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individual who signs the required agency forms and is responsible for reporting changes in the family’s situation. Except for protective payment and emergency situations, the TANF benefit is issued in the name of the caretaker relative. This individual is also referred to as the grantee relative, PI or payee of the case, and may be a needy caretaker or a non-needy caretaker. Exception: See Minor Parent.

3007 Volume III | Chapter 3

MISSISSIPPI [NON-FINANCIAL CRITERIA: INTRODUCTION]

Revised 07-01-19

Needy Caretaker The needy caretaker is not synonymous with the caretaker relative because the caretaker relative may or may not qualify as a needy caretaker. If not a legal parent, a needy caretaker must meet the qualifications for a caretaker relative and must be financially needy in order to be included in the assistance budget. The needy caretaker may not be a recipient of SSI. If the non-parental caretaker relative does not meet the financial need tests, or does not wish to be included, the non-needy caretaker will not be included in the assistance budget and is coded OUT of the TANF case. This relative remains the caretaker (payee) and receives the TANF benefit for the assistance children. If the caretaker relative is a parent and receives SSI, the parent is coded SS for TANF participation, and should not be coded OUT of the case due to assistance unit policy. Grantee Relative See Caretaker Relative above. Eligible Recipient An eligible recipient in TANF is an individual qualifying for benefit and employment services. The number of adults who may be included as eligible recipients in a TANF budget is limited to those who qualify according to the definition of who must be included in the assistance unit (AU), i.e., the child’s Non-SSI parent or parents when both are in the home or no more than one needy caretaker relative when the child does not live with a parent. Payee This term is often used to refer to the parent/caretaker relative or the primary individual (PI) in MAVERICS, and is the individual in whose name the benefit is paid. Emergency Payee The individual who provides temporary care and control for the child(ren) in emergency situations may receive the TANF benefit for the child as an emergency payee.