LIBL/STBL Hardship Extension Eligibility – Victim of Violence, Crime, or Domestic Violence
A participant may request a hardship extension on the basis that any member of the budgetary unit is a victim of violence, crime, or domestic violence. The result of the violence or crime must prevent an adult participant from working or engaging in work activities.
Victim of Violence: Violence is defined as battery or extreme cruelty inflicted on any member of a budgetary unit by a stranger or by a person known to any member of the budgetary unit. Battery or extreme cruelty includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
●Physical acts that threatened or resulted in physical injury
●Threats of, or attempts at, physical or sexual abuse
●Sexual abuse
●Sexual activity involving a child
●Being forced as the caretaker of a child to engage in non-consensual sexual acts or activities
●Mental or emotional abuse
●Neglect or deprivation of basic necessities such as food or medical care
Victim of Crime: A crime includes any unlawful act against any member of a budgetary unit that creates a hardship.
Victim of Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence (DV) is a pattern of behavior in which one family member or intimate partner uses any of the following to control another family member or the other intimate partner in the relationship:
●Physical violence
●Coercion
●Threats
●Intimidation
●Isolation
●Emotional abuse
●Sexual abuse
●Economic abuse
Circumstances that support the claim related to a victim of crime, domestic violence, or other violence include, but are not limited to, the following:
●Residence in an emergency or transitional shelter or housing for victims of abuse.
●Obtaining or having obtained a protective or restraining order against an abuser.
●Receiving protective or supportive services related to the abuse or violence.
●Being a party to a legal action such as a divorce or custody which involves issues of current or past abuse or violence.
●Staying with a friend or relative after fleeing to avoid or escape abuse.
●Violence or abuse against the victim resulted in the arrest, arraignment, or conviction of the abuser or perpetrator.
●Receiving or having received inpatient or outpatient treatment for psychological, physical, emotional or mental abuse, or violence.
●Being hospitalized or receiving emergency room treatment for medical or psychological injuries as a result of the abuse or violence.
NOTE Any of the above circumstances could be a past or current circumstance.
Verification must be provided that supports the determination of the crime or act of violence. (See
LIBL/STBL Hardship Extension – Victim of Violence, Crime, or Domestic Violence Verification)
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Residing with a Perpetrator or Abuser:
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When the perpetrator or abuser resides with a participant or the budgetary unit, that person must be actively working with the Department of Child Safety (DCS) prior to authorizing a hardship extension based on a victim of violence claim. In this situation, all of the following apply:
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●DCS must verify the active participation of the perpetrator or abuser
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●Review the facts and the DCS verification to determine whether the circumstances prevent the participant from working or engaging in work activities
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●When abuse is reported under any circumstances, the victim should be offered a referral for DV services through either of the following:
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When verification of the hardship extension reason is received, follow the procedures in
LIBL Hardship Extension Keying Procedures and
STBL Hardship Extension Keying Procedures.
When verification of the hardship extension is not provided, follow the procedures in
LIBL Hardship Procedures Extension Requests and
STBL Hardship Procedures Extension Requests.
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When the participant provides verification that does not support the hardship extension request, deny the request for hardship extension.
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