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Individuals who receive TANF benefits on or after March 3, 1997, are subject to all requirements of the TANF program. Recipients are subject to the 60-month lifetime limit and the work requirements of Act 35 beginning March 3, 1997. Defining Assistance/Non-Assistance Benefits Assistance Assistance For purposes of applying TANF time limits, work and work activity requirements and child support cooperation (including assignment) requirements, the term “assistance” is defined as cash payments, vouchers and other forms of benefits designed to meet a family’s ongoing basic needs (i.e., for food, clothing, shelter, utilities, household goods, personal care items and general incidental expenses). Assistance also includes:  Supportive services such as transportation and TANF-funded child care provided to non-employed cash assistance recipients. If a benefit falls within the definition of assistance, the benefit counts as assistance even when receipt of the benefit is conditioned on participation in work, community service or other work-related activities. Financial eligibility for TANF, Time-Out and Extended TANF cash assistance is determined by comparing the net countable income for a calendar month to the budget group’s Family Size Allowance (FSA), plus any special need allowances. If the income equals or exceeds the FSA plus any special needs allowances, the budget group is ineligible for cash assistance. Current FSA levels are found in 55 Pa. Code, Chapter 183, Income, Appendix B. Table 3. The resource limit is $1,000. Funding for TANF is commingled state and federal funds. Funding for Time-Out is segregated state funds and funding for Extended TANF is all federal monies. Non-Assistance The final Federal TANF Rules of April 12, 1999, include the potential for funding a class of benefits known as “non-assistance.” Pennsylvania excludes from the definition of “assistance” activities that support employed former TANF recipients or those who are eligible for, but not receiving “assistance.” For example, case management services, job retention programs, child care and wage subsidies may be provided as on-going supports to employed former cash assistance recipients. These services and benefits received by the family are considered “non-assistance,” and the family receiving them after leaving cash assistance is no longer using months of time limited TANF assistance. In Pennsylvania, the Department constantly reviews its programs to ensure they meet the needs of low-income families as envisioned in the four TANF purposes. The Department incorporated one non-assistance initiative included in the FY 2018-2019