CAMTL 189 (Ohio Works First: Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program)
Cash Assistance Manual Transmittal Letter No. 189
December 7, 2022
TO: All Cash Assistance Manual Holders
FROM: Matt Damschroder, Director
SUBJECT: Ohio Works First: Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
PRINTER-FRIENDLY PDF:Printer-Friendly PDF of this Letter

Ohio Administrative Code rules 5101:1-3-01, 5101:1-23-10, and 5101:1-23-20.1 are being amended due to the implementation of the state Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KGAP) and Federal Title IV-E KGAP. Rules for these programs are promulgated by the Office of Families and Children (OFC). 

For the purposes of Ohio Works First (OWF), federal KGAP payments will be treated in the same manner in which adoption assistance payments are treated for assistance groups, including those individuals for whom these payments are received. Children, including minor parents, for whom state KGAP payments are made are permitted to receive both state KGAP and OWF.

The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) has completed a review of the following rules and the rules have been subject to a review by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR).  The rules will become effective on 1/1/2023.

Chapter 2000

5101:1-3-01 "Ohio Works First: Federal Work Participation Rates."

This rule describes the federal work participation requirements and activities for eligible individuals. Changes to the rule include: 

  • Paragraph (C)(1) has been updated to include that a two-parent assistance group is deemed to have a minor child in the home when that child is in receipt of federal or state KGAP payments; and
  • Paragraph (D)(5) has been updated to include that an all family assistance group is deemed to have a minor child in the home when that child is in receipt of federal or state KGAP payments.

5101:1-23-10 "Ohio Works First: Assistance Group Determination."

This rule describes the process for determining assistance group composition for OWF.  Changes to the rule include:  

  • Paragraph (B)(1) has been updated to include children that are determined eligible for state KGAP payments may also be eligible for OWF; and
  • Added new paragraph (F)(10) to exclude children in receipt of federal KGAP payments from the OWF assistance group; and
  • Minor language changes to improve clarity.

5101:1-23-20.1 "Ohio Works First: Excluded Income."

This rule describes the process for determining excluded income for OWF.  Changes to the rule include:  

  • Paragraph (B)(20) was added to exclude state KGAP payments from gross unearned income; and
  • Paragraph (B)(21) was added to exclude federal KGAP payments from gross unearned income.