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Volume III | Chapter 3

3902 participation in the TWP. A person who receives SSI is not eligible for TANF and cannot be referred to the TWP. Receipt of any amount of Social Security disability or 100% VA disability income establishes incapacity and exemption from TWP. If the Medical Review Unit made the initial determination of incapacity for deprivation, a decision on referral to the work program should have been made at the same time. If not, the medical/social process as described in Chapter 3, Establishing Incapacity, may be used to obtain a decision. This would also be appropriate for a single parent household where deprivation was not initially determined by the Medical Review Unit and the caretaker relative claims disability as a work exemption. A household with incapacity as the TWP exemption reason is also exempt from the 24-month time limit. Any months used under this exemption reason will count in the 60-month time limit. Additional and more detailed information is located in Chapter 3, Referable TANF Applicants/TANF Interview and Referable TANF Recipients/Referral of Incapacitated Adults. Caretaker of Ill or Incapacitated Adult (JF) or Child (JC) A TANF parent, with at least one child included in the assistance unit, who is responsible for the full-time care of an ill or incapacitated household member, may be exempt from TANF work requirements, with proper verification. The incapacitated individual must live in the home with the assistance family, but may not be included in the assistance budget. Needy caretaker relatives are not eligible for this exemption. The medical condition of this individual must be verified by appropriate medical records. The medical information must be specific in regard to the incapacitated individual's need for full-time care, the nature of the illness, and how long it is expected to last. The Medical Review process may be used to establish incapacity for the household member if deemed appropriate by the worker. New statements will be required at each redetermination. A parent may be exempt from work program requirements and be eligible for the "JC" exemption even if the ill or incapacitated child attends school full-time. Federal regulations simply require medical documentation to substantiate the need for the parent to remain in the home to care for the disabled child. The TANF parent must also provide information to explain why she/he is the appropriate individual to provide this care or whether there is another suitable individual who could take on this responsibility. The worker must use the CADM screen to document the caretaker's statement Revised 10-01-14

in the electronic case record. Once properly verified and documented, the TANF household is exempt from the 24-month time limit during the period of time this exemption is allowed. Any months used under this exemption reason will count in the 60-month time limit. The parent should be reminded to report any change in circumstances that would affect eligibility for this exemption, such as an improvement in the condition of the incapacitated individual, a change in caregiver, or a move to a nursing home or other institution. Temporary Illness or Injury (JL) An individual in the assistance unit who has a temporary illness or injury, defined as a short-term problem expected to last no more than 30 days, may be granted an exemption from work requirements for a maximum of 30 days. This exemption requires a statement from the physician