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Delaware TANF State Plan 10-1-23 to 09-30-26 Page 19 of 59
o Households with open TANF cases may receive an emergency cash benefit. The emergency benefit will increase a household’s current TANF benefit amount up to the maximum benefit amount for their TANF household size. The emergency benefit will be issued as a check to TANF households on the last day of the month. If a client owes an overpayment, the monthly overpayment recoupment will continue to come out of the client’s regular cash benefit; o Work mandatory TANF clients maybe temporarily exempt from TANF Employment and Training (E&T) requirements until the pandemic state of emergency has ended. DSS considers all TANF clients unable to work due to the medical pandemic outbreak; o TANF time-limit rules maybe temporarily suspended. TANF benefits may not expire and TANF months may not count until the pandemic state of emergency has ended; o All TANF clocks may be stopped from ticking during the pandemic state of emergency; o TANF interviews maybe completed by telephone whenever possible until Delaware’s State of Emergency is lifted; o TANF sanction rules maybe temporarily suspended until the pandemic state of emergency has ended. o Case workers may NOT apply Contract of Mutual Responsibility (CMR) or E&T sanctions during the pandemic state of emergency; and o TANF clients must continue to cooperate with Child Support during the State of Emergency period.
Assessment of Barriers Related to Mental Health, Substance Use, and Domestic Violence
A standardized screening tool is used by Delaware to identify possible issues related to mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence. Participants who complete the screening answer questions designed to reveal potential issues related to domestic violence, behavioral health issues, anxiety, substance use disorders, PTSD, and thoughts of self-harm.
Screening occurs during the TANF intake and at redetermination. Additional screening occurs once a client begins participating with the employment and training programs. This process of multiple screenings allows clients the opportunity to reveal difficulties when they are most ready to do so.