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305.2 TANF MANUAL 7/09 Page 13a

Example 1: Mother applies for TANF for herself and one child. Mother has applied for Unemployment Insurance (UI)and is eligible for $100.00 per week. Mother is not receiving the UI payment because she has failed to complete the required weekly job search contacts. The agency will count $0 income per week as income for the TANF AU.

Example 2: The mother applies for TANF for herself and a child who receives a SSA check in the amount of $500. The check goes to the father who does not live with the TANF assistance unit. He keeps $300 of the check and gives the balance to the mother. The $300 retained by the father is inaccessible to the child. The agency will count $200, the amount actually received by the mother, as income.

The agency has a responsibility to explore potential income sources and assist the applicant/recipient in developing them to a state of availability whenever possible.*

It is the responsibility of the recipient to report required changes to the agency within 10 calendar days from the date the change becomes known to the assistance unit. Changes required to be reported by the applicant, which occur after the interview but before the date of the Notice of Action to approve the case, must be reported by the assistance unit within 10 days.

There are some differences in the provisions for counting earned and unearned income. Therefore, when income is from property, the eligibility case record must clearly indicate the basis for determining whether it is earned or unearned income, that is, whether the individual produces it by his own efforts or is actively engaged in management. For example, income from room and board is considered earned income only when the individual is engaged in a commercial enterprise for profit. Regardless of whether the income is earned or unearned, it is the profit which is considered the gross income.

*45CFR 233.20(a)(3)(Ix) TANF Transmittal 42