Page 322

3215.05.00 TANF ASSISTANCE GROUPS (C)

TANF eligibility is determined on the basis of the eligibility of the child or the pregnant individual. An eligible child is a dependent child under age 18 who is a citizen of the United States, or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. The roles served by individuals within the AG are defined as follows: • The dependent child is a child under the age of 18. The child must live with a specified relative who exercises the primary responsibility for the care and control of the child. (Specified relatives are discussed in Section 2420.00.00.) • A married person whose marital relationship is intact is not considered to be a dependent child, regardless of age. • The caretaker relative is the individual living in the home who bears a specific, qualifying relationship to the dependent child. (See Section 2420.00.00) The caretaker relative must have the primary responsibility for the care and control of the child and may be his parent or another relative. • The non-caretaker parent is a parent who is living with his child but does not assume responsibility for his care and control. In this situation, another relative who is responsible for care and control of the child would have to be in the home for TANF eligibility to exist.

To qualify for TANF, an AG MUST include at least one individual who meets the above definition of dependent child AND a parent or other caretaker who qualifies as his specified relative.

Due to the complexity of family living situations and the requirements of the AG, there may be AGs in which the children are under the care and control of different caretakers. These situations may result in the inclusion of multiple caretakers in one AG. The following sections discuss additional AG requirements. 3215.05.05 TANF PARTICIPATING AG MEMBERS (C)

The TANF eligibility determination MUST include the following mandatory participants who live together if they meet the categorical requirements of the program:

• If pregnancy TANF, then eligibility is for the pregnant individual only. • All natural, adoptive, or half-siblings who meet the definition of dependent child; • The biological or legal parents of these dependent children provided parental rights have not been terminated.

When determining the mandatory participating members of the AG, the focal point is the dependent child. The relationship between the dependent child and each household member must be considered. It is helpful to view the dependent child as a magnet who draws others into the AG. As members are drawn in, their relationship to others must be examined. The result may be the inclusion of mandatory members who do not bear a parental or sibling relationship to one or more of the dependent children.

EXAMPLE: