Reach Up Overview

An overview of the Vermont ReachUp program.

What Is Reach Up?
How Do I Apply for Reach Up?
DCF Says I Can't Get Reach Up? What Can I Do?
What Will Reach up Give Me?
Will I Have to Work While I Get Reach Up?
Does Reach up Change My Child Support?
Is There a Time Limit to Getting Reach Up?
Why Did My Grant Go down by $75.00? What Can I Do?
My Worker Did Something I Don't Agree With. What Can I Do?

What Is Reach Up?

Reach Up is a program run by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCF). You have to have a child or children to get Reach Up. You can be single parent or a couple. You can get money, child care help, health insurance, and help with finding a job. You also might get help with getting a GED or going to college. If you can work, DCF will require you to get a job. If you have not worked recently, your worker should help you get ready to get a job. How much you will be asked to work depends on your situation. You can read more about the Reach Up work requirement on our Will I Have to Work While I Get Reach Up? page.

How Do I Apply for Reach Up?

You apply for Reach Up at your local welfare office. The welfare office is called DCF (Department for Children and Families: Economic Services Division). DCF used to be called PATH or DSW.

DCF Says I Can't Get Reach Up. What Can I Do?

If you have kids and very little income, you should be able to get Reach Up. Did DCF say you can't get Reach Up? You can appeal that decision. Learn more about appeals on our Appeals page. You can also get free legal help about your appeal. Call Vermont Legal Aid at (800) 889-2047.

What Will Reach up Give Me?

You can get money, child care help, health insurance, and help with finding a job. You also might get help with getting a GED or going to college (link w/ sections on school).

Will I Have to Work While I Get Reach Up?

Probably yes. Most people who get Reach Up have to look for a job or get ready to look for a job. There are some people who don't have to work or don't have to work as many hours. It depends on your particular situation. Do you want to learn more about Reach Up's work requirement? Go to our Will I Have to Work While I Get Reach Up? page.

Does Reach up Change My Child Support?

When you get Reach Up, you give up your right to child support to the State of Vermont. You will get $50.00 of the child support each month on top of your Reach Up grant. If your ex doesn't pay child support, you won't get the $50.00. If you don't get child support, the state might go after your ex to try to make your ex pay. If you're worried for your safety or your child's safety, you can ask the state not to go after your ex for child support.

Is There a Time Limit to Getting Reach Up?

Even if you haven't worked, you will have to look for a job after 6 months on Reach Up. If you had a job recently, you will have to look right away. There are no other time limits. Most other states only let you get help for 5 years or less. The time you are on Reach Up will count in other states.

Why Did My Grant Go down by $75.00? What Can I Do?

Did your grant go down? Your worker has probably sanctioned you. A worker sanctions you when you don't do something you are required to do. If you have a good reason, you probably can fight the sanction. Also, sometimes workers make mistakes.

You will lose even more money after a few months, so it is good to fight this if you can. You can also get your money to go back up once you do what the worker is asking you to. It takes two weeks before your money will go back up. You can appeal your grant going down with this Form Letter. To learn more about appeals, go to our Appeals page. Call Vermont Legal Aid at (800) 889-2047 for help or if you want to check to see if the sanction is right.

My Worker Did Something I Don't Agree With. What Can I Do?

Read more on our Appeals page.