Page 225

225 (07/2026) Chapter 2:Eligibility • Section 5: Financial eligibility A TANF benefit group that has countable earned income is eligible for an exit limit increase in the following situations: • When there is an open TANF case where earned income is reported, or • When restoring a TANF case within 30 days of case closure due to earned income received by a member of the benefit group prior to closing. ELI serves as both the countable and adjusted income limits for the above two case types. ELI is only for individuals in the benefit group. If the TANF benefit group reports someone has moved into the home with income, the calculation to determine eligibility is based on the countable income limit (not the exit limit increase). Non-needy caretaker relative grants In the TANF program, a caretaker relative other than a parent who chooses not to be included in the need group is subject to the non-needy caretaker relative countable income limit standard. The non-needy caretaker relative countable income limit standard for the filing group is set at 185 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). Once the caretaker relative decides they need TANF benefits, the household is subject to the same TANF and JOBS requirements as parents. This includes adult income limit standards. The following caretaker relatives can be a non-needy caretaker relative: • Grandfather or grandmother • Brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister • Uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew or niece • Stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother or stepsister • The spouse of anyone listed above, or • Any blood relative. A stepparent or stepsibling may be considered a caretaker relative even if the marriage to the biological or adoptive parent ended in death or divorce. When a caretaker relative of one child applies for another child in the same household, the groups must be combined. A dependent child can only be in one filing group at a time. ERDC The ERDC income limit is different at the initial certification versus during the certification and at recertification. Initial certification The income limit is 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) when a family is applying for ERDC as a new applicant. A new applicant includes those who are reapplying after a break in benefits of more than one calendar month.