The Texas Department of Public Safety is now offering an Indigency Program for surcharges owed under the Driver Responsibility Program. The Texas Legislature authorized an Indigency program to provide low-income drivers the ability to pay surcharges, bringing them into compliance with the surcharge law and allowing them to become licensed and insured drivers.
The Indigency Program applies only to individuals living at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (see chart below). The Indigency Program reduction does not apply to any other fees besides surcharges that a driver may owe DPS.
|
125% of the 2011 HHS Poverty Guidelines |
|
|
Persons in Family 48 Contiguous States and D.C. |
|
|
1 |
$ 13,612.50 |
|
2 |
$ 18,387.50 |
|
3 |
$ 23,162.50 |
|
4 |
$ 27,937.50 |
|
5 |
$ 32,712.50 |
|
6 |
$ 37,487.50 |
|
7 |
$ 42,262.50 |
|
8 |
$ 47,037.50 |
|
For each additional person, add |
$ 4,775.00 |
Those qualifying for the Indigency Program will pay 10 percent of the original amount owed for all surcharges combined, for a maximum amount of $250. (Service fees will still apply.) Any payments already made will be applied to the reduced amount. If prior payments are more than the reduced amount owed, no payment will be required. There will be no refunds for payments that exceed the indigency maximum.