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6 Child Support Cooperation with the Oklahoma Child Support Services is required as a condition of eligibility for cash assistance unless exempt for good cause. Non-Payment Situations Oklahoma will deny assistance for fugitive felons, probation and parole violators. Oklahoma will deny assistance for 10 years to a person found by a hearings officer or Court to have made fraudulent statements or representation with respect to identification or place of residence in order to obtain specified types of assistance in two or more states. Lifetime Time Limits on TANF Cash Assistance TANF cash assistance is intended to be a temporary means of support while families work towards self- sufficiency. Federal TANF cash assistance beyond 60 months will be provided to no more than 20% of the total caseload, as permitted by TANF regulations. States may continue benefits to families using State only funding. A family in Oklahoma may not receive TANF cash assistance for longer than 60 months in a lifetime except in those cases in which the department has determined that the family qualifies for an exemption or temporary hardship extension. The Time Limit Does Not Apply to: • Minor children who are not the head of household • A parent or caretaker relative not included in TANF Benefit • Receipt of non-cash assistance Temporary Hardship Extensions to the Time Limit: • Substance Abuse • Chronically Under-Employed • Disabled Individual • Mental Illness • Pending SSI/SSA Disability Decision • Training/Education • Under Employment Financial Eligibility Consideration is given to the income and assets of all members of the included assistance unit as well as excluded stepparents, person acting in role of spouse, sponsors of aliens, sanctioned parents and parents or legal guardians of minor parents. Income Income is defined as gain, payment, or proceeds from labor, business, property, retirement, and other benefits. All available income, except that required to be disregarded by law or the Oklahoma Department of Human Services policy, is taken into consideration in determining eligibility for TANF cash assistance. Income is considered available when actually received. When an individual's income is reduced due to recoupment of an overpayment or a garnishment, the gross amount before the recoupment or garnishment is counted as income. The individual is responsible for reporting all income, the source, amount, and regularity of receipt. Temporary Absence Temporary absence from the home of the child or caretaker relative for no more than 6 months is allowed under certain circumstances, provided that the caretaker relative has full responsibility for the supervision and guidance of the child and provided that any delegation of authority is temporary, voluntary and revocable. The child or caretaker relative must return home at the completion of the reason for separation, unless there is good cause for the person to be out of the home.