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REQUIREMENTS The age limit for a dependent child to receive a TANF benefit is 18. The child will no longer be eligible beginning with the month after his/her 18th birthday, unless the date of birth falls on the first of the month. The child must be under 18 at least one day of the month to be eligible. The date of birth must be verified for each child in the TANF assistance unit. A caretaker relative, or grantee relative, is a parent or other adult relative within the specified degree of relationship who is 18 years old or older. State law requires minor parents (under age 18) who are not married to live with their parent(s) or other adult caretaker relative in order to receive assistance. Requests for exemptions from this provision must be approved on a case by case basis by the Economic Assistance Policy Unit. See Minor Parent Criteria. VERIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION The long birth certificate with the Vital Statistics registration number listing the child’s name, date of birth, and the name of the child’s parent(s) is the preferred verification document. However, other types of documentation may be used whenever this is not available. Selection of Documents In selecting records or documents to be used to establish date of birth or age, note the following principles: 1. One important consideration in using a record is to note whether or not it might have been made in order to set down the birth date or other facts to be used in establishing eligibility for TANF. 2. Entries made in personal records, such as a family Bible, birthday book of the family, and the like, must give evidence of having been made in times past. That is, do not accept a newly written record of the date of birth or other information being sought. 3. The record must be free of erasures, mark-overs, or other changes. 4. Do not keep original documents, such as birth or baptismal certificates, marriage licenses, or other documents of personal value to the applicant. Either make a copy of the document or record the information and return the document to the applicant. 5. There is no requirement for a record to have been in existence for any specified period prior to the date of application. Recording Documentary Evidence Record on form MDHS-EA-301C, TANF Basic Data Form, the nature of the document used and MISSISSIPPI [ NON - FINANCIAL CRITERIA: AGE] Revised 12 - 01 - 06