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304.5 TANF Manual 10/23 Page 5

Unlike TANF payments, TANF Relative Maintenance Support Payments are not prorated based on the date of the TANF application. If a relative caretaker applies for TANF any date after the first of the month, and if all eligibility criteria are met, the assistance unit will receive the entire $200 payment per eligible child, for that month.

Example 2: On 10/15/2020, Ms. Tee assumed care of her niece Lala to prevent her from being placed in Foster Care. On 10/15/2020, the Family Services Specialist completed the Relative Maintenance Verification form for Ms. Tee. On 10/16/2020, Ms. Tee applied for TANF assistance for her niece Lala. On 10/23/2020, Ms. Tee submitted all the requested verifications to the local agency, to include a copy of the Relative Maintenance Verification Form that was provided by her Family Services Specialist. On 10/26/2020, the Benefit Programs Worker approved the TANF application. Although the initial TANF payment was prorated from the 10/16/2020 application date, Ms. Tee received the entire additional $200 Relative Maintenance Support Payment for Lala for the month of October.

Example 3: Mr. Jones assumed care of his nephew Anthony Jones to prevent him from being placed in Foster Care, as verified by Family Services. Anthony receives a monthly SSI payment. Although Mr. Jones assumed care of Anthony to prevent him from being placed in Foster Care, Anthony is ineligible for TANF due to the receipt of SSI. Therefore, Mr. Jones is not eligible for the additional $200 Relative Maintenance Support Payment. However, if Mr. Jones requests assistance for himself as a needy relative caretaker, he could receive a TANF payment if all other eligibility criteria are met.

Example 4: Ms. Martin applies for TANF for her niece Shelly and nephew John. Ms. Martin has an existing TANF case for herself and her two children Aiden and Ava. A separate TANF case shall be established for Shelly and John.

Example 5: Ms. Brown applies for TANF for her granddaughter Robin. Ms. Brown has an active SNAP and Medicaid case for herself and her son Larry. The non-parent caretaker TANF application shall not be added to Ms. Brown’s existing case number. A new and separate case number shall be established for the TANF application.

Payment information about the TANF Relative Maintenance Support Payment will be provided to the customer in the Relative/Kinship Care Support Maintenance Payment Notice of Action at initial application, reapplication, and in conjunction with changes and at renewal.

B. Relative Maintenance Support Payment/TANF Opt-Out - Assistance units that include one or more children under the age of 18 years and that meet the relationship definition for TANF in Section 201.5.A, but choose to opt-out of receiving TANF payments, may be eligible to receive a Relative Maintenance Support Payment, when a caretaker assumed care of the child(ren) on or after July 1, 2022, to prevent the child(ren) from entering Foster Care in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as verified by a LDSS Family Services worker. Households that include a parent are not eligible. The child is eligible until they reach the age of 18. They are eligible for the month in which their 18th birthday falls if they have not attained the specified age on the first day of that month. Note: Applications received and processed on or after December 19, 2022, will be eligible to receive a payment in this category.

The Relative Maintenance Support Payment for those that choose to opt-out of receiving TANF, is a monthly payment to be paid to eligible assistance units in the amount of $200 for each eligible child in the qualifying assistance unit that was diverted from Foster Care. In this category, the TANF Standard of Assistance will not be received. Reasons for choosing to opt-out of receiving TANF payments could be, but are not limited to, the applicant does not want to pursue the family member for child support or cannot establish the relationship as required for TANF eligibility. Additionally, if an applicant is found ineligible for the TANF Relative Maintenance Support Payment due to TANF eligibility requirements not being met, the applicant must be evaluated for the Relative Maintenance Support Payment/TANF Opt-Out category. Examples of TANF eligibility requirements not being met include, but are not limited to, failure to provide requested verifications, unable to establish relationship or due to excess income. However, under all circumstances, the child must be living in the home of the caretaker to be eligible.

TANF Transmittal 77