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302.7 TANF MANUAL 10/18 Page 2

302.7 COMPOSITION OF THE TANF ASSISTANCE UNIT - The TANF assistance unit is required to include, when living together, the parent(s) and minor sibling(s) of a dependent child for whom assistance is requested. Therefore, each sibling living in the home of a dependent child must be evaluated to determine if he/she meets the categorical requirements listed in Section 201.1.A. This includes any sibling living in the home with both natural or adoptive parents who are also living in the home.

The TANF assistance unit will include the following individuals:

A. The natural or adoptive parent(s) who is living in the same home as the child for whom assistance is requested, unless otherwise indicated by guidance at 302.7.D.*

B. All blood-related or adoptive siblings, including those emancipated by court order or marriage, who meet the categorical requirements of an eligible child, living in the same home as the child for whom assistance is requested.** Note: The spouse of the child emancipated by marriage cannot be living in the home for eligibility to exist.

When the entire case is ineligible: If the agency is unable to determine categorical eligibility or payment amount due to the inability or refusal of the parent or caretaker to provide information about an individual required to be a member of the assistance unit, the entire AU must be found ineligible.

When the case is eligible but an individual must be excluded: In general, a case may be approved even though a condition of eligibility has not been met by a required member of the assistance unit. Sections 302.7C – 307.7F list individuals whose needs are not included in the payment, including individuals excluded for failure to meet a condition of eligibility. Those individuals will be assumed to be required members of the assistance unit and the following will apply:

1. In determining need for the assistance unit, the individual will be excluded.

2. In determining the amount of payment for the assistance unit, the income of the individual will be included.

The individual will continue to be excluded and the income will continue to be considered available to the assistance unit until both categorical eligibility and the conditions of eligibility are met. When both requirements are met, the needs of the individual will be included in the assistance unit. (Refer to Section 401.2.B.2.c.)

Exceptions: The entire household is ineligible for assistance, and the application must be denied, when an individual fails to sign the VIEW Agreement of Personal Responsibility (APR) when required to do so as a condition of eligibility at reapplication. (See 901.5C). Also, when a case has been closed for non-cooperation with DCSE, a new application must be denied unless good cause for the

* 45 CFR 206.10(a)(1)(vii)(A) ** 45 CFR 206.10(a)(1)(vii)(B)

TANF Transmittal 65