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201.5 TANF MANUAL 10/23 Page 2

In the case of a relative who will be the caretaker (though not a father not married to the child’s mother, or a relative of such a father), a notarized statement by an individual, other than the applicant/recipient, who has sufficient knowledge to attest to the relationship may be used to establish initial eligibility. A copy of the child’s birth certificate or other documentation used to establish relationship must be obtained no later than the next renewal.

If the applicant is a father not married to the child’s mother, or relative of such father, evidence of paternity must be provided. The following documents may be used as evidence of paternity:

• Court record establishing paternity • Court order stating that child is living with paternal relative

Example: Janie Reese applies for assistance for her niece, Thalia. Mrs. Reese’s brother, John Reese, is the father of Thalia. John was not married to Thaila’s mother at the time of her birth and a father’s name is not included on Thaila’s Birth Certificate. Mrs. Reese provides the EW with the Court Order, signed by the judge, which lists Mrs. Reese’s full name and the relationship as paternal aunt to Thalia. Therefore, relationship is considered established for TANF.

• Birth certificate from any state where father’s name is included

A father, not married to the child’s mother, who does not have one of the documents listed above at the time of application, will be given a Referral to Division of Child Support Enforcement From Local DSS form (032-03-0431-00) and will be referred to the Division of Child Support Enforcement District Office so he can obtain DNA testing that will establish his relationship to the child. If the applicant father is otherwise eligible and produces results of the DNA testing that verify relationship, the TANF application will be approved. If he is not able to establish relationship within the standard processing period, the application must be denied. The father will be required to reapply if he subsequently secures verification of relationship.

If the caretaker is a relative of the father who is not married to the child’s mother, the relationship between the relative and the father must be established once evidence of paternity has been provided.

In the case of newly arrived refugees, if the above documents to verify relationship are not available, the following verification is acceptable:

1. The biographical information sent to the Voluntary Resettlement Agency (VOLAG) by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) stating the relationship of family members. The relationship stated on this form is sufficient to prove relationship.

2. In cases where the DOS biographical relationship section is left blank and does not specify relationship, a notarized statement from the resettlement provider to the local department of social services is sufficient to show relationship. The notarized statement shall contain the names of the children, the names of the adult(s), the relationship, the name of the VOLAG representative, and the name and address of the VOLAG.

TANF Transmittal 77