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502.3 - 502.4 TANF MANUAL 10/18 Page 4

502.3 METHOD OF PAYMENT - Financial assistance under the TANF program is a money payment which is made available to eligible recipients in the form of a check, direct deposit, or debit card payment.

Note: The following restrictions apply to the use of the TANF debit card - Recipients shall not use the TANF debit card to buy alcohol, lottery tickets, tobacco products, or sexually explicit visual materials; or, in a Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) store, an establishment in which para-mutual wagering or charitable gaming is conducted, or in an establishment in which tattooing or body-piercing is performed for hire, or any establishment that provides adult- oriented entertainment in which performers or other individuals connected with the business appear nude or partially nude.*

In some instances, a payment is not made directly to a client:

A. TANF - A "protective" vendor payment may be made under conditions specified in Section 502.7.

B. Emergency Assistance - A payment may be made either as a money payment to the recipient or by the vendor method to the provider of goods or services,** whichever is more practicable and advantageous to the family.

502.4 DESIGNATED PAYEE - The persons who may be designated as payee are as follows:

A. Money Payment

1. The grantee-relative with whom the eligible child(ren) is living. The grantee-relative is ordinarily the caretaker, but may be someone other than the caretaker in some situations. Examples:

a. A child's father receives SSI and is the grantee-relative for the TANF payment which includes the mother as needy caretaker.

b. A 16 year old mother is the caretaker in a TANF payment, but her mother, with whom she lives, is the grantee- relative; such a grantee-relative, if needy, may be included in the assistance unit (see Section 302.7.A.).

c. An assistance unit consists of a 22-year-old parent and her children. However, a relative also residing in the home is exercising primary responsibility for care and control of the children and, therefore, is the grantee-relative.

2. The legal representative of the grantee-relative, if one has been appointed and has qualified.

3. The protective payee, under conditions specified in Section 502.7.

4. An emergency payee in an existing case, when a situation, such as sudden death, desertion, imprisonment, or commitment to a mental hospital, unexpectedly deprives the child of the care of the grantee relative. Payment to an emergency payee is for a temporary period, limited to the time necessary to make and carry out plans for the child's continuing care and, in any event, not to exceed 60 days.

* PL 112-96, 4004 (a) (12), Code of Virginia, Section 63.2-621 ** 45 CRF 233.120(b)(2)(i) TANF Transmittal 65