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Delaware’s TANF State Plan 10-1-2017 to 9-30-2020

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provide advice on improving the delivery of Delaware's social programs including TANF.

Definition of Needy Families

For cash assistance program purposes, needy families are a child and or children living in the home of a parent, guardian, custodian, or specified relative whose combined income and financial resources are less than the standards established by the State.

The following sections describe these standards and how they are applied to applicants and recipients.

Income and Resource Rules for Determining Need

For purposes of determining need, Delaware will continue to utilize the established income and resource rules of the TANF program.

The following specific features of Delaware's TANF program continue to apply: • The equity value of real and personal property owned by a family budget group cannot exceed $10,000.00. • The values of automobiles owned by members of a TANF household are disregarded. An automobile is defined as any motorized vehicle used for transportation via public roadways or to produce income. • The cash value of a life insurance policy is excluded. • In addition to the current resource limit, families are allowed to establish special Education and Business Investment Accounts (EBIA) of up to $5,000.00, including interest. o Families will contribute directly to their EBIAs. Funds in such accounts will not be considered as a resource. Withdrawals from such accounts must be for approved purposes, as defined in TANF regulations. If funds are withdrawn for non-approved purposes, the money will be counted as a resource in the month received. Approved reasons for withdrawal of funds for self-sufficiency needs include, but are not limited to: dependent care expenses, security deposit for an apartment or house, or vehicle repair costs. • Financial assistance received from school grants, scholarships, vocational rehabilitation payments, JTPA payments, educational loans, and other loans that are expected to be repaid will not be counted as income for TANF program purposes. Also, other financial assistance received that is intended for books, tuition, or other self-sufficiency expenses will be excluded.