114.3 Secondary Students

A child’s school attendance is a factor when deciding if a child qualifies for TANF as a dependent child.

55 Pa. Code § 141.41

55 Pa. Code § 145.41

To be eligible for TANF, the child must be one of the following:

Under age 18

Age 18 and a full-time student in a secondary school or the equivalent level in a vocational or technical school

NOTE: School means a program of supervised education or vocational training approved by the school district authorities or by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Training means any of the following:

A vocational training course in a federal or state program such as WI O A or RESET

An organized training program, such as an apprenticeship or training arrangement sponsored by a union, civic organization, business, or industrial firm with specific training objectives

A program through the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)

A program under Section 2508.3 of the School Code.

Example: A cooperative education program where a student attends school part of the day and works in a training program part of the day

A TANF student under age 18 or age 18 and in school may continue to get TANF during official school vacations if he or she is expected to return to school full-time when the vacation is over. For the 18 year-old TANF child, eligibility continues for the whole month during which the child completes or ends full-time schooling.

55 Pa. Code § 145.43(b)(3)(i)

The student's completion or ending date is the date school records show he or she ended full-time status.

NOTE: Temporary absences for reasons accepted under the compulsory attendance laws or under regulations of the secondary school or vocational training program are not interruptions of full-time attendance.

After verifying attendance during the fiscal month in which the TANF child turns 18, the CAO again must verify attendance in March, June, September, and December until the TANF child reaches age 19.

55 Pa. Code § 145.41

The CAO must verify attendance more often if there is any question about the child's student status.

Revised June 25, 2024, replacing November 2, 2018