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NEED AND AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE TANF MANUAL CHAPTER 300

STANDARDS OF ASSISTANCE 10/18 304.1 – 304.2

304.1 STANDARDS OF ASSISTANCE - The State Board has established standards of assistance*, based on the size of the assistance unit, to be used in TANF cash payment cases.

Because of wide variation in shelter cost within the State, two groups of standards have been established reflecting this variation. Appendix 1 to Section 304 lists the localities in the State according to the group in which they fall.

The monthly standards of assistance, based on the number of eligible persons in the assistance unit and the locality group in which the assistance unit resides, are shown in Appendix 2 to Section 304.

The appropriate standard of assistance, less all countable income of the assistance unit, as specified in Section 305, is the amount of the monthly cash payment for an otherwise eligible assistance unit, except that the State Board has established a maximum payment. The maximum reimbursable payment for each locality group is shown in Appendix 2 to Section 304. Any locality wishing to meet the full budgetary deficiency, when this is in excess of the maximum reimbursable payment, may do so provided (a) the deficiency is computed on the basis of established standards, (b) the excess is paid from local funds and (c) the full deficiency is met in all TANF cases in the locality.

304.2 TOTAL ALLOWABLE INDIVIDUAL NEED - When it is necessary to determine whether one individual included in the TANF assistance unit is in need, the total amount allowed for his needs must be identified. This amount is his pro rata share of the appropriate standard of assistance for the assistance unit. The same procedure is used to determine whether or not a caretaker-relative other than the parent or an essential (EWB) person living in the home is in need and eligible for inclusion in the assistance unit. Once the caretaker relative other than the parent is included in the assistance unit, he may continue to be eligible for TANF as long as his countable income (gross income less a standard deduction) is less than the current poverty level for one person. If his countable income exceeds the current poverty level for one person, he must be removed from the assistance unit.

When an individual is removed from the assistance unit, the TANF payment is recomputed on the basis of the standard of assistance specified for the number of persons remaining in the unit.

* Code of Virginia, Section 63.2-505

TANF Transmittal 65