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putative father, usually the mother of this alleged father in whose home the child is living or will live. If the putative father has been located and is willing to follow the legal procedures for establishing paternity, refer him to the Division of Child Support Enforcement to establish relationship between the child and the putative father. If this is not possible, other sources of information must be considered. If paternity cannot be established with the reported putative father, then relationship to the caretaker relative cannot be established. If the mother of the child can be located, she is usually able to assist in establishing relationship to a relative of the putative father, but if the mother has died or deserted, the worker will have to depend on other sources to furnish information that may lead to individuals who can establish the facts. For example, if the mother, other relatives of the mother or putative father, or close friends can furnish the names of individuals in the community where the mother and putative father lived together, these individuals can sometimes make affidavits as to the fact that the mother and putative father lived together at a known address, were accepted as man and wife at a specified date, and that the child was born to them of this union at a definite time. If such information has to be used, statements should be obtained from more than one individual, and each individual giving information in this way must give definite facts and state how he knew that the situation existed at the time. CHOICE OF CARETAKER RELATIVE In TANF, the mother or other female relative most frequently makes application and becomes the payee. A legal parent in the home is always the caretaker relative, even when a protective payee is required. The caretaker relative is the primary individual (PI) in MAVERICS. The PI may or may not be a needy caretaker when other than a legal parent. The legal parent will be a needy caretaker unless he/she is an SSI recipient and therefore technically ineligible for TANF or is disqualified from the budget for reasons such as enumeration or alienage. When Both Parents are in the Home This situation will occur in cases of deprivation based on incapacity, unemployed parent, or court sentence to unpaid work. When both mother and father are in the home, either may be the payee and they should come to a decision on this point. When there is already a known MAVERICS case in the name of one parent, register the application in this name/number unless there are special circumstances to consider, such as the disability of one parent. When Parents Are Deceased or Have Deserted Child(ren) When children have lost their parents and live with another relative, the worker must evaluate the relative's interest in, attitude toward, and feelings for the children as well as the health and physical arrangements in the home of this relative. It may be better for the children if another relative accepts them in his/her home. In these situations, the Division of Family and Children’s Services may be able to help the family work out the best plan for the selection of a caretaker relative. NON-FINANCIAL CRITERIA: LIVING MISSISSIPPI NON - FINANCIAL CRITERIA: LIVING WITH CARETAKER RELATIVE

Revised 08 - 01 - 06