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SECTION 2: NEEDY FAMILIES

2.1 ELIGIBILITY FOR TANF-FUNDED ASSISTANCE AND NON- ASSISTANCE (SECTIONS 414.045, 414.0652, 414.075, 414.085, 414.095, F.S.)

Florida limits TANF-funded benefits and/or services eligibility to families who meet the eligibility standards as outlined in federal and state law. Except as allowed by federal law, to be eligible for programs and/or services funded with segregated federal TANF funds or state-funds that are reported as maintenance of effort, a Florida family must meet the following requirements: 1. Be U.S. citizens or qualified noncitizens, 2. Be legal residents of the state, 3. Be a family with a minor child living with a custodial parent or caretaker relative, 4. Be a pregnant woman, 5. Be a needy family with income commensurate with the financial eligibility required by the program (Exception is programs under TANF purposes 3 and 4 funded with segregated TANF funds), and 6. Pass a drug test. (Limited to adult applicants and teen parents living independent of adult supervision.) Note: Drug testing was discontinued due to a Federal District Court ruling that Florida’s drug testing was unconstitutional. The U.S. Appellate Court upheld this ruling. Florida is not appealing the U.S Appellate Court’s ruling.

Florida has two definitions for “needy.” The first definition applies to a family applying to receive Temporary Cash Assistance for on-going basic needs, and the second applies to families seeking eligibility for a non-assistance service or activity.

Consistent with the four purposes under section 402(a)(1)(A)(i) of PRWORA, the state defines the following groups as “TANF-eligible families” and the level of income that establishes their status as “needy”: 1. Needy families with a gross income at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible to receive TCA. 2. Needy families with a gross income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for TANF non-assistance services. Specified individuals include victims of domestic violence, families served through programs created to strengthen Florida’s families, families at risk of welfare dependency due to substance abuse or mental illness, families with children at risk of abuse or neglect, non-custodial parents and families at risk of welfare dependence due to teen pregnancy and others as defined in the state plan. 3. TCA families who lose TCA eligibility due to employment or receipt of child support, and up-front diversion recipients are eligible for transitional services. Their eligibility continues for the periods specified in federal and state law, as long as their income remains at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. 4. Non-custodial parents with income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level referred by the court to cooperate in employment and training activities or