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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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South Carolina Department of Social Services Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Policy Manual TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) 19 1.1 Legal Basis and Program Purpose ................................................................................................... 19 1. Federal Funding ............................................................................................................................... 19 2. Primary Goals of TANF .................................................................................................................... 19 3. Program Purpose ............................................................................................................................. 19 1.2 Objectives of the TANF Program....................................................................................................... 20 1.3 Basic TANF Program Elements ......................................................................................................... 20 1. Work Requirements ......................................................................................................................... 20 2. Benefit .............................................................................................................................................. 20 3. Support Services .............................................................................................................................. 20 4. Child Support ................................................................................................................................... 21 5. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ....................................................................... 21 6. Family Eligibility ................................................................................................................................ 21 7. Minor Parent ..................................................................................................................................... 21 8. Financial Eligibility ............................................................................................................................ 21 9. Initial Job Search (IJS) ...................................................................................................................... 21 10. TANF Agreement ............................................................................................................................ 21 11. School Attendance .......................................................................................................................... 21 12. Family Life Skills ............................................................................................................................. 21 13. Time Limits ...................................................................................................................................... 21 14. SNAP and TANF Cases with same BG Composition ..................................................................... 21 15. SNAP and TANF Cases with different BG Composition ................................................................. 22 1.4 Limited English and Sensory Impaired Individuals......................................................................... 22 1. Responsibility of Initial Contact ......................................................................................................... 22 2. Client Special Services Coordinator ................................................................................................. 22 3. Client History Information Profile (CHIP) Coding .............................................................................. 22 4. Use of Interpreters ............................................................................................................................ 22 5. When to Provide Information ............................................................................................................ 23 6. Case Record Documentation ............................................................................................................ 23 7. Time Frame ....................................................................................................................................... 23 8. Display of Poster ............................................................................................................................... 23 9. Legal Rights of Adults with Learning Disabilities .............................................................................. 23 1.5 Confidentiality and Program Compliance ........................................................................................ 23 1. Agency Volunteers ............................................................................................................................ 23 2. Public Information ............................................................................................................................. 24 3. Confidential Case Information .......................................................................................................... 24 4. Disclosing Confidential Information .................................................................................................. 24 5. Retention of Records ........................................................................................................................ 25 6. Conflicts of Interest ........................................................................................................................... 25 7. Lifeline Assistance Program ............................................................................................................. 26 1.6 Civil Rights Procedure ....................................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER 2 TANF APPLICATION PROCESS 27 2.1 General Application Process ............................................................................................................. 27 1. Non-Discrimination Compliance ........................................................................................................ 27 2. Required Application Forms ............................................................................................................. 28 3. Application Covers All DSS Program Areas ..................................................................................... 28