This regulation is adopted pursuant to Section 41-A-9, 41A-11, 41A-13 and 41A-14, Article II, Titled “Handicap Rental Assistance” of Chapter 41A, Titled “Rental Assistance” of the Montgomery County Code 1984, as amended. The purpose of this regulation is to establish income eligibility requirements for the Disability Support Services Program. A. Entitlement Program: Any Federal or State program in which eligibility to receive benefits is determined by individual resources and income limits. Entitlement Programs include but are not limited to: State “Welfare” Benefits AFDC - Aid to Families with Dependent Children GPA - General Public Assistance GPA-E - General Public Assistance to Employables PAA - Public Assistance to Adults Social Security Benefits (only source of income) SSI for those over 65 SSI for the disabled SSI for the blind Veterans Benefits (only source of income) disability non-service connected service connected survivors State or local Sheltered Housing Health Benefits: Programs which will pay for medical care, where a card is issued to eligible recipients. Medicaid Medicare (age 64 and under) Maryland Pharmacy Assistance Program Food Benefits: A program which provides coupons which can be redeemed in stores for food. Food Stamps B. Payment Amount: The amount of money received monthly by each program recipient. The payment amount is established annually by the County Executive. C. Sliding Rent Scale: The amount of rent charged to a program recipient by a licensee. The amount is based on gross income including the amount of rental assistance. D. Verification: A copy of the letter indicating approval to receive benefits or a copy of the recipient’s check. A. Clients who have been accepted by an Entitlement Program, as defined above, are automatically eligible for Disability Support Services. B. For each recipient, licensees must submit verification that 1. The recipient is currently receiving benefits from an Entitlement Program or 2. An Application has been filed and is being processed for an Entitlement Program. C. Each recipient must be recertified annually. All pending recertification applications must have an acceptance status or be in the process of an appeal at the time of recertification, or the applicant will be deemed ineligible. D. Recipients receiving Section 8 funds are not eligible for Disability Support Services. Recipients who become ineligible for Entitlement Program benefits are ineligible for Disability Support Services. The Department of Family Resources must be notified within 30 days that a recipient has become ineligible for benefits. Licensees are required to use a sliding rent scale for all program recipients. Each licensee must submit a sliding rent scale for each rental facility on an annual basis, for review by the Department of Family Resources. The provisions of these regulations are severable and if any provision, clause, sentence, section, word or part thereof is held illegal, unconstitutional or inapplicable, it shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, clauses, sentences, sections, words, or parts of these regulations or application to other persons or circumstances. The Director of the Department of Family Resources has the authority to make exceptions to or waive portions of the regulations, if such action will be in the public interest and will promote the purpose of the legislation establishing the Disability Support Services Program.