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Minor Parent

A minor parent is defined as:

 A TANF eligible individual under 18 years of age who has never been married and is the natural parent of a dependent child living with the minor parent or is pregnant.

A minor parent is required to live in the home of the minor parent’s parent, legal guardian or other adult relative who is at least 18 years of age or in an adult-supervised supportive living arrangement unless exempt.

If the minor parent cannot return to the home of a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative, the Department of Human Services (DHS), in consultation with the county children and youth agency, will provide assistance to the minor parent and dependent child in locating a second- chance home, maternity home or other appropriate adult-supervised supportive living arrangement unless the agency determines that the minor parent’s living situation is appropriate.

When both parents are living with a child, the family may qualify for TANF only if one or both parents are incapacitated, unemployed or employed with earnings that are low enough to qualify the family for supplemental TANF assistance.

Certain individuals who live with the minor child must be included in the application for assistance. These members of the TANF mandatory budget group include the TANF child, the biological or adoptive parents of the TANF child and blood-related or adoptive siblings of the TANF child as long as they also meet TANF eligibility requirements.

A family, for purposes of the 60-month time limit, is defined as a minor child and their parent(s) or other adult specified relative with whom they live and who is applying on the child’s behalf. A family does not include a specified relative who is not included in the TANF mandatory budget group and is seeking TANF assistance only for the minor child.

Absence of a Minor Child

Under TANF, a specified relative may continue to receive benefits for an otherwise eligible minor child who is absent, or expected to be absent, from the home. The State may choose between several periods of temporary absence:

 Not less than 30 days, up to 45 days, up to 180 days or more than 180 days if good cause is established.