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GENERAL To participate in the TANF Program, an individual must be either a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted to the United States who must meet certain alien eligibility criteria. The presence in the household of an alien who does not meet the eligibility criteria shall not prevent the remainder of the assistance unit from applying for and receiving TANF benefits, if otherwise eligible. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, enacted August 22, 1996, limited participation in the TANF Program to qualified aliens who meet certain Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) statuses and certain veterans or active duty military personnel and their families. CITIZENSHIP AND ELIGIBLE ALIENS Individuals in the following classifications are eligible to receive TANF: For an Unlimited Period 1. A United States citizen. 2. An alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence who has worked 40 quarters of coverage under Title II of the Social Security Act, or can be credited with such qualifying quarters. A qualifying quarter includes one worked by a parent of an alien while the alien was under 18 (credits of quarters before the child is born are allowed) and a quarter worked by a spouse during their marriage if the alien remains married to the spouse or the spouse is deceased. Beginning January 1, 1997, any quarter in which the alien received any Federal meanstested benefit, such as SSI, TANF, SNAP, or HUD housing assistance, for example, is not counted as a qualifying quarter. 3. An alien who is a veteran of the U. S. Armed Forces and was honorably discharged for reasons other than alienage; an active duty member of the U. S. Armed Forces, other than active duty for training only; and the spouse and unmarried dependent children of such personnel. Eligibility for the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran or individual on active duty will continue, provided the spouse has not remarried and the marriage fulfills the requirements of Section 1304 of title 38, U.S.C. NOTE: “Unlimited Period” does not mean that there are no time limits applicable to the TANF case; only that the qualified alien may receive benefits, if otherwise eligible, under the same time limit maximums as all other TANF assistance cases. MISSISSIPPI NON - FIANANCIAL CRITERIA: CITIZENSHIP AND ALIEN STATUS

Revised 08 - 01 - 06