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Volume III | Chapter 3

GENERAL The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104- 193, contains specific time limits for which any assistance unit that includes an adult may receive assistance under any State program funded under Section 403. The TANF time limit counters began with the TANF payments that were issued for the benefit month October 1996. The only TANF cases exempt from the 60-month federal time limit are cases in which the assistance unit does not include an adult in the budget. For example, if a child resides with a grantee relative (not a parent) who is not included in the TANF assistance unit, if a child resides with a parent(s) who is receiving SSI, or if the child resides with a parent that is an ineligible alien, the 60-month time limit is not applicable. Such cases are identified by the case type of ANI-adult not included. However, not all TANF cases identified as ANI cases are defined as child only cases. For example, if a child resides with a parent who is ineligible due to one of the disqualification reasons listed below, the 24-month counter and the 60-month counter are applicable even though the case type is ANI. A change in federal regulations mandates that certain disqualified adults are required to participate in allowable work activities. Beginning with October 2007 benefit payments, these adults are no longer exempt from TANF time limits. Below is list of disqualified adults that will be referred to the TANF Work Program:

• fleeing felons • individuals disqualified for fraud • individuals sanctioned for enumeration, school attendance or untimely reporting of a child leaving the home For additional information, refer to Chapter 6, Special Budgeting Procedures for Disqualified Individuals. 60 and 24-MONTH MAXIMUMS The TANF 24- and 60-month time limits were explained in detail earlier in this chapter, under TANF Time Limits. TWP 12-month exemption time limits will have a negative effect on the family’s 24month time limit if the TWP exemption exceeds the 12-month lifetime maximum. Certain TWP exemptions are limited to a lifetime maximum of 12 months. Months used while claiming a TWP exemption as a caretaker of a child younger than 12 months (JJ), or a victim of domestic violence (JV) do not count in the TANF 24-month time limit, unless the TWP exemption exceeds the 12month maximum. If a TWP 12-month time limit counter exceeds 12 months, the TANF 24-month time limit counter will begin at the 13th month and continue thereafter.

3040 MISSISSIPPI [ NON - FINANCIAL CRITERIA: TIME LIMITS] Revised 07 - 01 - 19