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Chapter: 2200 Standard Filing Unit Program: TCA 18 2220.0000 Temporary Cash Assistance This chapter presents policy for the following topics:

1. Standard Filing Unit, 2. Assistance Group, and 3. TCA, Standard Filing Unit,

The program specific sections will discuss policy on mandatory and optional members of the SFU, whose needs must (or may) be included or excluded, whose income and assets must be included, and participation status codes used in FLORIDA. 2220.0100 STANDARD FILING UNIT (TCA) The Standard Filing Unit (SFU) is the single individual or group of individuals whose income, assets, or needs are considered in the eligibility determination and benefit, income, and asset levels of the assistance group, because they share a legal or blood relationship and/or live together. Eligibility of the assistance group is based on a review of the total income and assets of all individuals in the SFU. 2220.0200 ASSISTANCE GROUPS (TCA) The assistance group is the individual(s) who meets the financial and technical eligibility requirements of the program for which they are applying. An assistance group member will always be an SFU member; however, an SFU member is not always a member of the assistance group. 2220.0400 STANDARD FILING UNIT (TCA) To receive assistance, the individuals must be determined to be in need. An individual in need is one whose assets are limited to a federally mandated amount and whose income is insufficient to meet the individual's needs. "Need" is defined by the Florida Legislature as the Consolidated Need Standard. 2220.0401 Standard Filing Unit (TCA) Persons included in a SFU who meet the technical eligibility requirements of the TCA Program must be in need and financially eligible in order to receive a cash benefit under the TCA Program. 2220.0402 Verification of SFU Members (TCA) The applicant's statement can be accepted as to the members of the SFU and the child's age and date of birth.

Pregnancy verification is required when eligibility is based on pregnancy or when multiple births are anticipated.

If the pregnancy must be verified, a written or verbal statement from a medical professional confirming the pregnancy and expected date of delivery is acceptable. 2220.0403 Needs Included (TCA) When an individual's needs are included in the SFU, that individual is considered in the assistance group size for the purpose of assigning benefit, income, and asset levels.