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VA TANF - Assistance Unit

TANF Assistance Units include the parent(s) and minor sibling(s), when living together, 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. (See VA TANF Eligibility.)

This includes any siblings living in the home with both natural or adoptive parents who are also living in the home.

Exclusions from TANF Assistance Units:

NOTE: The exclusions that follow are found in the TANF Policy Manual at 302.6 D and E.)

Parents: The natural or adoptive parents who are living in the same home as the children for whom assistance is requested are included unless:

·      They receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or an Auxiliary Grant; or

·      They are under age 21 and receive adoption assistance on their own behalf (unless including them and their income would cause the TANF benefit to increase); or

·      They refuse to cooperate in obtaining support from non-custodial parents; or

·      They are in Foster Care; or

·      They are Sponsored Aliens; or

·      They are disqualified for committing an Intentional Program Violation (IPV); or

·      They are convicted offenders serving a sentence at home; or

·      Their needs are met by a spouse or a stepparent (of the eligible children) living in the home (see VA TANF - Stepparent Deeming); or

·      They were convicted in state or federal court of fraudulently misrepresenting his address to receive TANF, Medicaid, or SNAP (formerly Food Stamps in two or more states and it is within ten years of the date they were convicted; or

·      They were convicted of a drug offense for conduct occurring after 8/22/1996; or

·      They are fleeing to avoid prosecution or confinement or that is in violation of probation or parole

Children: All blood-related or adoptive siblings living in the same home as the child for whom assistance is requested (including those emancipated by court order or marriage), and who meet the categorical requirements of an eligible child, are in the TANF Assistance Unit unless:

·      The child receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI); or

·      The child is an alien whose needs are met by a sponsor; or

·      The child is age 16-18, not a full-time student, who fails to participate in VIEW without good cause and is not otherwise exempt; or

·      The spouse of the child emancipated by marriage lives in the home; or

·      The child receives adoption assistance payments (unless including the child and the child's income would cause the TANF benefit to increase); or

·      The child receives Foster Care payments; or

·      The child was convicted of a felony drug offense after 8/22/1996; or

·      The child is fleeing to avoid prosecution or confinement or is in violation of probation or parole; or

·      The child is in a VIEW period of ineligibility; or

·      The child's caretaker is in a period of ineligibility due receiving Diversionary Assistance.

Persons Essential to Well-Being (EWB): Needy individuals living in the home who are providing services which are essential to the well-being of the child(ren) on which TANF eligibility is based can be included in the assistance unit. Such individuals must be ineligible for assistance in a federal category in their own right. (See VA TANF - Persons Essential to Well-Being for more information about EWB criteria.)

Caretaker: In TANF the caretaker is the natural or adoptive parent or other relative of specified degree who is responsible for supervision and care of the needy child(ren).

There will be one caretaker included in an assistance unit, except when:

·      The natural or adoptive parent who is incapacitated has remarried, the spouse may be included; or

·      The household consists of a married couple who each have a child(ren) of their own; or

·      Policy in the TANF Policy Manual Section 302.7 A. regarding minor parents requires more than one caretaker; or

·      Both natural or adoptive parents of at least one child are living in the home and the family is in financial need.

In situations where both parents are in the home and one parent is a convicted offender allowed to live at home, the other parent in the home will be designated as the only caretaker. The convicted offender can only be included as an EWB if providing an essential service. (See VA TANF - Persons Essential to Well-Being.)

TANF Assistance Payment

The assistance payment will include the needs of all those who are in the TANF Assistance Unit. (See VA TANF - Grant Amount Calculations for more information about calculating the assistance payment amount.)

See Also:

VA TANF-UP Assistance Unit

VA TANF - Eligibility

VA TANF Financial Eligibility

VA VIEW - Overview

VA TANF - Time Limit

VA VIEW - Time Limit

VA TANF-UP - Overview

Back To:

VA TANF - Overview

VA Benefit Information System Welcome and Introduction

Sources:

VA TANF Policy Manual 302.1 and 302.2

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