Page 13

12

Time Limit and Work Requirements for Receipt of TANF Receipt of TANF assistance is limited to a total of 60 months (five years) in the lifetime of an adult head-of-household or spouse of head-of household. The assistance received as an adult (age 18 and over) head of household or spouse of head of household counts towards the limit. Assistance received by a pregnant minor head of household, minor parent head of household or minor married to the head of household also counts towards the limit. Periods of receipt need not be consecutive to count towards the 60 months. If the TANF budget group includes only children, the 60-month limit does not apply. Beginning March 3, 1997, the Department activated both the 60-month TANF time clock and the pre/post-24-month clock which tracks the number of days of receipt of cash assistance. For applicants, these clocks are activated when cash assistance is authorized. For purposes of the TANF time limit, 60 months equals 1830 days. For purposes of applying sanctions for non-compliance with work/work activity requirements, 24 months equals 732 days. Determining Eligibility Pennsylvania is following rules, regulations, and procedures in effect prior to the TANF implementation date, except for the following provisions that are authorized or required by State law P.L. 175, No. 35 (Act 35) and P.L. 549, No. 58 (Act 58) or by federal law: Earned Income Disregard

The gross earned income of recipients is subject to a continuous 50 percent disregard. The disregard encourages recipient families to work and provides additional financial support as they make the transition from public assistance to self-sufficiency. Applicants may qualify for the 50 percent disregard if they have received TANF in one of the four months prior to application or if their income is equal to or less than the standard of need. The deduction for the cost of dependent care for an incapacitated adult is made following application of the 50 percent disregard. Work Expense Deduction

Effective September 26, 2020, each working individual in all TANF families with earned income may be eligible for $200 a month deduction for work expenses. Income Exclusions

Income is excluded as provided in state regulation at 55 Pa. Code §183.81. Funds deposited into a Saving for Education, Entrepreneurship and Down payment (SEED) account, including interest earned on the account, are excluded as income when determining eligibility. These accounts are currently being