§ 233.53 Support and maintenance assistance (including home energy assistance) in AFDC.

(a) General. At State option, certain support and maintenance assistance (including home energy assistance) may be excluded from income and resources.

(b) Definitions. The following definitions are limited to the support and maintenance assistance provisions of this section.

Appropriate State agency means the agency designated by the chief executive officer of the State to handle the State's responsibilities with respect to support and maintenance assistance under paragraph (c) of this section.

Based on need means that the assistance is given to or on behalf of an applicant or recipient for the purpose of support and maintenance (including home energy) and meets the criteria established by the State for determining the need for such assistance.

In kind assistance means assistance furnished in any form except direct cash payments to an applicant or recipient or direct payments to an applicant or recipient through other financial instruments which are convertible to cash.