§ 56-606. Assistance payments.

If an application for family support assistance pursuant to the Oklahoma Family Support Act is approved by the Department of Human Services and Developmental Disabilities Services Division:

1.  A family support assistance payment shall be paid to the parent or legal guardian on behalf of a family member and shall be considered a benefit to the family member;

2.  The family support assistance payment shall be used to meet the special needs of the family associated with the family member.  Except as otherwise provided in the Oklahoma Family Support Act, this assistance payment is intended to complement, not to supplant, public assistance or other social service benefits based on economic need, available through governmental programs;

3.  The amount of the family support assistance payment shall be a maximum of Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) per month.  Increases to this amount shall be determined annually by legislative appropriation.  In addition, the parent or legal guardian of a family member who is in an out-of-home placement at the time of application may receive a one-time, lump-sum advance payment of twice the monthly family support assistance amount for the purpose of meeting the special needs of the family to prepare for the placement or return of the family member to in-home care.

4.  The parent or legal guardian who receives a family support assistance payment shall report, in writing, at least the following information to the Department:

a.not less than annually, a statement and any supporting documentation requested by the Department that the family support assistance payment was used to meet the special needs of the family,

b.immediately, if the parent or legal guardian requests termination of the family support assistance,

c.immediately, upon the occurrence of any event listed in Section 7 of this act.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 277, § 6, eff. July 1, 1992.