Determining Household Composition when the Caretaker is not a Parent 400-19-45-05-05

(Revised 6/1/10 ML #3218)

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A household consisting of an eligible caretaker(s) and child(ren) may have related children residing with them for whom the caretaker has no legal responsibility but who are also eligible for a TANF benefit. If the caretaker requests to receive TANF benefits for all of the children, the TANF household must include all individuals for whom TANF is being requested.  

 

When a household consisting of a caretaker with their own children also has children residing in the household for whom they have no legal responsibility, the caretaker and their children may opt out for TANF.  The caretaker may then request assistance for only those children for whom they have no legal responsibility, provided the caretaker does not wish to have their needs included.

 

Occasionally children who are not siblings are cared for by a common, non-legally responsible caretaker.

• If the non-legally responsible caretaker requests TANF benefits for only the children to whom the caretaker is related within the 5th degree, TANF eligibility for all of the children will be based on the income and assets of all the children only.
• The non-legally responsible caretaker may choose to receive TANF benefits for only some of the children.  The non-legally responsible caretaker may do so, provided the children being opted out are not siblings, either full, half, or step siblings to the children for whom assistance is being requested.   

 

(Also See Section 400-19-140, TANF Kinship Care)