176.3 Partial Renewal

A partial renewal is a review of specific eligibility factors, needs and resource items. It may be required as often as case circumstances indicate. A partial renewal will not change the due date for a complete renewal of eligibility. See Chapter 170.      

55 Pa. Code § 133.23(b)

 

176.31 Adding Persons to a Budget Group

A request to add a mandatory budget group member to an existing budget group is a partial renewal. An eligibility review must be made no later than 10 days after the request. The payment name need give information only about the person being added when completing the required renewal form. The payment name must also include other nonfinancial and financial changes in the budget group’s circumstances on the renewal form.        

55 Pa. Code § 133.23(b)(4)         55 Pa. Code § 133.23(b)(4)(iv)

Example: Adding a parent to a TANF budget group is a partial renewal that requires a renewal form. The CAO decides whether to complete a face-to-face interview.

The new member must complete a PA 4 within 15 working days of the authorization date if he or she is age 18 or older or an emancipated minor.         

55 Pa. Code § 201.4(2)(ii)(A)(II)

A request to add a person who is not required to be part of the budget group is considered an application.

Example: Adding a non-mandatory specified relative to a TANF budget group is an application requiring a PA 600 and a face-to-face interview.

See Chapter 104.

 

176.311 Adding a Newborn Child to a Budget Group

Adding a newborn child to an existing cash budget group is considered a partial renewal. A newborn child is eligible for benefits during a grace period. A caretaker/relative need not immediately do the following:       

55 Pa. Code § 133.23(b)(4)(v)

 

A newborn child is added when the CAO is notified of the birth. Notification can be either of the following:

 

176.32 Determining Eligibility for Extended TANF

Determining eligibility for Extended TANF requires a partial renewal.         

55 Pa. Code § 133.23(b)(1)(iii)

The partial renewal interview requires the following:

 

The CAO must send the TANF recipient an appointment letter to schedule a telephone or face-to-face interview. See Appendix C for the PA 1753, Telephone Partial Renewal Interview Letter, and Appendix D for the PA 1754, Face-to-Face Partial Renewal Interview Letter. Both letters advise the recipient that he or she is nearing or has reached the 60-month TANF time limit.

If the CAO conducts a telephone interview, a copy of the updated or new AMR must be sent to the recipient. The recipient must initial or sign the AMR and return it to the CAO within 30 days of the date of the CAO signature. See Appendix E for the PA 1752, the letter that must be included with the mailed AMR.

As circumstances change, a recipient may qualify for Extended TANF under another eligibility track. Any change between tracks requires a partial renewal, including a new or updated AMR and completion of appropriate eCIS screens. A notice of eligibility is not required. See Appendix F for the PA 1760. It is the AMR appointment letter used when a new or updated AMR is needed due to a change in eligibility tracks. The CAO must tell the reason a new or updated AMR is needed. 

NOTE:  The PA 1760 schedules a face-to-face interview. A new or updated AMR may be completed by a telephone interview in some circumstances. If there is a telephone interview, the IMCW must explain to the adult the reason a new or updated AMR is necessary. The IMCW must narrate the reason on the 601N. Mail the new or updated AMR to the adult along with a PA 1752 explaining that the adult must sign and return the AMR within 30 days.

 

176.321 Exception to the Partial Renewal Requirements

A family may qualify for Extended TANF in the Deferral Track if the adult is in the process of a compliance review (see Chapter 135) or waiting for adjudication of a timely appeal at the time of his or her initial eligibility determination for Extended TANF. These families are changed to Extended TANF and with a case review and CIS update including the following: 

Do not send an eligibility notice until the family is eligible for Extended TANF for any other reason.

See Appendix G for instructions on the eligibility review process based on the particular eligibility track. For example, Track #1 (domestic violence) requires a face-to-face partial renewal interview.

Reissued November 25, 2013, replacing September 25, 2012