Page 6

5 Residence A person must be making his or her home in Oklahoma. Once established, a person does not lose Oklahoma residency status when he or she is removed from Oklahoma against his or her will and held in another state, for example, in federal prison or goes out-of-state to look for a job or to attend school. Citizenship. All TANF recipients must be U.S. citizens, or a "qualified alien" as defined in the provisions of §431 of the PRWORA, as amended (8 U.S.C. § 1641). All others are considered "non-qualified." Social Security Number Compliance All individuals applying for or receiving TANF must furnish the agency with a Social Security Number or proof of application for a Number and furnish the Number when received. School Attendance School attendance is required for child(ren) from the age the child is eligible for kindergarten through 18 years of age unless the child is home educated according to the Oklahoma constitution and statutes. Immunization Immunization of minor children two months of age and older is required unless otherwise exempt. Drug Screen Per Section 230.52 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statues, adult parents, or needy caretakers who receive TANF are required to undergo a Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) or other similar screening methods. If necessary to establish a reasonable expectation of certainty, the Department is authorized to use further screening methods, which may include, but are not limited to a clinical interview and consideration of the Department’s history with the applicant. If the Department has reasonable cause to believe that the recipient is engaged in the illegal use of controlled substance or substances, the Department is authorized, though not required, to request administration of a chemical drug test. The cost of all such initial screenings shall not be borne by the recipient. If at any time during the controlled substance screening process, the recipient refuses to participate, without good cause, that refusal shall lead to a closure of the TANF benefits. SASSI warrants a chemical drug screen will be completed. Persons with a positive chemical drug screen will be referred to substance treatment and/ or mental health counseling as part of their TANF work activity. This screening is necessary to ensure that children are safe in their own homes by ensuring that their parents/caretakers are not using or under the influence of illegal / controlled substance or substances. TANF child only cases and minor parents under 18 years of age are exempt. Relationship In order to be eligible for TANF, a child must be living with a specified relative, in a home maintained by that relative. TANF eligibility is also extended to pregnant women with no other children in the home. A specified relative is a relative by blood (to the 5th degree), marriage, or adoption. Unmarried parents under the age of 18 and their children living with them will be assisted only if residing with their parent, legal guardian or other adult relative, or in an adult supervised arrangement as identified in Section 408(a)(S) of the Social Security Act.