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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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NOTE: All earned or unearned income received by the minor parent must be considered when budgeting the case unless specifically excluded. (See 7.5)

1. Living Arrangement of Minor Parent A minor parent (unmarried) under age 18 must live in the household of a parent, legal guardian, other adult relative or in an adult supervised living arrangement in order to receive TANF cash benefits. DSS will assist the minor parent in obtaining the necessary verification if one or more of the following exceptions exist: a. The minor parent has no living parent or legal guardian whose whereabouts is known.

b. No living parent or legal guardian of the minor parent allows the minor parent to live in his/her home. c. The minor parent lived apart from his/her own parent or legal guardian for a period of at least one year before either the birth of the dependent child(ren) or the minor parent’s having applied for benefits.

d. The physical or emotional health or safety of the minor parent or dependent child(ren) would be jeopardized if they resided in the same residence with the major parent or legal guardian.

NOTE: The ES Worker will determine if this allegation is justified.

e. There is otherwise good cause for the minor parent and dependent child(ren) to receive assistance while living apart from the major parent, legal guardian, another adult relative or an adult supervised supportive living arrangement.

CAUTION: Documentation of good cause includes, but is not limited, to written statements from at least two corroborating persons showing that it is not in the best interest of the minor parent to live with his/her parents or legal guardian or in an adult supervised supportive living arrangement. One of these corroborating persons should be a professional, such as a school counselor, social worker or mental health professional.

When this living arrangement is required for a minor parent under the age of 18, and his/her dependent child(ren), the TANF cash benefits must be paid when possible, to a protective payee.

2. Budgeting Income for the Minor Parent

Income in minor parent cases is budgeted as follows if the minor parent is under age 18 and unmarried:

A. Living with Parent / Deemed Income Income of the parent(s), including stepparents, must be deemed to the minor parent BG. To calculate the amount to budget:

1. Add total gross income of the major parent(s)