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NEED AND AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE TANF MANUAL SECTION 300

INCOME 10/20 305.1

305.1 INCOME ELIGIBILITY

In order to meet the income requirements for the TANF Program, compare the assistance unit's countable income must be screened to the maximum income amount (prospective determination) to determine the assistance unit's need. Once the assistance unit is determined to be in need, calculate the TANF payment to determine if eligibility exists for the assistance unit. To determine the anticipated income, use one of the method's listed in Section 305.1.B.2.a.

A. Prospective Determinations (Screening at Maximum Income Amount and Standard of Assistance)

Income eligibility for all cases is based on a prospective determination which anticipates the total gross countable income of the assistance unit. The total gross countable income of the unit is screened at the maximum income amount. (Refer to Maximum Income Chart, Appendix 1 to Section 305.) If the income of the assistance unit is equal to or less than the maximum income level, income is screened at the standard of assistance, allowing income disregards when appropriate.

A prospective determination must be conducted on applications/reapplications and ongoing cases whenever a change becomes known to the agency.

The gross income anticipated to be received during the month following the month the change became known to the agency must be screened at both the maximum income amount and the standard of assistance to determine if eligibility for the next payment exists. If the prospective determination of anticipated income represents less or more than a full month's income, the second month following the month the change became known to the agency must also be screened prospectively at both the maximum income amount and the standard of assistance.

1. Maximum Income Screening

Total gross countable income for this purpose includes all gross earned income of both adults and children in the unit; unearned income, such as net countable support, benefits, etc.; income of an excluded individual required to be in the unit; income of a TANF child coded as truant; and any income deemed available to the assistance unit. The following income is disregarded in the maximum income screening:

a. all income specifically disregarded in 305.4.A; b. for TANF-UP, unemployment compensation benefits;

c. the earned income of a child under age 18, who is a full-time or part-time student attending a secondary school or vocational/technical school of secondary equivalency and is meeting the enrollment and attendance requirements as determined by the local school board; or

TANF Transmittal 69