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Date of Last Review: 01/10/2024 Effective Date: 01/15/2024 Date of Next Review: 01/10/2027 RDA: SW22 Page 1 of 5 Families First Income Eligibility Policy 23.05 Effective: January 15, 2024 Introduction The Tennessee Department of Human Services shall consider the amount of income available to assistance unit members to meet the needs of the assistance unit in determining eligibility for Families First. Scope The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance in determining the amount of income available to the assistance unit. Policy 1. All sources of income available to the assistance unit (AU) must be explored, and the gross countable income from all sources must be verified prior to approval, continuation, or renewal of benefits. 2. Any member of the AU who may be eligible for any other types of income, excluding Supplemental Security Income (SSI), must apply for and accept those benefits. a. If the caretaker is a mandatory AU member and refuses to apply for or accept other benefits, the entire AU will be ineligible. b. If the caretaker is an optional AU member and refuses to apply for or accept other benefits, the caretaker would not be eligible to be included in the AU. c. Individuals who receive a Veteran’s Administration pension and who were receiving the pension on or before December 1978 cannot be required to apply for and/or accept improved VA pension benefits. 3. Families First allows a two hundred and fifty dollar ($250) flat work expense deduction from any earned income included in a case. Unearned income is not eligible for this deduction.