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must be sent to close a TANF case based on the 60-month lifetime time limit. Workers should be aware that the TANF time limit counters displaying in MAVERICS are not current. Refer to TANF High Counters Report earlier in this chapter and MAVERICS Time Limit Counters later in this chapter for additional and more detailed information. Prior to closing a TANF 60-month high counter case for any reason, the case must be reviewed, via the MDHS-EA-313A process, by the County and Regional director. This will ensure proper handling and allow the case to be removed from the tickler. The worker must use the A454, TANF Closure - 60-Month Time Limit, notice to close the TANF case. NOTE: An individual receiving the 3-month, 6-month or marriage disregard at the time the 60th month is paid, will not be eligible for any remaining months of the disregard. An individual who finds employment in the 60th month will not be eligible for any of the earned income disregards. 60-MONTH TIME LIMIT EXTENSIONS Federal regulations allow states to exempt up to 20% of the State’s countable cases from the TANF 60month time limit. This exemption is based on certain hardship factors. To ensure the State does not exceed the 20% exemption cap, each county is limited to 20% of the county’s countable cases. Under this 20% exemption provision, a family that reaches the 60-month time limit and meets certain hardship criteria may qualify for a TANF 60-month time limit extension in increments of three months. TANF high counter case reviews will continue for TANF cases that include an adult and a face-to-face interview must be completed every 90 days to determine the family’s ongoing eligibility for an extension. The A455, TANF 60-Month Time Limit Extension, must be sent each time an extension is allowed. The family will not be considered for a 60-month time limit extension when the only child remaining in the TANF case is a family cap child and is ineligible for monthly TANF benefits. Policy for determining whether the family is eligible for an extension on the 60-month time limit is based on specific criteria for the following two categories. Category One TANF recipients whose TWP/JOBS Program Status code is JA, JD, JV, JL, JK, JJ, EV, CF, DV, VR, NE, WP, WH, WL or SM will be handled according to the following instructions.

3056 Volume III | Chapter 3

MISSISSIPPI [NON-FINANCIAL CRITERIA: TIME LIMITS]

Revised 03-01-20