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expected to manage or supervise the expenditure of the TANF payment so as to protect the best interest of the child until discharged from such responsibility by the Local Office. 3605.25.05 MONEY MISMANAGEMENT (C)

Protective payments may be made when the payee mismanages funds deliberately or because of inexperience or lack of training in money management. They are intended for caretaker relatives who have the capacity to learn to manage their funds. They are not intended for caretaker relatives whose mental or physical limitations would prevent them from learning how to manage their own affairs. 3605.25.05.05

CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING MISMANAGEMENT TO EXIST (C)

Consideration is to be given to the appointment of a protective payee when it is clearly established that the caretaker relative persistently mismanages the TANF payments to the detriment of the child. Evidence of such mismanagement must be clear and specific. Examples of such evidence include, but are not limited to: • Continued refusal or inability to properly feed or clothe the dependent child. • Continued expenditures made for nonessentials or for other items so as to threaten the child’s chances for healthy growth and development. • Continued, persistent, and deliberate failure to meet obligations for rent, food, or other essentials. • Repeated evictions or incurring of debts with attachments or levies made against current income. • Continued inability to plan and spread necessary expenditures over the usual period between assistance checks;

Documentation is to be entered in the case record of the evidence that demonstrates the need for protective payments.

Before steps are taken to appoint a protective payee, the Local Office must first undertake special efforts to develop greater ability on the part of the caretaker relative to manage funds. Specialized services are to be given on family budgeting and purchasing, meeting financial obligations, debt management, and so forth. The individual must be notified that continued misuse of the TANF payments will result in protective payments. If there is then continued evidence of persistent mismanagement of the TANF payments, protective payments are to be arranged. 3605.25.15 STANDARDS FOR SELECTION OF THE PROTECTIVE PAYEE (C)

The selection and appointment of the individual designated to receive the TANF payment on behalf of the AG is to be made by the Local Office in accordance with the following standards: • Interest in and concern with the well-being of the AG members. This interest may have been demonstrated by regular and frequent visits to the AG or past efforts to help the AG at time of crisis.