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Chapter 5 - Living with a Relative INTRODUCTION 5.1 Requirements regarding living with a relative vary by program. For FS, a child does not have to live with a relative. For GC, living with a relative makes a child ineligible for GC assistance. For TANF, a child must live with a relative who is responsible for his/her day-to-day care in order to be eligible. There is no requirement that a child live with a relative in order to receive MA. Unrelated caretakers may be included in the MA group with a child in their care. This chapter outlines the program requirements, defines who is a relative, describes the circumstances under which paternity must be established, and discusses who is a caretaker. This chapter applies only to MA and TANF.

LEGAL AUTHORITY 5.2 AREA/TOPIC DISTRICT FEDERAL Living with a Relative TANF: D.C. Code 4-205.15; 4-205.18 GC: See TANF and D.C. Code 4-205.5a. MA: N/A TANF: 45 CFR 263.2 (b)(2); 260.20 (a)

LIVING WITH A RELATIVE 5.3 MA AR: A caretaker relative of a child may be included, at his/her option, in the AR assistance unit. (See Section 5.6: Caretaker in this Chapter.) An unrelated caretaker may also be included in the unit at his/her option. AX: See AR. SR: N/A QM: N/A TANF In order to be eligible for TANF, a child must live with a relative who has responsibility for the day- to-day care of the child. A child who is not living with a relative may be eligible for a temporary period (not to exceed three months) if: • the child had been receiving TANF; • an emergency situation occurs which deprives the child of the care of the relative with whom s/he has been receiving assistance, and • another person acts for the relative. Do not include the other person in the group. For information about a child or caretaker's temporary absence from the home, see Section 1.14: Temporary Absence in this Part. If the TANF application is denied because relationship between the child and caretaker could not be established, the case should be considered for the GC program.

WHO IS A RELATIVE 5.4

MA AR: The SSR should consider the following people relatives: • any relative, including one of half-blood, who is within the sixth degree of relationship: o grandparent, great-grandparent, great-great-grandparent, great-great-great- grandparent, or great-great-great-great-grandparent; o sister or brother; o half-sister or half-brother; o step-sister or step-brother; o uncle, great-uncle, great-great-uncle, great-great-great-uncle, or great-great- great-great-uncle; o aunt, great-aunt, great-great-aunt, great-great-great-aunt, or great-great-great- great-aunt; o first cousin or first cousin once removed;