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201.1 TANF MANUAL 07/24 Page 2

D. Immunizations - All applicants and recipients for TANF must supply verification that all otherwise eligible children have received the immunizations required by the Code of Virginia. * The agency must inform applicants of the immunization requirement at initial application. The immunization schedule is established by the State Board of Health.

1. Action at the First Redetermination Occurring At least Twelve Months after the Initial Notification - At the first redetermination occurring at least twelve months, after being informed of the immunization requirement, the recipient must provide the following or the worker must reduce the TANF payment:

a. Verification that the child has received all immunizations appropriate to his age;

b. Verification that the child has received at least one dose of each of the required immunizations as appropriate for the child's age and that the child's physician or the local health department has prepared a plan for completing the immunizations. The plan needs only to indicate when future immunizations are due; or

c. Verification that the child is exempt.

Example: Ms. Mitchell, a SNAP recipient, applies for TANF on July 17, and requests assistance for herself and her newborn child, Dean. The worker advises Ms. Mitchell of the immunization requirement for Dean. Ms. Mitchell has a TANF redetermination interview on September 12 to align with the SNAP program’s redetermination date. Immunization verification is not required for Dean as the redetermination did not occur at least twelve months after the initial notification. The redetermination is approved and assigned a twelve-month certification period. At the next redetermination, immunization verification is required for Dean as it is the first redetermination occurring at least twelve months after the initial notification.

2. Action at Subsequent Redeterminations After Initial Notification - At subsequent redeterminations after being informed of these requirements, the recipient must provide verification of compliance with the immunization schedule or the plan prepared by the physician or health department, until the child has received all required immunizations. Failure to provide the necessary verifications shall result in a payment reduction.

3. Adding a Child to the Assistance Unit and Transfers - When a child is added to the assistance unit, the eligibility worker must advise the parent/caretaker of the immunization requirement. The parent/caretaker shall be allowed at least twelve months to provide verification that the child has met the immunization requirement. As verification of immunizations is only required at redetermination, penalties shall not be imposed for such a child until the first redetermination occurring at least twelve months after the child is added.

Example: On February 1, Ms. I reports a new child, Tom, in the assistance unit. The worker advises Ms. I of the immunization requirement for Tom. On April 15, Ms. I has a redetermination interview. No immunization verification is required for Tom. At the next redetermination in March, Ms. I fails to provide verification of Tom's immunizations. The payment is reduced for April.

For cases that are transferred, the receiving agency must ensure that the recipient has been advised of the immunization requirement.

45 Code of Virginia, 63.2-603

TANF Transmittal 78