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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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At approval for TANF, the Economic Services (ES) Worker will determine when individuals meet the criteria for either of the State Programs and make a referral for case management services. The ES Worker should notify the Case Manager (CM) when a family is approved for TANF benefits and make the appropriate referral for development of the WRA.

1. CHIP EMPR Coding for State Programs The appropriate EMPR code must be entered on CHIP by the ES Worker in order for the case to be listed in the Participation and Tracking System (PATS).

The EMPR code may be changed when necessary, but after case approval, the code should remain the same for the entire month. If the individual no longer meets the EMPR code, it must be changed effective the following month.

MA Applies to participants in the State Two-Parent Program. MS The second parent in the Two-Parent case when the other parent is coded, “RH”; “IN” or “DC IN Applies to individuals who are determined to be incapacitated and unable to participate in work activities based on medical documentation. The incapacity must be expected to last 90 days or more. Single disabled parent in CARES Program or second parent in the Two-Parent Program RH Applies to an individual providing care for a disabled family member not in school, living in the home; that prevents the individual from participating in TANF work activities. The disability of the person in need of care must be for a minimum of ninety (90) days. A medical statement from a physician must support the need for care. DC Applies to a parent in a Two-Parent family that is providing care for a disabled child attending school. The need for care must be supported by medical documentation.

2. Benefit Time Limits for State Programs All TANF families included in either CARES or the Two-Parent Program are exempt from the Federal 60-month time limit. All families included in CARES are also exempt from the State 24- month time limit.

Two-Parent families with both adults coded “MA” on EMPR are subject to the State 24-month time limit. However, in Two-Parent cases where one adult is coded, “IN”, “RH”, or “DC” on EMPR, the family is exempt from State time limits.

NOTE: Months counted towards the family's 24-month time limit will be based on the adult, minor parent head-of-household, or parent who has received the most countable months in a two-parent household.