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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: 44

SECTION B – PART III – OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Sec. 402(a)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act

(iii) – The Objective Criteria part sets forth objective criteria for the delivery of the benefits, the determination of eligibility and for fair and equitable treatment, including an explanation of how the state will provide opportunities for recipients who have been adversely affected to be heard in a state administrative or appeal process.

Connecticut’s Objective Criteria

The State of Connecticut has developed objective criteria for the delivery of benefits, the determination of eligibility, and for fair and equitable treatment. These criteria are described in official state policies and regulations. The policies and regulations have been legally adopted under applicable provisions of state law.

Connecticut’s objective criteria for delivery of benefits and determination of eligibility for TFA include standards of promptness for the determination of eligibility, periodic reviews of eligibility, standards of verification, determination of good cause for not complying with employment services requirements, and treatment and limits on income and resources.

The standard of promptness is 45 days from the date of application for inactive cases. If the family applies for an extension of benefits before the end of the Jobs First time limit or extension, the standard of promptness is 30 days.

Periodic reviews of eligibility are after twelve months of continuous assistance and in the twentieth month of the time limit. On or after April 1, 2024, the twentieth month review will take place in the thirty-fifth month because the Jobs First time limit will increase from 21 months to 36 months.

Documents are the primary sources of verification. Affidavits are accepted when other sources of verification are not available. The preponderance of evidence is the department’s standard of verification. Good cause for non-compliance with and employment services activity is defined as circumstances beyond a person’s control that reasonably prevent a person from participating in an activity.

Earned income of recipients is totally excluded up to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Once earnings reach the FPL, the family becomes ineligible for assistance. On and after January 1, 2024, in the first month in which a family's total gross earnings exceed 100% of the FPL and for a period not to exceed six consecutive months, the Department shall disregard, for purposes of eligibility, a family's total gross earnings in an amount not to exceed 230% of the FPL. If a family's total gross earnings are an amount between 171% and 230% of the FPL, the Department shall reduce the household's benefit by