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Volume III | Chapter 3

• "JJ" Caretaker of a Child Under 12 Months of Age - Months used for this exemption will not count in the 24-month lifetime limit, but will count in the 60-month lifetime limit • "JV" Victim of Domestic Violence - Months used for this exemption will not count in the 24-month lifetime limit, but will count in the 60-month lifetime limit, and must be documented by a police report. Note: If the 12-month counter for the JJ or JV codes increases to 13, the 24-month time limit counter will increment for that month and any additional months the individual is coded JJ or JV.

3001 14 Personal Responsibility Contract Each adult in the TANF assistance unit must acknowledge the family responsibilities incumbent upon receipt of assistance by signing form MDHS-EA-312, Personal Responsibility Contract. Caretaker relatives who are not included in the assistance budget as needy caretakers must also sign the contract acknowledging their responsibilities for the TANF children. TANF will be denied if the responsible adult(s) fails to sign the contract. Assistance Unit Concept The legal parent(s), if in the home, and all technically-eligible minor children (under age 18) must be included in the TANF assistance budget. An adult caretaker other than the legal parent may be included with the children when there is no legal parent in the household, provided the adult wishes to be included and meets all eligibility criteria. Minor Parents Unmarried minor parents (under age 18) and their children are required to live with the minor’s parent or other adult caretaker relative in order to receive TANF. The parent or caretaker relative will be the payee, and all normal eligibility criteria apply, including assistance unit policy. Exceptions for good cause must be approved by State Office Policy Unit prior to approval. Not a Recipient of SSI An individual who receives SSI is not eligible for TANF benefits. The SSI recipient will not have his/her needs, income or resources included to determine the family’s eligibility for TANF. If the

MISSISSIPPI [NON-FINANCIAL CRITERIA: INTRODUCTION] Revised 10-01-