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1. The budgetary deficit, which is secured by subtracting the net income from the requirements of the budget group. 2. The legal maximum benefit set by the State Legislature. 3. The percentage, or ratable, reduction set by the agency according to state funds available for the TANF program. 4. Federal requirements on minimum benefits, rounding down benefits, and proration of benefits for the month in which the application or reapplication is made. The benefit will be the percent of the budgetary deficit or the maximum benefit for the number of individuals in the budget, whichever is less. Exceptions: See discussions below regarding minimum benefits, rounding down benefits and proration of benefits for the month of application. See Chapter 15, Table II, for the current legal maximum benefit, percentage reduction, and minimum benefit. Also, see Table III for computing the percentage of the budgetary deficit. Minimum Benefit The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 prohibits monthly benefits to individuals or families who qualify for benefits of less than $10 monthly. Individuals and families who are denied benefits

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solely because of the minimum benefit limitation are subject to all rights, except benefits, and all responsibilities, including TANF Work Program, child support, and reporting requirements. With two exceptions, MAVERICS will not issue benefits when the data entered in the system shows that the family is eligible for a monthly benefit of less than $10. However, MAVERICS will issue benefits of less than $10 when recoupment of improper payments reduces a benefit below $10 or corrective payments are entered on the Underpayment Authorization (UNAU) screen. Rounding Down for Benefits The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 requires that TANF benefits be rounded down, when not a whole dollar amount, to the next lower whole dollar amount. In Mississippi, the amount used to establish benefits is the result of multiplying the deficit by the applicable percentage reduction, or the legal maximum benefit, whichever is less. See Chapter 15, Table I, for need standards which meet this requirement and Table III for benefit amounts which also comply. Note that families having any deficit will be subject to TANF requirements. Prorating Benefits for Applicants When a monthly benefit of $10 or more should be authorized for the month in which application was filed: 1. The system will determine the amount of the monthly benefit. (If the monthly benefit is less than $10, proration is not applicable.) MISSISSIPPI [ BUDGETARY PROCESS: GENERAL PRINCIPLES ]

Revised 12 - 01 - 17