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Chapter: 2000 Coverage Groups Program: TCA 5 member except for the receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a fully capped child, or a child excluded due to immunization penalties.

4. A Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) recipient receiving benefits through a protective payee for children under age 16 due to noncompliance (second or subsequent sanction) with the Regional Workforce Board may receive TCC if the assistance group loses TCA because of earnings or receipt of or an increase of child support. The children for whom TCC is requested must be under the age of 13. 2020.0309 Eligibility Period for Transitional Child Care (TCA) Eligibility for Transitional Child Care (TCC) begins with the first month after a participant has stopped receiving Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), and continues for up to 24 consecutive months.

An assistance group loses eligibility for TCC when the individual is no longer employed or is receiving TCA.

A new TCC eligibility period may be established when the individual again becomes TCA eligible and becomes employed. When establishing TCC eligibility after a break in assistance, the eligibility should be based on what is most beneficial to the assistance group.

Note: An up-front diversion payment to current recipients of TCC should not interrupt service delivery or the existing time frame for TCC. 2020.0400 RELATIVE CAREGIVER PROGRAM (TCA) The Relative Caregiver Program provides payments for certain children placed with relatives by the Department or a contracted agency as an alternative to foster care. Eligibility factors are consistent with TCA but must include the following:

1. Child Welfare Communications Form. The eligibility specialist initiates the relative caregiver eligibility determination upon receipt of the Child Welfare Communication Form from the child welfare professional.

2. Persons wishing to apply for the Relative Caregiver payments may do so with or without a referral from Office Child Welfare. The eligibility specialist must inform all relatives caring for children who are placed with them by a court about the Relative Caregiver Program and give all persons caring for children who are relatives a Relative Caregiver Program Request for Eligibility Consideration Form.

3. If the request for Relative Caregiver payments is a self referral, it can be done using the paper application, through the web application or by the Relative Caregiver Request for Eligibility Consideration Form. In these situations, the eligibility specialist initiates the Child Welfare Communication Form.

Note: A child cannot receive Relative Caregiver payment during the same month as a Guardianship Assistance Program or foster care payments. 2020.0401 Relative Caregiver Payment Standards (TCA) Payments vary depending on the child’s age and the child’s own income and may be adjusted periodically to reflect changing circumstances.

Each child’s eligibility is determined separately. The payment standard applied is based upon the child’s age as follows: