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201.5 TANF MANUAL 7/22 Page 2a

B. Living in a Home* - A home is the family setting maintained, or in the process of being established, by the relative, as evidenced by the presence of the child. A home may exist in situations where the assistance unit lacks a fixed home address or is otherwise considered homeless.

A home exists even though the child or relative is temporarily absent from the customary family setting. A temporary absence based on admission or commitment to a psychiatric hospital or institution, including a psychiatric ward in a general hospital, or to a correctional facility, is limited to 30 consecutive days. Other temporary absences, including absences for other types of hospitalization, employment, education or training, vacations, or visits, are limited to 60 consecutive days. A parent or child who is absent from the home for longer periods cannot be considered to be living in the home.

Exception: A parent who is absent from the home due to active duty in the uniformed services is considered living in the home and is not subject to the 60 consecutive day time limit.

The following individuals do not meet the living in a home requirement and are ineligible for TANF:

1. A parent or other caretaker who has been absent from the home for a period of 60 consecutive days (30 days if the absence is due to admission or commitment to a mental hospital or correctional facility).

2. A child who has been, or is expected by the caretaker to be, absent from the home for a period of 60 consecutive days (30 days if the absence is due to admission or commitment to a mental hospital or correctional facility). The child may be eligible in another assistance unit.

Exception: A newborn may be added to the AU as of his date of birth even if he remains in the hospital. If the newborn is still in the hospital 60 days after his birth, he will be removed from the AU. The child may be added back to the AU when he enters the home.

The caretaker must report to the local agency after it becomes clear to the caretaker that the caretaker or minor child will be absent from the home for 60 consecutive days (30 consecutive days in the case of a mental institution or correctional facility). (Refer to Section 401.2.B.2.a.1)

If the caretaker fails to report the change within the required time frame as described above, the caretaker or the child who is absent from the home is ineligible. If the absent child is the only child in the home, the case will also be ineligible. (See 502.4 regarding establishment of an emergency payee when the caretaker is absent from the home.)

* Public Law 104-193 TANF Transmittal 74