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201.5 TANF MANUAL 10/23 Page 1a

The identity of the parent or other relative must be established prior to determining relationship. (Appendix III lists documentation that can be used to verify identity). Additionally, documentation that is adequate to trace the relationship of each child to the parent or caretaker relative must be provided. The case record must document the verification methods used to establish identity and each relationship.

The following documents may be used to establish relationship: • Birth certificate • Hospital certificate • Adoption papers or court record of adoption • Baptismal certificate • Hospital or physician’s record • Church record • Bureau of Vital Records/Health Statistics record • Marriage record • Court support and/or divorce orders which clearly identify the relationship of the caretaker/relative to the children • Court document signed by a judge which clearly identifies an individual by name and relationship as a relative of the child. Note: When paternity has been established for a child and a court document is being used to establish a relationship between a non-parent caretaker and the child, the court document does not have to state if the individual is a maternal or paternal relative. • Genetic testing report from a licensed and accredited laboratory identifying relationship based on DNA match that affirms at least 98% probability of relationship. Chain of custody for the DNA samples must be documented. • Newborn Summary in the VaCMS may be used as a permanent verification for newborns added by Baby BOT to establish maternal relationships. Note: If a non-parent caretaker is unable to verify the relationship between the mother and the child, then the Newborn Summary may be used as a verification source to establish relationship between the mother and the child only.

Documents must be adequate to trace relationship completely, except that, if the applicant is the mother, initial eligibility can be established based on birth verification for the child.

If a non-parent caretaker states or provides evidence of relationship status to a child(ren) that is contradictory to what is stated on a court document, the evidence and/or statement provided by the non-parent caretaker must be used in the determination of the relationship status between the non-parent caretaker and the child(ren).

Example: A non-parent caretaker requests assistance for two children who are siblings with the same mother, but have different fathers named on their birth certificates. The first child is her grandson, and his father is her son. The caretaker provided verifications to substantiate the relationship between herself and the first child. The second child has the same mother as the first child but a different father. The applicant provided a court document signed by a judge that states she is the step-paternal grandmother of the second child. However, the client stated that her son was never married to the second child’s mother. Based on the non-parent caretaker’s statement and the evidence that she provided that contradicted the court document to include the sibling's birth certificate naming another man as the father, the applicant would not be eligible to receive TANF benefits for the second child as no relationship exists.

TANF Transmittal 77