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Mississippi will not issue assistance payments to a family that includes an adult head-of- household, minor head-of-household, minor parent head-of-household, spouse of such head-of- household or a non-recipient parent who has received TANF funding for 60 months (whether consecutive or not), except as allowed by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 in regard to the 20% exemption. 60-Month Extension Hardships will be assessed starting at forty (40) months and continued eligibility determined at the end of the individual’s five (5) year time limit. The following individuals, as approved, may continue to receive benefits beyond the five-year time limit so long as the State does not exceed the 20% exemption criteria:

• Adults who are determined to be temporarily or permanently incapacitated and the household income does not exceed the TANF Basic 100% Requirement. • Parents who are required to provide full-time care for an ill or incapacitated child or adult in the home and the household income does not exceed the TANF Basic 100% Requirement.

A family will not be considered for a 60-month time limit extension when the only child remaining in the TANF case is a family cap child and is ineligible for monthly TANF benefits. School Attendance Requirement Mississippi requires regular school attendance and regular immunizations for all dependent children served under TANF. This is in accordance with regulation described in Mississippi Code of 1972 Annotated at 43-17-5 (5). A 25% monthly benefit reduction is imposed for failure to comply without good cause. Family Cap Mississippi will impose a family benefit cap to prevent increases in assistance for new children coming into the family after the initial ten months of benefits, with certain exceptions. Earned Income Disregards Mississippi will provide a one-time total earned income disregard opportunity for six months to TANF adults who find a job working at least 35 hours per week, at or above the federal minimum wage either: within 30 days after authorization for new TANF approvals on or after July 1, 1997; or within 30 days after the initial start date of the job readiness/job search work activity. The six- month total disregard of earnings will be available only once for new TANF approvals and ongoing cases beginning July 1, 1997, and thereafter. A three-month total earned income disregard will be available when the TANF case is subject to closure because of increased earnings and the individual is employed at least 25 hours per week at or above the federal minimum wage. The three-month disregard cannot be claimed in combination with the six-month disregard. The three-month disregard can be claimed again after a 12-month consecutive break in assistance.