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STATE OF CONNECTICUT TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) STATE PLAN 2021-2023 A. FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS EFFECTIVE DATE 10/1/20 – 9/30/23  Initial Submission 12/29/20  Revision Page 9 Any relative may receive assistance for a child. In addition, legal guardians and others acting in loco parentis may receive such assistance. Pregnant women are eligible for assistance throughout the entire pregnancy. Children are eligible for assistance until they reach age 19 as long as they are still attending high school or its equivalent. The TFA benefit levels vary throughout the state based on variations in the average cost of rent in each area. There are three regions in the state each with a different benefit level. The benefit levels and the towns covered by each level are described in Addendum A. Effective January 1, 2014, the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services revised the Connecticut Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) program and the TANF Plan to comply with the federal mandate in Section 4004 of Public Law 112-96. Effective January 1, 2014, TFA electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card benefits cannot be used for goods, services or cash at liquor stores, casinos, gambling casinos, gaming establishments, off- track betting branch facilities, and establishments that provide adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for entertainment.

The state has imposed penalties for Failure to Comply. If TFA electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card benefits are used in any of the places listed above, the TFA client will be subject to the following penalties: for the first violation, a warning that a prohibited transaction occurred; for the second violation, a penalty in the amount of the EBT transaction that occurred at the prohibited location; for the third violation, a penalty of one month’s suspension of TFA benefits in addition to the amount of the EBT transaction that occurred in the prohibited location; for the fourth violation, DSS may suspend the TFA benefits for a certain amount of time or may stop the TFA benefits forever. If DSS plans to impose a penalty for failure to follow the new law, a notice will be sent to the TFA recipient explaining the violation of the rules and client rights to a Fair Hearing.

Connecticut ensures that TANF cash assistance recipients have the ability to use and access their benefit with minimal or no fees or charges through the use of an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card or an Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT). Connecticut does not issue checks for TANF cash assistance. When a client chooses EFT, they retain the ability to control the location and fees associated with their card use and cash access. The EBT cards are useable at all Point of Service (POS) devices (as cash back) and at all ATMs that display the Quest logo. If the TFA recipient is having problems accessing a local POS or ATM device, he/she can contact the EBT customer service statewide free phone line, which will assist with identifying other locations or will refer the recipient to the regional state office where the recipient applied for assistance. The EBT contract provides two free cash withdrawals per month at ATM’s, and unlimited cash back with purchase at those POS locations that allow cash back with purchase. After the two free withdrawals, the client is subject to all the normal bank fees