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Chapter: 1400 Technical Requirements Program: TCA 42 To determine if TCA should continue for temporarily absent assistance groups, the assistance group must:

1. Have maintained its residence in Florida during the temporary absence period, and 2. Have plans to return to Florida when the reason for the temporary absence has ended.

Temporary absence does not exist and the individual does not meet residency requirements if:

1. Another state has determined the individual is a resident of their state for TCA (TANF) purposes, or 2. The individual leaves the U.S. with the intent to establish permanent residence outside the U.S., or 3. There is no intent to return to Florida.

When the assistance group leaves Florida with the intent of establishing its home in another state, Florida residency is lost. TCA may continue for one month following the month of departure.

Households using TCA benefits out of state for more than 30 days with no subsequent in-state usage must have the TCA benefits terminated, unless the household can verify Florida residency or temporary absence from the state and has the intent to return. 1420.0400 CUSTOMER AUTHENTICATION (TCA) As a condition of eligibility, applicants and recipients must have their identity verified prior to authorization of benefits. Customer Authentication is a two-step process that “Discovers and Authenticates” an individual’s identity. The discovery process uses the name, social security number, and the date of birth entered by the applicant into the web application to ensure they match an actual identity. In the authentication process, the applicant is asked to answer a series of multiple-choice authentication questions at the end of the web application that only the individual should be able to answer. Once an individual’s identity is both discovered and authenticated, the technical eligibility factor of identity is established.

If the individual opts not to answer the questions or does not correctly answer the questions, the eligibility specialist must complete the verbal authentication process.

The individual does not have to answer the authentication questions to continue with the online application. All paper applications must complete the verbal authentication process. 1420.0500 AGE (TCA) Children in the assistance group must meet requirements in order for the assistance group to be eligible. 1420.0504 Definition of a Child (TCA) By definition, a child must be:

1. unmarried (never married or marriage was annulled), 2. not legally emancipated, and 3. under age 18, or under age 19 and a full-time student in secondary school or at the equivalent level of vocational or technical training.

A child is eligible to receive assistance due to age requirements through the month of the child’s appropriate birthday unless born on the first day of the month. Eligibility then ceases effective the birth month.