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Chapter: 1400 Technical Requirements Program: TCA 45 provide the reason for maintaining a separate living arrangement. Good cause reasons may include such situations as illegal substance abuse, abuse of alcohol, physical or mental abuse, serious overcrowding in the home, or a dangerous or potentially dangerous physical environment.

If good cause for not residing with a parent or caretaker relative or legal guardian is determined by the eligibility specialist and the teen parent is residing in one of the adult supervised settings, the Temporary Cash Assistance payment may include a shelter obligation and be based upon Tier I, II, or III, according to the amount paid. Payment must be made through a protective payee.

Note: If the teen parent is not living with an adult and the eligibility specialist and the supervisor determine that the teen parent does not meet an exception to this rule, the assistance group must be closed or denied. Possible exceptions will be reconsidered if the situation has changed upon reapplication.

All teen parent cases must have the following information recorded in CLRC:

1. Living arrangements, when the teen parent and child do not live with a parent, legal guardian or caretaker relative; 2. Type of verification used to establish eligibility; 3. Good cause reason and exception, as appropriate; and 4. Payee information when a protective payee is not available. 1420.0603 Verification (TCA) Living Arrangements - The teen parent’s statement is suitable verification for living in one of the required living arrangements unless questionable. The teen parent who has good cause for maintaining a separate living arrangement must provide verification of where the teen parent resides and why the teen parent is not living with an adult. Acceptable verification may be a written or an oral statement from an individual who has personal knowledge of the situation. School Attendance - The teen parent’s statement is suitable verification for school attendance unless questionable.

Note: If the teen parent is not in school but expresses an interest in attending school, the assistance group must be given a 10 day pending period to verify registration and attendance. If the teen parent does not express an interest in school, states they do not intend to attend school or fails to verify school attendance, the teen parent and their children may not receive TCA as a payee for their own benefits, nor in the assistance group of a parent or caretaker relative. 1420.0700 DEPRIVATION (TCA) Each child in the assistance group must be deprived of the support or care of one or both parents.

Each child in the assistance group must be deprived based on one of the following reasons:

1. death of one or both parents, 2. existence of only one legal parent, 3. continued absence of one or both parents, 4. incapacity of one or both parents, or 5. unemployment or underemployment of the parent(s). 1420.0701 Who is Considered a Parent (TCA) A “parent” is defined as: