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Montana State Plan for the 26 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES PROGRAM

Full Plan #25 Effective 01/01/2024 Supersedes #2 01/01/2021. domiciled in the State and not eligible for assistance under a Tribal Assistance Plan approved under Section 412, the opportunity to make application for assistance under the State program funded under this part through a local office of public assistance, Application is made by one of the following methods:

1. Completing Form HCS-250, "Application for Assistance" and submitting it to the Office of Public Assistance (OPA) in person, by fax or by mail; 2. Submitting an online application through www.apply.mt.gov; or 3. Completing a Statement of Facts (SOF) interview by calling the Public Assistance Help Line (PAHL) at 888-706-1535. E. THE STATE HAS ESTABLISHED AND WILL ENFORCE STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE AGAINST PROGRAM FRAUD AND ABUSE. The State has established standards and procedures concerning nepotism, conflicts of interest among individuals responsible for the administration and supervision of the State program, kickbacks, and the use of political patronage. F. OPTIONAL FAMILY VIOLENCE CERTIFICATION

Montana has adopted the Family Violence Option as stated in below: 1. All work-eligible clients are screened for the occurrence of domestic violence through a self-identification questionnaire and self-assessment. When domestic violence is identified, a referral is made to the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence or other appropriate counselor/entity dealing with domestic violence/family safety and stabilization issues. a. It is the client’s responsibility to meet with the Coalition counselor/other entity that will assess the situation and either make a referral to other appropriate resources or continue to serve the client.

2. In identified domestic violence situations, only that information necessary to refer to services and to determine eligibility for benefits or exemptions is required at the time of disclosure and any custodial parent information is suppressed when contact with the non-custodial parent(s) is necessary to meet child support enforcement requirements. 3. The state may exempt a family from the application of subparagraph (A) of Section 408 (a)(7) by reason of hardship or if the family includes an individual who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty as defined in (iii) of this subparagraph. Currently, work-eligible clients are screened for incidents of domestic violence and no individuals are exempted from work participation activities as Montana uses a universal engagement model.