Page 402
DEFINITION OF A RESOURCE Resources that belong to parents or other needy caretakers and children in the TANF assistance unit may be retained within certain specified amounts, as a family need not be destitute in order to qualify for assistance. These resources are in addition to real property identified as the home and personal and household effects of limited value. These resources must be taken into consideration in determining the eligibility of all TANF assistance units. Consideration of all resources means that the presence of the resource must be established and a determination made as to the value of the resource. MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE RESOURCES The maximum amount of cash or cash assets which a TANF assistance unit may retain and be considered needy and therefore eligible is $2000. Ineligibility based on resources continues only as long as the value of resources retained exceeds the maximum, unless the assistance unit has been disqualified in accordance with the provisions outlined in Transfer of Resources, later in this chapter. The resources of the following individuals must be tested against the $2000 limit. 1. Child(ren) in the TANF case budgeted alone whose parent(s) receives SSI or are absent from the home. 2. TANF parent(s) budgeted alone due to the child(ren) in the case receiving SSI. 3. One or more children and one or both legal parents included in the budget. 4. One or more children and a grantee relative. When an individual has been determined needy and can be included in the budget, the total for the budget group cannot exceed $2000. 5. A TANF assistance unit consisting of a parent and his/her children and a stepparent. The maximum of $2000 applies to the cash assets of the parent and his/her children. Consider the following principles: a. Do not consider the resources of the stepparent available to the parent s children unless the stepparent makes them available. b. Consider one-half of the resources of the stepparent which he has
Revised 07-01-19 MISSISSIPPI [ RSOURCES: GENERAL ] Revised 07 - 01 - 19 Volume III | Chapter 5 5000 MISSISSIPPI [ RSOURCES: GENERAL ]