TANF Eligibility Requirements
In order to be determined eligible to receive TANF benefits, the following criteria must be met by the members of the assistance unit (AU):
Age: A child must be less than 18 years of age (less than 19 years if a member is a full-time student).
Application for other benefits: A TANF applicant/recipient must apply for and accept other monetary benefits (Unemployment Compensation, Workman’s Compensation, Child Support, Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance (RSDI), etc.) for which a member may be eligible.
Assistance Unit: The assistance unit (AU) includes a dependent child and a pregnant woman. or pregnant minor and her unborn child/children.
Citizenship: A recipient must be a citizen of the U.S. or a lawful resident alien.
Deprivation: A child must be deprived due to:
- Continued absence from the home of at least one parent
- Physical or mental incapacity of at least one parent
- Death of a parent
In a two-parent family in which both parents are able-bodied, deprivation is established if one parent has a “recent connection to the workforce.”
Enumeration: All assistance unit members must have or apply for a Social Security number.
School Attendance: All children ages 6 through 18 who have not graduated from high school or who have not received a certificate of high school equivalency must attend school and have satisfactory attendance.
Note: An 18-year-old dependent child must have satisfactory attendance and provide verification of full-time enrollment.
Immunization: All children under 7 must be immunized, unless good cause exists.
Income/Resources: AU must meet the financial criteria to receive TANF. For example, an AU of three (mother and two children) must have a gross income below $784 a month and countable assets of less than $1,000.
Lifetime Limits: Receipt of cash assistance is limited to 48 months in a lifetime; this includes countable cash assistance months received in other states. The limit may be extended if it is determined that an extension is justified due to certain hardships, including domestic violence and physical or mental incapacity.
Paternity: The AU must cooperate in the establishment of paternity. The paternity of a child must be established at application and whenever a child is added to an active case.
Work Requirement: Every parent, pregnant woman, and grantee relative that is considered work eligible has a work requirement and is required to participate in work activities and training for at least 30 hours weekly. These work activities help recipients gain the experience needed to find a job and become self-sufficient.
Cooperation with Division of Child Support Services is a requirement for receiving TANF benefits, unless good cause exists.