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801.7 - 801.8 TANF MANUAL 7/20 Page 5

2. Divide the amount determined in Step 1 by 30. This is the daily amount of assistance.

3. Divide the diversionary assistance payment amount by the daily amount determined in Step 2 to determine how many days are covered in the payment amount. Round up to the next whole number.

4. Determine the number of days of ineligibility by multiplying the number of days determined in Step 3 by 1.33. Round up to the next whole number. This number cannot exceed 180 days.

5. Using the number of days determined in Step 4, determine the date that the period of ineligibility ends. Note: this date is automatically calculated by VaCMS and pre-filled on the Acceptance of Terms of Issuance for Diversionary Assistance.

B. An assistance unit which has received diversionary is not eligible for TANF again until the POI expires. During this POI, the case will be considered a public assistance (PA) case for SNAP purposes. Any AU member that is in a POI for diversionary assistance is not eligible to receive TANF in any assistance unit until the POI has ended.

Example: Mr. Raymond received diversionary assistance in one AU. He is now in a POI for diversionary assistance. He moves to another AU. Mr. Raymond is not eligible to receive TANF in that AU until his POI for diversionary assistance has ended.

C. A child(ren) born to a client who is in a period of ineligibility for TANF due to receipt of a diversionary assistance payment is not eligible for TANF until the POI expires.

D. An assistance unit can receive diversionary assistance only once in a twelve-month period.

801.8 VENDOR PAYMENTS

Diversionary assistance payments are to be made in the form of vendor payments whenever possible in order to ensure that the specific emergency or crisis situation is resolved. These payments are issued as TANF supplemental checks to be sent directly to the vendor and are entered in VaCMS on the TANF Diversionary/Emergency Assistance Details screen. The name on the account, if different from the case name, must be entered in the "Address Line/PO Box" field and the Account Number must be entered in the "Account Number as on the bill" field so the payment can be correctly credited by the vendor. The client should be instructed to contact the vendor when diversionary assistance has been approved and advise the vendor to expect the check from the Virginia Department of Social Services. The EW should include a reminder about this on the Notice of Action.

Note: lf the worker cannot issue a vendor payment due to systems limitations, or if a vendor payment is not appropriate based on the circumstances of the case, a payment may be made directly to the recipient. The recipient should be advised that she is expected to use the payment to pay the vendor.

Prior to beginning the process to reissue a check when a vendor reports non-receipt of a diversionary assistance check, the worker should review the Finance Status on the Check/Direct Deposit Action screen in VaCMS. If the check does not appear on the list, the worker should contact the Fiscal Processing Unit at Home Office to confirm that the check has not already been cashed.

TANF Transmittal 68