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STATE OF CONNECTICUT TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) STATE PLAN 2024-2026

Effective Date: 10/1/23 – 9/30/26 ☐ Initial Submission Date: 12/31/2023 ☒ Revision Date: 04/15/2024 Page: 11

through a reduction in the amount of cash assistance benefits. Employment Services and benefits to support required work activities are provided through Connecticut’s Department of Labor.

Until March 31, 2024, if the family still has income below the payment standard at the end of the Jobs First time limit, a six-month extension of benefits may be given. To qualify for an extension through March 31, 2024, the family’s income cannot exceed the payment standard corresponding to the size of the family. Effective April 1, 2024, a family may have income less than 100% of the FPL and be eligible to receive a six-month extension of benefits.

The state imposes the Jobs First time limit for non-exempt families (also called “time-limited” families). Time limited families cannot receive more than two six-month extensions to the Jobs First time limit except when all adults meet one or more of the following criteria:

 the adult is precluded from obtaining or maintaining employment due to domestic violence or another circumstance beyond his or her control; or

 despite working thirty-five or more hours per week, earning at least the minimum wage, the adult earns less than the family’s TFA payment standard; or

 the adult is employed and working less than thirty-five hours per week due to (1) a documented medical impairment that limits his/her hours of work, or (2) the need to care for a disabled member of the household; or

 the adult has two or more substantiated barriers to employment such as the lack of available childcare, substance abuse or addiction, severe mental or physical health problems, one or more severe learning disabilities, domestic violence, or a child who has a serious physical or behavioral health problem.

There are also overall 60-month state and federal time limits. which include months of benefits received by a time-limited family in Connecticut plus any months of TANF benefits that an adult received in another state. If all adults in the family meet at least one of the following exemption criteria, the family is not subject to the time limits. A person is exempt from the Jobs First and 60-month state and federal time limits if he or she is: incapacitated; age 60 or older; ; a non-parent caretaker relative who does not receive assistance; ; pregnant, if a physician has certified that she is unable to work; post- partum for six weeks, or longer if a physician certifies she is unable to work; unemployable; or a minor parent attending and satisfactorily completing a high school or high school equivalency program

The State of Connecticut also recognizes the following two exemptions:

 Caring for an incapacitated household member; or  Caring for a child under the age of one (after the first six weeks).

These exemptions always apply to the state and Jobs First time limits but do not apply to the 60-month federal limit. When the federal time limit exceeds 60 months due to the state-allowed exemptions,