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Eligibility rules are as follows:

 Families receiving assistance must become ineligible for assistance due to excess earned income.

 Families must meet the federal WPR at the time they no longer qualify for assistance.

 Families will receive $100 per month (two semi-monthly $50 issuances) for three consecutive months.

 Assistance received during this period does not count against the 60-month lifetime limit on TANF.

Effective 2015, this program is funded with 100 percent state commingled funds.

This grant meets TANF purpose number two, to end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage. Community Service Option Pennsylvania has opted out of the provision to require a parent or caretaker to participate in community service if that parent or caretaker has received assistance for two months, is not exempt from work participation, and is not engaged in work.

VII. Office of Children, Youth and Families

A. Other State Programs and Services Designed to Meet the Purposes of TANF

1. General Relationship to TANF Purposes TANF provides states the flexibility to develop and implement innovative approaches to address TANF purposes. Therefore, effective October 1, 1999, the Department, through OCYF, County Children and Youth Agencies (CCYAs) has operated a segregated TANF federally-funded program. TANF funds used for child welfare services are segregated into “In-home Children”, current TANF rules, and “Placed Children”, authorized solely under prior law. The Department has opted to utilize TANF funds for child welfare services that are determined to be Non-Assistance services. Non-Assistance services are non-recurring, short term benefits designed to deal with crisis situations that will not extend beyond four months (120 consecutive days) and services such as counseling and employment services that do not provide basic income support.