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302.5 - 302.6 TANF MANUAL 2/12 Page 1a

302.5 DEFINITION OF SIBLINGS - In TANF, siblings are two or more children with at least one natural or adoptive parent in common.

302.6 PERSONS ESSENTIAL TO WELL-BEING (EWB) - A needy individual, who is at least 18 years old, is living in the home, and who is providing services which are essential to the well-being of the child(ren) on which TANF eligibility is based can be included in the assistance unit. Such individuals must be ineligible for assistance in a federal category in their own right.

A. Services Which Are Considered Essential Are Limited To:

1. Care for a disabled family member living in the home;

2. Provision of child care to enable the caretaker to:

a. Work outside of the home on a full-time basis (a minimum of 30 hours per week and earning at least minimum wage).

b. Participate in education or training full-time. With the exception of full-time high school attendance, participation must equal a minimum of 30 hours per week.

c. Participate in VIEW on a full-time basis as defined by the program and based on the specific VIEW assignment(s) and participation rate requirements. For job search/job readiness, EWB status based on the provision of child care will be limited to two payment months.

B. The client must request inclusion of an individual as an EWB. The EWB individual must be living in the same household as the assistance unit and must be providing an essential service which cannot be provided by any other individual in the household.

Note: The spouse of a caretaker who is not eligible for TANF assistance because he does not

have an eligible child living in the home can be included in the assistance unit as an EWB if he

provides an essential service and meets all other EWB criteria.

C. Eligibility for the EWB individual must be evaluated based on criteria at 302.7F and 302.8 which includes a requirement for citizenship or eligible alien status, and specifies that the individual be in need.

D. In the case of a disabled family member, the disability and the need for the EWB to be available on a substantially continuous basis (901.2) must be documented on a Statement of Required Presence of Caregiver form (032-03-0020) signed by a medical professional. A new Statement of Required Presence of Caregiver form must be completed annually, or at the end of the anticipated duration specified on the form, whichever occurs first.

If the disabled family member has been approved to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), a new Statement of Required Presence of Caregiver form must be completed annually.

TANF Transmittal 49