHSC
(formerly the Department of Human Services, or DHS)
Medicaid program
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Your total resources are
valued at less than $10,000
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Your income is below 400
percent of the current federal poverty level for one
person, which is $3104 per month for 2005. To obtain
federal poverty levels, go to www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/
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Must call the DHS
Centralized Benefits Section at 1-800-248-1078, and
ask to speak to the following individuals about
Medicaid for young people transitioning from foster
care. You must call for annual re-certification and
to report change of address. Information may be
faxed to (512) 908-9515.
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Jordan ext. 8126
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Shane ext. 8145
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Dody ext. 8131
4) Tuition and Fee Waiver
(for Higher Education)
(a provision of Texas State
Law, Section 54.211 of the Texas Education Code. While
U.S. citizenship or qualified alien status is not
required, it is strongly encouraged as young adults
without such status will have difficulty obtaining any
federal financial assistance at college.)
To be exempt from the payment of tuition and
fees at a Texas state supported institution of higher
education, the youth must:
a) Have been in FPS
conservatorship in foster or other residential care on
or after:
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the day preceding the 18th birthday;
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the day the youth graduated from high school or
received the equivalent of a high school diploma; or
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the day of the youth's
14th birthday, if the youth was eligible for
adoption (parental rights being terminated) on or
after that day; and
b) Enroll in an
institution of higher education as an undergraduate
student not later than:
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the third anniversary of the date the student was
discharged from the foster or other residential
care, the date the student graduated from high
school, or the date the student received the
equivalent of a high school diploma,
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the student's 21st birthday.
Note: Youth who meet
requirements and are adopted at age 14 or eligible for
adoption at age 14 and older are eligible.
5) Texas Education and
Training Voucher Program (ETV):
The
Education and Training Voucher Program will allow Texas
to help youth make a smoother transition to
self-sufficiency and independence by providing funding
that will help youth receive education, training and
services not covered by another funding source.
For an application, contact one of the following:
The youth’s PAL
Coordinator:
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Rebecca Daniel (817-255-2311)
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Melissa Fogg (214-370-9300 ext 28)
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Chris Milton (972-221-3910)
ETV Program
Specialist:
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David Smith at 512-438-3144.
6) The Texas Youth
Hotline:
The Texas Youth Hotline is a
resource for youth who are under 21 years of age,
including those who have aged out of the foster care
system. Youth may contact the statewide hotline at
1-800-210-2278 for telephone counseling and information
and referrals. The hotline can help young adults locate
services available in their communities.
Region 03 Specifics: (19 counties in N. Central TX)
a) Transitional Living Allowance (TLA) - The
allowance is given through a series of monthly checks
and may not exceed $500 per month. The total
allowance for TLAs is $1000.
b) Tuition Waiver
Letter - The youth must contact their PAL Coordinator to
request this letter one month or more before enrolling
in college or vocational school. The following
information will be needed for the letter:
c) Driver's Education -
Driver's education may be paid for if funds are
available. If funds are not available, youth may check
with their caseworker for possible resources that may
assist with payment of Driver's Education.
d) Books and Supplies - Youth should apply to
the Texas Education and Training Voucher Program (ETV)
to have books and supplies paid for. The ETV application
can only be submitted after youth is actually enrolled.
e) Wednesday's Child Benefit Corporation - A
$1500 scholarship may be available each year through
Wednesday's Child Benefit Corporation (WCBC) for youths
who have completes the PAL program and plan to continue
their education at a four-year, two-year or technical
college. Scholarship applications are available through
the PAL office. The application must be completed and
returned to the youth's PAL Coordinator in time to reach
the WCBC office no later than June 1st of each year
preceding the fall enrollment. Scholarships are based on
a fall, spring and summer schedule. The funds are
divided in to $500 payments for each term and sent
directly to the Financial Aid office of the school. Some
adjustments can be made if youth is attending a
technical school that is not on a tri-semester program. |
