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The dollar amount of the TANF sanction is treated as unearned income in the Food Stamp Program to ensure that Food Stamp benefits do not increase as a result of a TANF sanction. If a TANF case is terminated for failing to comply with a TANF work requirement, the entire TANF grant must continue to be counted as unearned income for the Food Stamp program to ensure that Food Stamp benefits do not increase as the result of the TANF termination. This income must be counted until any of the following occurs: • the sanctioned person reapplies for TANF and is approved, since a previous TANF sanction cannot be applied at re-application (See Part V, Section 1.8: Sanctions for Non- Compliance with Work Activities Without Good Cause), • the agency becomes aware that the PI has become ineligible for TANF for a reason unrelated to the sanction, or • the TANF income has been counted for one year as unearned income for Food Stamps. Example 1 Mr. Lawrence receives TANF for herself only and Food Stamps for herself and her child. Her only child receives SSI. Ms. Lawrence is not needed in the home to care for her child. She does not comply with work requirements and a TANF sanction is recommended. Her TANF benefits are terminated for this reason. The amount of the TANF grant must continue to be counted as unearned income for the Food Stamp Program. Unless Ms. Lawrence reapplies for TANF and is approved, or the agency determines that she later becomes ineligible for TANF for a reason other than the TANF sanction, the TANF benefit will continue to be counted as income for Food Stamps for one year following the termination of the TANF benefit. Example 2 Ms. Capel receives TANF for herself only, and Food Stamps for herself and one child. Her only child receives SSI. Ms. Capel is sanctioned for not participating in required work activities and her TANF is terminated effective April 1. The amount of her TANF benefit continues to be counted towards Food Stamps. Ms. Capel recertifies for Food Stamps in July. The caseworker notes that Ms. Capel's SSI child turned 18 in June and will not graduate before the child turns 19. Since Ms. Capel would no longer qualify for TANF, the amount of her TANF sanction is no longer countable for Food Stamps. The caseworker deletes the TANF sanction income for the new certification period. Any applicant/recipient who is exempt from work participation may voluntarily participate. If s/he volunteers and then fails to participate without good cause and for a reason unrelated to his/her qualification for an exemption, the individual is subject to sanction. FS If an individual member of the group or the head of the group refuses to work register, fails to comply with FSET requirements, or fails to accept a bona fide offer of employment, the noncompliant person is made ineligible for FS until s/he completes the appropriate disqualification period. The disqualification periods are listed in the table below. The sanction is lifted at the end of the disqualification period, regardless of whether the individual is complying with program requirements. Violation Period for Removal of Needs 1st 2 months