Resolution 115-1976
RESOLUTION NO~15_l976
'iillEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe
County, Florida, through its County Social Services Department,
has been rendering certain services to indigent citizens of
Monroe County, Florida, under the direction of said Board of
County COlnmissioners, and
WHEREAS, in order to facilitate the operation of said
service department, said Board of County Commissioners desires
to adopt rules and regulations and guidelines for providing social
services through said social services department, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY CO~ft1ISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that it hereby adopts the following rules
and regulations for the administration and rendering of social
services for the indigents of Monroe County, Florida.
GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE DEPARTMENT
SECTION 125.01 (4) FLORIDA STATUTES, IMPOSES UPON THE
COUNTIES TO HAVE CARE AND PROVIDE FOR THE POOR AND INDIGENT PEOPLE
OF THE COUNTY. ARTICLE 13, SECTION 3, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF
1885, \>JHICH IS NOW A STATUTE, READS IN PART: "THE RESPECTIVE
COUNTIES OF THE STATE SHALL PROVIDE IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED BY
LAW FOR THOSE OF THE INHABITANTS 1mO, BY REASON OF AGE, INFIID1ITY
OR MISFORTUNE, MAY HAVE CLAIMS UPON THE AID AND SY~ATHY OF
SOCIETY. . ." HISTORICALLY, THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY IS VIE\'TED
AS CARING FOR AND SUPPORTING NEEDY PERSONS FROM ~NHOM THE STATE,
CHAPTER 409, GENERAL STATUTES, HAS ~1ADE NO SPECIAL PROVISION, THE
NATURE AND EXTENT OF RESPONSIBILITY RELATES REALISTICALLY TO THE
NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, THE EXTENT OF NEED OF EACH ELIGIBLE
APPLICANT AND TO BUDGETARY AVAILABILITY; CONTINUING EFFORTS ARE
MADE TO PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE POSSIBLE TO MEET THE MINI-
MUM NEEDS CONSISTENT WITH HEALTH AND DECENCY STANDARDS; AT THE
SAME TIME, THE RIGHT TO ASSISTANCE CARRIES WITH IT THE DEFINITE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAXIMUM SELF-SUPPORT, ~1AXIMUM SELF-DIRECTION
AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN PLANS FOR REHABILITATION.
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RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE
MONROE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
THIS IS A COUNTY WELFARE AGENCY THAT OFFERS EMERGENCY OR
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE BASICALLY FOR AGED AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
WHILE ASSISTANCE OF A MORE PERMANENT NATURE IS PENDING. AN APPLI-
CANT RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
IS INELIGIBLE FOR COUNTY ASSISTANCE, UNLESS A SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT
EXISTS THAT IS OF AN EMERGENCY NATURE AND NOT OTHERWISE AVAILABLE.
HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN CAN BE CONSIDERED FOR ASSISTANCE IF AN
EXTENUATING CIRCm.ffiTANCE BEYOND THEIR CONTROL EXISTS AND CAN BE
VERIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
1.
Eligibility:
The vendor payment services hereinafter
set forth will be available to those individuals eligible for
county assistance. Eligiblity will be based on the following in-
come guidelines:
INCOME GUIDELINES
Number of Household
Monthly Income
Annual Income
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
$208.33
$291.66
$333.33
$375.00
$416.66
$458.33
$500.00
$541.66
$583.33
$625.00
$2500.00
$3500.00
$4000.00
$4500.00
$5000.00
$5500.00
$6000.00
$6500.00
$7000.00
$7500.00
Any cases not coming within the above income guidelines,
the Director may recommend approval of said eligibility for approval
by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida.
2, Services to be Delivered or Rendered to Indigents:
a. Food & Dietary - Emergency Food order for no
more than three days to be provided by participating local grocery
stores.
b. Shelter - Emergency payment of rent for exten-
sively disabled or aged individuals who are not receiving assistance
from any other agency. AN EXTENSIVE DISABILITY IS DEFINED AS ANY
MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC CONDITION WHICH HAS OR WILL INCAPACITATE
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THE APPLICANT FOR AT LEAST 6 WEEKS. APPLICANTS MUST FURNISH THE
DEPARTMENT WITH WRITTEN VERIFICATION FROM A DOCTOR TO ESTABLISH
THEIR DISABILITY STATUS. AN AGED INDIVIDUAL IS DEFINED AS ANY
PERSON OVER THE AGE OF 60. AGE MUST BE VERIFIED BY EITHER PROPER
IDENTIFICATION, DOCUMENTS, OR BY CONTACTING OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES
SUCH AS THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.
c. Utilities - Emergency payment of utilities
(electricity, water, and cooking fuel) for extensively disabled
or aged individuals who are not receiving assistance from any other
agency.
d. Clothing - Emergency clothing for households or
individuals who are victims of disasters.
e. Transportation - Transportation to be provided
by public transportation. THE DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE A ONE-WAY
NON-REFUNDABLE BUS TICKET ONLY TO THE NEAREST COUNTY. AN EXCEPTION
TO THIS POLICY CAN BE MADE TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO A FURTHER
DESTINATION BASED ON VERIFIED NEED AND EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES
IN A CASE.
f. Pauper Burials - Burial services provided by
participating funeral homes for verified paupers for the sum of
$175.00 for each burial. IN CASES OF UNCLAIMED DECEDENTS A
RELEASE FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT MUST BE OBTAINED BEFORE THE
DEPARTMENT WILL APPROVE A COUNTY PAUPER BURIAL. REIMBURSEMENT TO
THE COUNTY FOR BURIAL EXPENSES WILL BE SOUGHT THROUGH THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION FOR ANY DECEDENT ~ffiO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR
THE LUMP-SUM DEATH BENEFIT.
g. Physicians Services - Medical treatment for
CHRONIC OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL CONDITIONS to be provided by local
participating physicians who accept payment based on 80% of their
customary charges for county indigents. THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS
CAN BE CONSIDERED:
1. BLEEDING
2. HIGH FEVER
3. VOMITING
4. SEVERE PAIN
5. BROKEN BONES
6. SEVERELY ILL
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h. Drugs - Purchase of prescriptioned medications
on a monthly basis for aged and disabled individuals and temporary
assistance for medicines where the individual's circumstances
justifies the expenditure. THE DEPARTl1ENT CAN ALLOW UP TO A
$25.00 MONTHLY MEDICINE ALLOWANCE AT PARTICIPATING DRUGSTORES TO
APPLICANTS ELIGIBLE FOR THIS SERVICE. A LARGER ALLOWANCE FOR MEDI-
CINE CAN BE CONSIDERED IF NEED AND EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES CAN BE
VERIFIED. HOWEVER, LARGER ALLOWANCES OF THIS NATURE WILL ONLY BE
APPROVED ON A ONE MONTH OR TEMPORARY BASIS.
i. Medical Supplies - Purchase of medical supplies
such as bandages, dressings, syringes, etc. which are not included
as prescriptioned medication for county indigents.
j. Out-Patient Services - payment for out-patient
treatment at participating local hospitals such as emergency room
services, x-ray and laboratory services for eligible individuals.
k. Ambulance Payment for ambulance services pro-
vided by local participating ambulance c~mpanies for county indi-
gents such as transfers to nursing homes and emergency ambulance
services to treatment centers.
1. In-patient Hospital Services - Payment for emer-
gency or urgent hospitalization at participating local or out-of-
county hospitals for county indigents. HOSPITALIZATION SERVICES
IS PROVIDED FOR THE ACUTELY ILL OR INJURED PERSON WITH AN URGENT
ILLNESS WHO MAY RESPOND TO SHORT-TERM REMEDIAL TREATMENT, THE POST-
PONEMENT OF WHICH MAY CONSTITUTE A HAZARD TO THE PATIENT'S LIFE OR
WOULD CAUSE UNDUE SUFFERING. THE DEPARTMENT WILL INITIALLY APPROVE
A MAXIMUM HOSPITAL STAY OF 15 DAYS AT THE CURRENT MEDICAID PER
DIEM RATE OR ACCORDING TO COUNTY CONTRACT. FURTHER EXTENSION FOR
HOSPITALIZATION CAN BE CONSIDERED UPON PROPER VERIFICATION OF THE
MEDICAL NECESSITY FOR SUCH AN EXTENDED PERIOD. ANY CASE REQUIRING
MORE THAN 30 DAYS IN-PATIENT CARE WITHIN A 12 MONTH PERIOD WILL BE
SUBJECT TO PRIOR APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
THOSE CERTIFIED FOR MEDICARE OR MEDICAID ARE EXCLUDED FROM THIS
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PROGRAM INASMUCH AS THE COUNTY IS ALREADY CONTRIBUTING TO THE STATE'S
MEDICAID PROGRfu~.
m. Nursing Home Care - Payment for nursing home care
at an extended care center for individuals not entitled to Medicaid
Assistance and who cannot afford the entire cost of nursing home
care. THE DEPARTMENT WILL APPROVE rOUNTY PAYMENT TO NURSING HOME AT THE
STATE APPROVED MEDICAID RATE.
FAMILY CONTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER RE-
SOURCES, WHEN AVAILABLE WILL BE EXHAUSTED BEFORE COUNTY PAYMENT WILL
BE CONSIDERED.
3. Regulations and Guidelines for Qualified Indigents:
,
a. The Monroe County Social Services Department
shall supervise the administration of the general assistance pro-
gram in the County of Monroe, rendering emergency and/or temporary
services while assistance of a more permanent nature is pending.
The Department shall also be responsible for the cooperation and
close coordination with other agencies; defining and determining
the basic needs of clients; and making every effort to adequately
correct such needs. General supervision shall be provided by the
Social Services Director. Full use of existing public service
agencies and private agencies will be exhausted before county funds
are expended. The social services listed herein are offered to
individuals who are determined eligible by the Department according
to their income and ability to pay by taking the person's family
circumstances into consideration.
VERIFICATION OF INDIGENCY WILL BE EXERCISED WITH TACT
AND WITHOUT OFFENDING THE APPLICANT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS DEPART-
MENT WILL ALWAYS BE TO ASSIST THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING SERVICES
TO THOSE CITIZENS THEREIN WHO ARE IN NEED.
b. Individuals who are eligible based on the income
standards passed by the Board of County Commissioners will be
authorized for vendor payment services. There may be unusual cir-
cumstances in which case the Director may use his or her discretion
in giving one-time emergency assistance subject to approval by
the Board of County Commissioners.
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c. APPLICANTS REQUESTING THE LISTED SOCIAL SERVICES
FROM THE DEPARTMENT MUST BE WILLING TO COMPLETE AN APPLICATION AND
BE INTERVIEWED BY ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S SOCIAL WORKERS. Appli-
cants must be willing to verify all income and show written medical
proof of any disability which would make them unable to work. If
they are able to wor~ they must be registered at the Florida State
Employment Service, and be actively seeking employment. ACTIVELY
SEEKING EMPLOYMENT IS DEFINED AS A PERSON WHO CHECKS IN AT LEAST
ONCE A WEEK WITH THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AND WHO DOES NOT REFUSE ANY
EMPLOYMENT THAT THEY ARE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY ABLE TO PERFORM
WHICH WOULD ENABLE THEM TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN BASIC NEEDS. IN-
ABILITY TO FIND WORK DOES NOT MAKE A PERSON UNEMPLOYABLE. THE DE-
PARTMENT IS ABLE TO HELP THE EMPLOYABLE PERSON TO A LIMITED DEGREE
ONLY IN HARDSHIP AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS (PERSONS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN AND NOT ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER ASSISTANCE)
COUNTY ASSISTANCE ~~Y NOT BE RENDERED TO THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYED OR
EMPLOYABLE PERSONS OR FAMILY SITUATION:
1. HUSBAND EMPLOYED, IN THE HOME, BUT NOT PROPERLY
SUPPORTING,
2. HUSBAND DESERTED THE FAMILY, WIFE ADEQUATELY
EMPLOYED.
3. HUSBAND ILL, WIFE ADEQUATELY EMPLOYED, OR
EMPLOYABLE.
4, HUSBAND IN THE COMMUNITY AND/OR CONTRIBUTING TO
HIS FAMILY.
5. LEFT JOB FOR REASONS OTHER THAN ILLNESS OR
ACCIDENT.
The fact that an individual is unemployed does not make them eligible
for assistance. APPLICANTS MUST BE ABLE TO VERIFY THEIR PLACE OF RESIDENCE
AND LIVING SITUATION BY:
EITHER SHOWING A RENT RECEIPT OR STATEMENT FROM LANDLORD OR HEAD OF
THE HOUSEHOLD.
d. Applicants must sign medical, financial and re-
imbursement agreement forms. }lliDICAL AND FINANCIAL RELEASES ARE
NECESSARY TO VERIFY AN APPLICANT'S DISABILITY AND FINANCIAL STATUS.
THE REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT HILL INCLUDE A DESK REVIEH WITHIN 30 DAYS
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AFTER ASSISTANCE IS TENDERED TO THE APPLICANT BY THE ASSIGNED
SOCIAL WORKER TO ASSESS AN APPLICANT'S PRESENT OR FUTURE ABILITY
TO REPAY THE COUNTY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTED. DISABLED OR
AGED RECIPIENTS LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE
DEPARTMENT I S RE IMBURSEMENT PROCEDURE.
e. APPLICANTS MUST SHOW PROPER PERSONAL IDENTIFI-
CATION SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, DRIVER'S LICENSE, VOTER
REGISTRATION, OR OTHER FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION.
f. All applicants requesting medical or hospital
assistance will be screened by the Department and if eligible, given
an authorization form for county payment. MEDICAL SERVICES WILL BE
PROVIDED ON A LIMITED EMERGENCY BASIS UNTIL FURTHER MEDICAL ASSIS-
TANCE CAN BE OBTAINED FROM ANOTHER PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR PRIVATE
AGENCY.
g. When physicians services or out-patient services
are approved the applicant will be charged a fee according to their
income and ability to pay, These fees will be determined according
to the following fee classification schedule:
CLASS A NO CHARGE
CLASS B $1. 00
CLASS C $2.00
CLASS D $3.00
CLASS E $4.00
CLASS F $5.00
CLASS A: CLASS B:
No. of Household Annual Income No. of Household Annual Income
1 $2500.00 1 $3000.00
2 $3500.00 2 $4000.00
3 $4000.00 3 $4500.00
4 $4500.00 4 $5000.00
5 $5000.00 5 $5500.00
6 $5500.00 6 $6000.00
7 $6000.00 7 $6500.00
8 $6500.00 8 $7000.00
9 $7000.00 9 $7500.00
10 $7500.00 10 $8000.00
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CLASS C: CLASS D:
No. of Household Annual Income No, of Household Annual Income
1 $3500.00 1 $4000.00
2 $4500.00 2 $5000.00
3 $5000.00 3 $5500.00
4 $5500.00 4 $6000.00
5 $6000.00 5 $6500.00
6 $6500.00 6 $7000.00
7 $7000.00 7 $7500.00
8 $7500.00 8 $8000.00
9 $8000.00 9 $8500.00
10 $8500.00 10 $9000.00
CLASS E: CLASS F:
No. of Household Annual Income No. of Household Annual Income
1 $4500.00 1 $5000.00
2 $5500.00 2 $6000.00
3 $6000.00 3 $6500.00
4 $6500.00 4 $7000.00
5 $7000.00 5 $7500.00
6 $7500.00 6 $8000.00
7 $8000,00 7 $8500.00
8 $8500.00 8 $9000.00
9 $9000.00 9 $9500.00
10 $9500.00 10 $10000.00
h. The Department will collect the appropriate fee
from the applicants being referred to doctors and hospitals as
county indigents and turn it over to the County Finance Department.
This money will be put back into the Out-Patient Account to help
defray the cost to the County.
i. The applicants may choose the doctor of his/her
choice from any of the participating physicians.
j. All information given by the applicants will be
held in strictest confidence. In most cases a home visit will be
done before assistance is granted. The home visit will be made to
verify the home situation and to assist the applicants in making
better use of their own resources.
k. ASSETS INCLUDING REAL PROPERTY - AN APPLICANT
FOR ASSISTANCE MAY OWN TO TO $750.00 MAXIMUM IN REAL OR PEP~ONAL
VALUE IF HE HAS NO DEPENDENTS AND UP TO $1500.00 MAXIMUM WITH DE-
PENDENTS. AN APPLICANT MAY OWN CASH VALUE LIFE INSURANCE OR BURIAL
INSURANCE UP TO $750.00. HOMESTEAD EVALUATION IS EXCLUDED IN DE-
TERMINING ELIGIBILITY.
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1. ANY APPLICANT WHO IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE DE-
CISION RENDERED BY THE DEPARTMENT, HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST A RE-
VIEW OF THEIR CASE BY THE SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. THIS REVIEW
WILL BE DONE WITHIN 5 WORKING DAYS AFTER THE REQUEST IS RECEIVED
FROM THE APPLICANT. IF THE DIRECTOR'S REVIEW DOES NOT RESOLVE THE
APPLICANT'S COMPLAINT, THE APPLICANT THEN HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST A
FAIR HEARING.
FAIR HEARING PROCEDURE
WITHIN TEN DAYS AFTER A COMPLAINT IS RECEIVED FROM A CLIENT,
A HEARING WILL BE HELD IN THE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICE. THE
PURPOSE OF THIS HEARING WILL BE TO ALLOW THE CLIENT A FAIR OPPOR-
TUNITY TO VOICE HIS/HER COMPLAINT BEFORE A HEARINGS COMMITTEE. THIS
COMMITTEE WILL CONSIST OF THE COUNTY SOCIAL WORKER ASSIGNED TO THE
CASE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE MONROE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
AND ONE COUNTY COMMISSIONER. THE FINAL DECISION WILL BE REACHED BY
THE HEARINGS COMMITTEE IN ACCORD WITH THE FLORIDA STATUTES AND COUNTY
RESOLUTION GOVERNING THE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY SAID BOARD that social services
heretofore rendered by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe
County, Florida, through its Social Services Department be and the
same are hereby ratified and confirmed.
DATED July 13, 1976.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY" FLORIDA
By
c
(Seal)
Attest :j
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(.. .4P/ ~/ce-2~>
-.' ... Clerk