Title 34 — Welfare
17 chapters · 206 sections in this title.
34 V.I.C. § 1 Definitions
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As used in this chapter—“child welfare services” include the protection and care of children who are dependent or neglected and any other children who may be in need of services in their own homes or foster care;“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Human Services;“Department”…
34 V.I.C. § 10 Redetermination of eligibility and amount of payments
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The Commissioner shall change or withdraw the award of assistance whenever the conditions have altered sufficiently to warrant such action. If during the time he is receiving public assistance, the recipient thereof receives income or acquires resources in excess of the amount pr…
34 V.I.C. § 11 Appeal and fair hearing—Continued payments pending appeal
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An applicant or recipient aggrieved because of a decision of the Commissioner or his authorized representative, or by delay in making a decision shall be entitled to appeal to the Board in the manner prescribed by it, and shall be afforded reasonable notice and opportunity for a …
34 V.I.C. § 12 Confidential character of information
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The Commissioner shall establish and enforce reasonable rules and regulations governing the custody, use and preservation of the documents, records, papers, files, and communications concerning public assistance, child welfare service and other welfare services of the Department.…
34 V.I.C. § 13 Public assistance not assignable
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Public assistance granted under this chapter shall not be transferable or assignable at law or in equity, and none of the money paid or payable under this chapter shall be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process, or to the operation of any bank…
34 V.I.C. § 14 Public Assistance Fund
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Income and disbursements Income and disbursements (a) There is established in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands, a special fund to be known as the “Public Assistance Fund.” Into this Fund shall be paid all moneys appropriated by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands for assistan…
34 V.I.C. § 14a Dorothy D. Buckley Trust Funds
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(a) There is established in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands a special fund to be known as the “Dorothy D. Buckley Trust Fund for the Indigent Elderly.” Into this fund shall be paid all monies bequeathed from the estate of the late Dorothy D. Buckley for the benefit of the indi…
34 V.I.C. § 14b Disabled Persons Special Fund
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There is hereby established in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands a special fund to be known as the “Disabled Persons Special Fund” (hereinafter referred to in this section as the “Fund”). Into this Fund shall be deposited the sums referred to in the proviso clause contained in (…
34 V.I.C. § 15 Travel assistance
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The Commissioner may in proper cases, wherein he determines that an emergency exists, provide travel assistance and may authorize Government personnel to accompany the recipient of such assistance; provided that the amounts spent for the travel and subsistence of the Government e…
34 V.I.C. § 16 Appropriations
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(a) The Legislature shall annually appropriate out of funds available to it, an amount sufficient to carry out the provisions of this chapter based upon the estimates submitted by the Commissioner of Social Welfare pursuant to section 384 of Title 3. The Commissioner of Finance s…
34 V.I.C. § 17 Work relief
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The Commissioner is authorized, as deemed desirable, within funds made available to the Department for emergency aid or work relief, to provide employment for employable persons who are in need and unemployed and for whom no other employment is immediately available, such employm…
34 V.I.C. § 18 Homes for aged and destitute persons
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(a) Homes for aged and destitute persons shall be under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Human Services, who shall be responsible for their proper management and operation. (b) The homes shall receive such persons as may be committed to them by the Commissioner and shall i…
34 V.I.C. § 18a Home Care Service for aged and indigent citizens
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In order to assist senior citizens who are aged and indigent to enjoy basic comforts of living during their declining years, the Commissioner of Human Services is hereby authorized to institute a Home Care Service. This service shall include, but not be limited to cleaning of roo…
34 V.I.C. § 19 Day care of children of working mothers
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(a) The Commissioner of Human Services shall be responsible for a program for stimulating efforts by private persons or organizations to provide suitable day care facilities for children of working mothers and for supervising the operation of such facilities. For this purpose, he…
34 V.I.C. § 2 Functions of Commissioner of Human Services
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The Commissioner shall discharge the social welfare functions of the Virgin Islands, including those specified in section 384 of Title 3, except as otherwise prescribed by law.
34 V.I.C. § 20 Food distribution program for the needy; application for federal grants
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The Commissioner of Human Services of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands shall make application to the United States Department of Agriculture for grants of foodstuffs under the Direct Distribution Program of the Department of Agriculture on the basis of need to b…
34 V.I.C. § 21 Same; storage, repackaging and delivery
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The Commissioner of Human Services shall store all foodstuffs received under the Direct Distribution Program and shall repackage and deliver such foodstuffs to the needy persons in Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, and Saint John, certified for assistance by the Department of Human Serv…
34 V.I.C. § 22 Recovery of public assistance payments improperly received
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If a recipient receives public assistance for which he is not eligible by reason of the possession of or having come into possession of any resources which he fails to disclose to the Department, or conceals resources such as cash in hand, bank accounts, saving accounts, cash inc…
34 V.I.C. § 23 Emergency welfare services
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The Commissioner, in his discretion, may provide emergency welfare assistance and services, on an immediate basis, to any individual or family in need as a result of a natural disaster or other emergency situation. Emergency welfare services may be provided in cash or in kind, to…
34 V.I.C. § 24 Emergency Welfare Services Fund
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(a) There is created and established in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands a special revolving fund to be designated and referred to as the “Emergency Welfare Services Fund”. The Commissioner of Finance shall maintain and provide for the administration of said Fund as a distinct …
34 V.I.C. § 25 Trust Fund for Welfare Purposes
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There is established in the treasury of the Virgin Islands a special fund to be known as the “Trust Fund for Welfare Purposes”, to be used for assisting needy persons who are unable to meet the eligibility requirements of the programs of the Department of Human Services. Payments…
34 V.I.C. § 26 Clothing allowance for needy
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(a) In cases where actual need exists, and to relieve serious hardships among the lowest income families, the Department of Human Services shall approve school clothing allowances to said needy families of not less than $60 per child per school year. (b) Applicants aggrieved with…
34 V.I.C. § 27 Food Stamp Plan for the needy; application for participation
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The Commissioner of Human Services of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands shall make application to the United States Department of Agriculture for participation in the Food Stamp Plan established by the Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended by Public Law 93–86, the A…
34 V.I.C. § 28 Food Stamp Plan for the needy; sale; disposition of proceeds
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(a) The Commissioner of Human Services, in accordance with said Food Stamp Program, shall apply for and receive food stamps from the issuing federal agency, shall sell the same to needy persons in St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John, certified for assistance by the Department of H…
34 V.I.C. § 29 Food Stamp Welfare Fund
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(a) There is hereby created and established a special revolving fund to be designated and referred to as the Food Stamp Welfare Fund. The Commissioner of Finance shall maintain and provide for the administration of said fund as a separate and distinct fund in the Treasury and no …
34 V.I.C. § 3 Repealed. June 24, 1987, No. 5265, § 203 (g), Sess. L. 1987, p. 29
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34 V.I.C. § 3 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
34 V.I.C. § 30 Repealed. June 24, 1987, No. 5265, § 203(g), Sess. L. 1987, p. 29
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34 V.I.C. § 30 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
34 V.I.C. § 31 Paternity and Child Support Revolving Fund
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(a) There is hereby established a Paternity and Child Support Revolving Fund as a special fund in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands. (b) The Commissioner of Finance is directed to maintain and provide for the administration of the Paternity and Child Support Revolving Fund as a …
34 V.I.C. § 4 Eligibility for public assistance
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Public assistance shall be granted under this chapter to any needy individual who has not available sufficient income and resources to maintain a reasonable standard of health and well-being.
34 V.I.C. § 5 Preparation of plans and classification of expenditures
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The rulemaking powers of the Commissioner shall include authority to establish rules and regulations and necessary procedures for the preparation of plans and for classifying and reporting expenditures made with respect to recipients of public assistance in such manner as to obta…
34 V.I.C. § 6 Amount of assistance
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The amount of assistance which a recipient shall receive shall be determinated in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commissioner, with due regard to his requirements and the conditions existing in his case and to the income and resources determined to be available …
34 V.I.C. § 7 Applications for public assistance
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Applications for public assistance under the provisions of this chapter shall be made in the manner and form prescribed by the Commissioner and shall contain such information as the Commissioner may require.
34 V.I.C. § 8 Investigation of application
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Whenever the Commissioner receives an application for public assistance under this chapter, he shall promptly make an investigation and record of the circumstances of the applicant in order to ascertain the facts supporting the application and to obtain such other information as …
34 V.I.C. § 9 Approval of public assistance
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The Commissioner shall determine, in accordance with his rules and regulations, whether the applicant is eligible for public assistance under the provisions of this chapter, the type and amount of public assistance he shall receive, and the date upon which such public assistance …