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child(ren) and an average annual income at or below 185 percent of the need standard. TANF funds may be used to provide non-financial assistance/services to families with income at or below 350 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

Evaluation of Resources

Mississippi adopted Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) in June 2010 which exempted TANF families from being tested for resources, with certain exceptions, and provided TANF- funded services through Families First Resource Centers, thus conferring BBCE to certain applicant/recipient households.

In 2017, the Mississippi Legislature passed House Bill 1090, The Medicaid and Human Services Transparency and Fraud Prevention Act, or “Hope” (“Act to Restore Hope Opportunity and Prosperity for Everyone”) Act. The Hope Act required a significant change in the consideration of resources for applicants and recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. Under the requirements of the Hope Act, conferring BBCE status to most benefit households is no longer permitted. Effective July 1, 2019, all families applying for TANF (new applications and redeterminations) will be subject to an evaluation of all household resources. The resource limit is $2000 for all TANF households. Under Change Reporting rules, families subject to an evaluation of resources must self-report if the total amount of resources exceeds the resource limit for the family. This self-reporting requirement is included in the Rights and Responsibilities (MDHS-EA-300) provided to the family. The Change Reporting Form (MDHS-EA-946) provides households the opportunity to self-report changes in liquid resources, such as cash, stocks, bonds, and bank accounts. A child or children under 18 years of age and their parent(s) or other caretaker relative must meet all technical and financial eligibility requirements in order to qualify for a TANF benefit. The child or children must be deprived of one or both parents due to:

1. Incapacity. 2. Death. 3. Continued absence which includes, but is not limited to, absences by reason of: a. Divorce. b. Desertion or non-support of legal parent. c. Illegitimacy. d. Hospitalization for more than a temporary period. e. Imprisonment. f. Court sentence to perform unpaid public work or service while living at home. g. Removal of the child from the home by court order. h. Legal adoption by a single parent. 4. Unemployment of the principal wage earner (PWE)