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Montana State Plan for the 17 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES PROGRAM

Full Plan #25 Effective 01/01/2024 Supersedes #2 01/01/2021. Healthcare Information and Montana Eligibility System (CHIMES), maintains time clocks for all adults receiving cash assistance. CHIMES will not allow authorization of cash assistance beyond the adult’s 60-month time limit unless an extension has been granted. A household may apply to receive an extension to the 60-month time limited benefits as allowed in Sec. 264.1 (c) of the CFR.

The CHIMES maintains the 60-month limit for federal purposes and reflects every non-excluded month of cash assistance received by an adult in Montana beginning February 1, 1997 (TANF State Plan effective date) and from another state or states beginning no earlier than October 1, 1996 nor later than July 1, 1997 depending on when that state’s TANF State Plan became effective. Federal TANF exclusions stop this clock. 2. Clients not subject to the TANF 60-Month federal time limits are: a. Minor children under the age of 18 or up to age 19 attending school full- time and living with a specified caretaker relative. b. Teen parent, not head-of-household. c. Adult parent, not head-of-household, unmarried. d. Disqualified parent. e. Individuals not required to comply with an E/SP. 3. TANF 60-month time limit exclusion In determining the number of months for which an adult (regardless of race) has received cash assistance, the State excludes any month during which an adult (regardless of race) lives within the exterior boundaries of an Indian reservation if, during the month, at least 50% of the adults were not employed. Joblessness is evaluated using the standards established jointly by the Administration for Children and Families and the tribe relying on the most reliable federal data available with respect to such month. 4. TANF Cash hardship exemption

Montana will extend TANF cash assistance payments beyond the Federal 60- month limit up to a maximum of 24 months to households which apply for Extended Benefits, are otherwise eligible for TANF cash assistance, and where at least one adult receiving (or eligible to receive) benefits are required to participate in Employment and Training and meet one of the following Extension Reason criteria: a. Physical and/or mental incapacity. b. Household member physical and/or mental incapacity. c. Current domestic violence. d. Physical and/or mental incapacity due to domestic violence.