Eligibility Factors for TANF Kinship Care 400-19-140-10

(Revised 6/1/10 ML #3218)

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TANF Kinship Care financial assistance consists of the TANF benefit and TANF Kinship Care supportive services.  

 

There must be a court order placing care, custody and control of a child with a County Social Services, Division of Juvenile Services (DJS), or with the Executive Director, Department of Human Services.

 

A child must be placed with a caretaker relative within the fifth degree of relationship and meet all TANF eligibility requirements. The caretaker relative may choose to be an eligible caretaker or may choose to be an ineligible caretaker. If the caretaker relative chooses to be an eligible caretaker, they must meet all TANF eligibility requirements and if eligible, would receive a TANF benefit.

 

All factors of TANF eligibility apply including but not limited to:

  1. Up-Front eligibility requirements.

  2. Child Support Enforcement requirements;

  3. Income and asset considerations;

  4. Monthly reporting requirements;

  5. JOBS Program requirements, if the caretaker relative chooses to receive TANF;

 

The Kinship Care caretaker relative must physically reside with the child and must take reasonable steps to secure all earned rights benefits to which the child may be entitled to, and redirect all monies to which the child is eligible including but not limited to Social Security benefits (i.e. survivors benefits or disability benefits) or Veteran’s benefits.

 

A child in receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is not eligible for TANF Kinship Care assistance.

 

The caretaker relative may not receive a TANF benefit with TANF Kinship Care supportive services and Foster Care payments for the same child for the same month.

 

To request TANF Kinship Care assistance, SFN 405, Application for Assistance or SFN 719, TANF Request for Benefits with a completed Month Report or Statement of Facts must be signed by the caretaker relative. Eligibility for TANF Kinship Care may be established on the date the county office receives the signed request or date of eligibility whichever is later.