Rule 742-7-12 | Low income assistance program.
(A) OP&F may offer an increase in the stipend amount to an eligible benefit recipient who meets the criteria established by OP&F's board of trustees for such an increase. If such an increase is offered, the eligible benefit recipient requesting the increase shall annually file a request with OP&F in a form provided by OP&F and submit a copy of their most recently filed federal income tax return. If the eligible benefit recipient does not file federal income tax, the eligible benefit recipient shall complete an affidavit provided by OP&F certifying this fact.
(B) A request for a stipend increase shall be filed prior to the date provided on the request form in order to be eligible for an increased stipend for the applicable period. If the eligible benefit recipient fails to file the request by the deadline date provided by OP&F, no increase in the stipend may be granted for that year, even if the eligible benefit recipient meets the criteria established by the board of trustees to receive an increase in the stipend. There will be no retroactive increases in the stipend amount.
(C) The stipend increase amounts established by board of trustees shall be effective on January first of each year through and including December thirty-first of that year.
(D) To receive any increase in a stipend, an eligible benefit recipient shall have a total household income equal to or less than a percentage, which shall be annually established by the board of trustees, of the poverty level established annually by the United States department of health and human services.
(E) If an increase in a stipend is granted by OP&F, a change in the household income of the eligible benefit recipient shall not impact the increased stipend granted to that person for the increase period provided the person originally met the criteria at the time the request for a stipend increase was filed. If an increase in the stipend has not been granted by OP&F, and a decline in the household income of that eligible benefit recipient occurs from and after the deadline date referenced in paragraph (B) of this rule, the eligible benefit recipient shall not be allowed to receive an increased stipend.
(F) By filing a request for an increase in a stipend, the eligible benefit recipient authorizes OP&F to recover any increase in a stipend granted as a result of a false or inaccurate statement made by the eligible benefit recipient or their authorized representative. OP&F reserves the right to request additional information for verification purposes.
Last updated April 22, 2024 at 8:34 AM
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