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147 (07/2026) Chapter 2:Eligibility • Section 2: Eligibility groups for TANF as a needy or non-needy caretaker if the caretaker relative is given the care, control and supervision of the child. Needy caretaker relatives need to meet all eligibility requirements to qualify. Non- needy caretaker relatives need to only meet income eligibility requirements to qualify. Pregnant women Pregnant women who have no other children must have reached the first of the calendar month before their due date. For filing groups in which the only eligible child is an unborn, the father of the unborn must be in the filing group if he is in the household with the mother. If there is another dependent child in the household, the father of the unborn is included in the filing group, even when the mother’s pregnancy has not reached the calendar month before the month in which the due date falls. Caretaker relatives and children on duplicate TANF cases If a needy caretaker relative applies for TANF and meets all eligibility requirements except that their dependent child received benefits on another case, the caretaker relative cannot receive TANF for themselves until the dependent child(ren) are removed from the other case. The child(ren) may not receive TANF on both cases in the same month. Prior to issuing TANF for the caretaker relative, it needs to be determined that the child(ren) are in the caretaker relative’s household and the filling group meets all other eligibility requirements for TANF. ERDC The ERDC filing group includes all household members whose incomes and circumstances are considered in determining the family’s need for child care assistance. The following household members are included in the filing group for ERDC: • The caretaker of the child(ren) for whom ERDC benefits are requested — A caretaker is the person responsible for the care, control and supervision of the dependent child. This does not apply to a child care provider caring for the child of a member of the National Guard, U.S. Armed Forces or Reserve unit who has been called to active duty away from the child’s home for more than 30 days. The caretaker does not have to be related to the child. • Unmarried children in the care and custody of the caretaker who are under age 18 or 18 and attending secondary school or vocational training at least half time • The parent(s) of any of the above children or of an unborn child in the same household — This includes both parents and any common children in the filing group. • Foster child(ren) only if the caretaker wants to include them in the filing group • The spouse of the caretaker • Minor parents who are children of the caretaker — Minor parents who are employed may request a separate ERDC case. In this situation, the minor parent is now considered the caretaker. The minor parent and their child(ren) can form a filing group separate from the others in the household. Once the minor parent applies as a caretaker, their income becomes countable. A minor parent who is not applying as the caretaker is considered a child and their earned income is not counted. REF The filing group is the people from the household group whose circumstances are considered in the eligibility determination process.