Terms Used In Maryland Code, HUMAN SERVICES 5-407

  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • County: means a county of the State or Baltimore City. See
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • state: means :

    (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or

    (2) the District of Columbia. See
(a) (1) Assistance granted under this part may not be transferred or assigned.

(2) Assistance paid or payable under this part is not subject to:

(i) execution;

(ii) levy;

(iii) attachment;

(iv) garnishment;

(v) other legal process; or

(vi) the operation of any bankruptcy or insolvency law.

(b) (1) The local department shall reconsider all assistance granted under this part as frequently as the regulations of the Administration require.

(2) The amount of assistance may be changed or assistance may be canceled if, after any further investigation the local department considers necessary or the Administration requires, the local department or the Administration finds that the recipient’s circumstances have altered sufficiently to warrant the change or cancellation.

(c) (1) A recipient shall notify the local department immediately if, while receiving assistance, the recipient receives property or income in excess of the amount stated in the application for assistance.

(2) After an investigation, depending on the circumstances, the local department may:

(i) cancel the assistance; or

(ii) change the amount of assistance.

(3) Assistance paid before the recipient received the property or income that exceeds the recipient’s need may be recovered by the local department as a debt due.

(4) The net amount recovered shall be divided between the State and county in proportion to the amount of assistance paid by each.

(d) (1) When a recipient dies:

(i) the total amount of assistance paid under this part shall be allowed as a claim against the estate; and

(ii) the net amount recovered shall be divided between the State and county in proportion to the amount of assistance paid by each.

(2) The claim may not be enforced against real estate occupied by the recipient’s surviving spouse or dependents.