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3220

MISSISSIPPI [ NON - FINANCIAL CRITERIA: DEPRIVATION]

the mother is claiming another man as the actual father. At a later date, if the absent legal father's paternity is nullified by the court, the worker will receive an alert to update MAVERICS to remove the original absent parent. A new referral will be required to refer the putative father and begin the process of establishing paternity, if necessary. 4. In some cases, it will be necessary to establish relationship between the child and a grantee relative other than the mother. Obtain statements regarding the conception and

Revised 08-01-06 birth of the child. However, in a case which involves proving relationship to a relative of a putative father, this requires naming the putative father and making a determination of paternity; otherwise, relationship and deprivation cannot be established for TANF eligibility. Whenever relationship to the caretaker relative within the specified degree cannot be established within timely processing standards, deny the application. Approve TANF if relationship can be established at a later time, the individual reapplies for money payment, and all other eligibility factors continue to be met. Hospitalization When the parent is hospitalized for more than a temporary period of time, and this results in an interruption of his functioning in providing care and support for the children, consider the children deprived for this reason. A hospitalization for illness such as tuberculosis, mental illness, some heart conditions, or surgery with complications can result in stays in the hospital for more than a temporary period. In such cases, it may be appropriate to explore incapacity as the deprivation reason. However, most hospital stays are of a temporary nature. To establish absence due to hospitalization the worker will obtain: 1. A statement from the patient's physician regarding the nature of the illness or injury and the expected length of stay in the hospital, or 2. A statement from the hospital or medical facility concerning the nature of the illness or injury and the expected length of the stay. See Chapter 3, Living with Caretaker Relative - Temporary Separations, for further information. Imprisonment