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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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Chapter 3 Benefit Group/Family Composition

3.1 Benefit Group Definition The Benefit Group (BG) is a group of individuals whose income, resources, and/or needs impact eligibility and the amount of TANF cash benefits. BG members include sanctioned and disqualified individuals, as well as, family cap children. Same sex spouses must be considered as married and part of the benefit group for TANF eligibility purposes due to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June 2015, which legalized same sex marriages in all 50 states.

Possible Benefit Groups The following are possible types of BGs:

A. Child(ren) and biological, adoptive parent or legal parents

B. Child(ren) and caretaker relative(s) other than parent

C. Dependent child(ren) only

D. Parent/caretaker relative(s) only when the child(ren) receives SSI, subsidized adoption or guardianship payments, or federal, state or local foster care payments.

E. Major parent, minor parent and child(ren) of minor parent NOTE: Caretaker relative(s) other than a parent has a choice as to whether he/she is included in the BG.

3.2 Required BG Members In order for the BG to be eligible, an application with respect to the dependent child in the home, must also include the following individuals, if living in the same household and otherwise eligible for assistance:

A. Parent(s) of the dependent child(ren). The parent may be a biological, legal, or an adoptive parent. B. Stepparent(s) of the dependent child(ren). The parent and stepparent must be legally married. Chapter 3