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Chapter: 2200 Standard Filing Unit Program: TCA 20 2220.0404.05 Teen Parent Living with Specified Relative (TCA) The needs of a teen parent who resides with a specified caretaker relative must be included in the standard filing unit (SFU) with her own child, unless the relative receives assistance for one or more siblings of the teen parent. When the teen parent's sibling(s) needs are included in the specified caretaker relative's SFU, the needs of the teen parent must be included in the relative's SFU. The needs of the teen parent's child may be included in the caretaker relative's SFU at the option of the caretaker relative. If the teen parent is included in her caretaker relative's SFU, she may not receive assistance separately for her child. If the caretaker relative chooses to apply for the teen parent's child, and the other parent of the child is in the home, then the needs of the other parent must also be included. If the applicant chooses not to apply for the teen parent's child, then that child and the other parent of that child cannot receive temporary cash assistance separately. If the FLORIDA system builds a separate assistance group for the teen parent's child and the other parent of that child, the assistance group must be denied. 2220.0404.06 Minor Siblings (TCA) All minor siblings (including half-brothers and half-sisters) living with the child for whom assistance is requested or if away from home, meeting the conditions of temporary absence, must have their needs included, provided the sibling meets all Temporary Cash Assistance eligibility criteria.

Minor siblings are those brothers and sisters under the age of 18 or under age 19 and a full-time student in secondary school or at the equivalent level of vocational or technical training who have never been married or whose marriage was annulled. The needs of these children must be included through the month of their 18th birthday or 19th birthday if a full-time student, unless born on the first day of the month. If born on the first day of the month, their needs must be removed effective the birth month.

Two-parent families containing at least one mutual child must be considered as one standard filing unit (SFU) due to the sibling relationships of mutual and nonmutual children. If the family is ineligible for Temporary Cash Assistance benefits as one SFU, Temporary Cash Assistance is not available to the nonmutual children or their parents. 2220.0404.07 Unmarried Parents (TCA) If the child’s parents are not married, have other children by prior relationships living in the home, and one or both parents are incapacitated or unemployed/underemployed or receives SSI, OSS, or ICP, one assistance group is set up. Both parents, if eligible, are included in the assistance group because the children are siblings.

If the parents are not married, have other children by prior relationships, but no mutual children, two standard filing units (SFU’s) must be set up. 2220.0404.08 Stepparents in Home (TCA) When there are two legally married stepparents in the home and neither is an SSI, OSS, or ICP recipient and each has children who are eligible for Temporary Cash Assistance (nonmutual children), two standard filing units (SFU’s) must be set up.

If there is a mutual child and one or both parents are incapacitated or one or both parents are unemployed/underemployed or an SSI, OSS, or ICP recipient, one SFU must be set up. The children’s needs and the needs of the incapacitated or unemployed/underemployed parent(s) must be included in the SFU.

When a parent and a stepparent are in the home, the parent's needs are included in the assistance group with the child. Stepparents who have no eligible children of their own may not be included in the AG under any circumstance.