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801.5 TANFMANU AL 7/20 Page 3

The assistance unit has: • experienced a loss of income in the six months prior to the date of application which has resulted in the current emergency, or • experienced a reduction in income in the six months prior to the date of application which has resulted in the current emergency, or • a delay in starting to receive income resulting in the current emergency. (The income must be scheduled to start within 60 days following the date of application.)

The income that is lost or reduced must be the ongoing earned or unearned income of the applicant or other adult household member who would be part of the assistance unit for TANF purposes or whose income would be considered available to the assistance unit. A lump sum or other one-time payment does not meet the definition of ongoing earned or ongoing unearned income. (See 302.7) Income from child support payments made on behalf of a child in the household will be considered income of the applicant or other adult household member.

Income cannot have been voluntarily lost or reduced in order to qualify for diversionary assistance. The lost or reduced income cannot be the income of a minor child or the income of an individual who cannot be included in the assistance unit. The lost or reduced income cannot have been received by the household as a gift. The lost or reduced income cannot be from TANF or Refugee Cash Assistance.

The loss or reduction of income requirement will not be met if the loss or reduction of earned income is due to a voluntary quit without good cause. Good cause includes circumstances beyond the applicant's control, such as but not limited to, loss of child care, transportation, illness of the applicant or a family member, or another emergency situation.

C. The worker must have verification of the loss of income, reduction in income, or the anticipated start date of new income.

D. The worker must determine that diversionary assistance will resolve the one-time emergency or crisis situation.

E. The emergency or crisis situation does not result from debts owed as a result of receipt of TANF assistance in any state (including Virginia). This will include all previous TANF overpayments, overpayments for services, and debts incurred for child support. Note: diversionary assistance funds cannot be used to pay for debts owed as a result of the receipt of TANF assistance in any state.

801.6 DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF THE PAYMENT

The total diversionary assistance amount will be the maximum TANF amount for four months or up to $1,500. The diversionary assistance payment amount cannot exceed the total needs of the applicant. The diversionary assistance payment for applicants reapplying for TANF with four or less months remaining on the VIEW clock or the TANF 60-month clock will be calculated following the same guidelines as for other applicants.

Example: Diversionary Assistance application for mom and one child in Goochland County, Group II. The Diversionary Assistance payment amount the customer would be eligible for is $332 X 4 = $1328. However, the maximum Diversionary Assistance amount the family could receive would be $1,500 provided all other eligibility criteria are met.

TANF Transmittal 68