Effective Date: January 20, 2020 (Approved May 21, 2020)
Purpose of Policy
To ensure that Disability Rights & Resources makes prudent, reasonable decisions regarding the use of CIL CARES Act operational costs in the same manner the agency would determine use of operational costs funded by any other funding stream.
CIL CARES Act supplemental funding must be focused on responding to needs that are the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. CARES Act funds shall be used for allowable expenses outlined in 45 CFR 75 or the Rehabilitation Act, as amended (Rehab Act). The maximum amount of Part C CARES Act funding subsidy that an individual or family member may receive is $3,000. Funds may be for used for expenses retroactive to January 20, 2020.
COVID-19 funds may be used for the following purposes
- Purchase, management and development of technology (including information technology services) for consumers and staff
- Staff salaries and fringe benefits
- May purchase goods and services that advance the safety and health of both staff and consumers before, during, and after the delivery of direct services and activities intended to address COVID-19 related needs.
- Professional services required to respond to COVID-19, including accounting, insurance, legal, website development, changes to management information systems, interpreters, etc.
- Home Modification, including the purchase of labor and building material
- Gift cards
- Rent, mortgage payments and utilities for primary residence.
- Rental deposits
- Moving expenses
- Nursing home transition costs up to $3,000.
- Institutional Diversion expenses
- Transportation, including bus passes and car payments
- Outreach
- Partnerships with other organizations and companies to meet the needs of consumers and the agency.
- Other purchases deemed necessary by Management to fulfill the requirements of CARES Act funding.
Consumer Eligibility
Individuals with significant disabilities whose adjusted gross income (AGI) from their 2019 federal return (or 2018 return if they have not yet filed a 2019 return) is less than $75,000 if filing was single or married filing separately, $112,000 AGI for head of household filers; and $150,000 AGI for married couples filing joint returns.* Consumers receiving financial support and other direct services through the COVID-19 CARES Act must meet the requirements for Title Part C funding. The staff will establish eligibility and maintain consumer information files in a manner consistent with Part C requirements. Documentation of eligibility may be done with paper or electronic formats. Consumers receiving services through the Part C CARES Act must affirm in writing that they have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and CARES Act funding will be used to mitigate such impacts. Staff may ask the consumer for additional documentation to demonstrate need, as necessary. Staff members, their immediate families, board members, and their immediate families are not eligible for Part C CARES Act funding subsidies. Staff salaries and fringe benefits are not considered to be Part C CARES Act funding subsidy.
Consumers residing in the DRR 20 county service area and North Alabama 13 county CIL service area are eligible for services provided by DRR Part C CARES funds. Those counties include Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Walker, Blount Counties, Bibb, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry, Pickens, Randolph, Talladega, Tuscaloosa Counties, Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Jackson, Dekalb, Marshall, Morgan, Lawrence, Colbert, Franklin, Marion, Winston, and Cullman. Alabama residents with significant disabilities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and residing outside of these counties may be eligible for DRR Part C CARES Act financial assistance if funds are available.
Financial
DRR purchasing policies shall be followed when making purchases with COVID-19 funds. Expenses associated with COVID-19 CARES Act funds shall be assigned the Customer Name “CARES Act”.
Time Sheets
Staff will document time working on COVID-19 activities on their time sheets as “CARES Act” Customer.
Management Information System
Staff will label consumer case notes and work log in the DRR management information system as “CARES Act” grant funded. Supplies, equipment, and services provided consumers with Part C CARES Act funds will be documented in a case note(s) entry in the agency’s management information system.
Contracts, MOU’s, and Service Agreements
The Executive Director is authorized to enter into contracts, MOU’s, and service agreements to fulfill the purposes of the COVID-19 CARES Act funds.
*Individuals whose AGI is between $75,000 and $99,000 would be eligible for partial financial assistance between $1,800 and $3,000. The amount of financial assistance would be determined by the consumer’s AGI—with a 5% reduction in financial assistance for AGI greater than $75,000.
Heads of household whose AGI is between $112,00 and $136,500 would be eligible for partial financial assistance between $1775 and $3,000. The amount of financial assistance would be determined by the consumer’s AGI—with a 5% reduction in financial assistance for AGI greater than $112,000.
Joint filers whose AGI is between $150,000 and $198,000 would be eligible for partial financial assistance between $600 and $3,000. The amount of financial assistance would be determined by the consumer’s AGI—with a 5% reduction in subsidy for AGI greater than $150,000.
