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06 WITHHOLDING AUTHORIZATION Once eligibility has been established, the recipient continues to receive his TANF benefit until (1) facts have been secured showing that one or more eligibility requirements are not met, and (2) the recipient has had an opportunity during the notice period to respond to the facts that led to reduction or termination. See below for the specified circumstances when it is necessary and permissible to withhold authorization of assistance. Death If the death of the TANF payee or the death of the child in a one-child case occurs or is reported after current payroll deadline, there is no means of withholding the next month’s benefit for corrective action. In the case of the death of a TANF payee, use the emergency payment procedure described in Chapter 3, Emergency Situations. In the case of the death of a legal guardian, no one else can receive and use the TANF assistance payment until the court removes the guardian and either appoints a new one or releases the individual from guardianship or conservatorship. Cannot Locate - Payee and Children When a TANF payee and children move, leave no address, and cannot be located, remove authorization from the next month’s TANF benefit, if possible, then: 1. Take definite steps to try to locate the family and record these efforts in the case record and on CADM. Continue the investigation, if necessary, until the time has passed when the payee has missed two TANF benefits. EXAMPLE: The investigation is begun on July 25, when it is too late to stop the August payment. Continue the investigation until at least October 1. EXAMPLE: The investigation is begun on July 10. The worker should remove the authorization from the August benefit record (assuming August was authorized by July 10). The investigation should be continued until at least September 1. 2. If at the end of the two month period the payee and the children have not been located, record all the facts in the case record and on CADM and take steps to close the case. When the notice of closure is released, ensure that the CURRENT MONTH of the TANF program is equal to the month following the month the last TANF benefit was received by the family. EXAMPLE: In No. 1, the payee received an August payment, so the CURRENT MONTH should be September for closure.

Volume III Chapter 7

MISSISSIPPI [ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION PROCESS: CORRECTIVE AUTHORIZATION PROCEDURES] Revised 08-01-