A TANF minor parent is a TANF-eligible person under age 18 who has never married and who is pregnant or is the natural parent of a dependent child living with them.
A TANF minor parent and dependent child are required to live in the home of the minor parent’s parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative or in an adult-supervised supportive living arrangement, unless they are otherwise exempt.
An adult significant other who may or may not be the dependent child’s other parent is not considered an adult relative. Their home is not considered an adult-supervised supportive living arrangement.
While the minor parent and dependent child are living in that home, cash benefits may be paid on their behalf to the minor parent’s parent, legal guardian, other adult relative, or representative in the adult-supervised supportive living arrangement to assure that the minor parent and dependent child receive the benefit of the payment.
The CAO should encourage the adult caretaker to develop the best possible plan with the parents for the minor parent’s care. If the minor parent is not exempt, and the parent or legal guardian lives in another location, the minor parent and the dependent child may be given a special allowance for the purpose of reuniting with the parent or legal guardian. The CAO must first confirm that the minor parent has permission to live in the parent or legal guardian’s home. See Chapter 138.
A minor parent who claims exemption from the requirement to live with an adult must present documentation of one of the following conditions:
NOTE: The CAO must consider all case circumstances and available documentation when determining whether the minor parent meets an exemption.
1. The minor parent has no living parent or legal guardian, or the whereabouts of the parent or legal guardian are unknown.
2. The minor parent’s parent or legal guardian will not allow the minor parent to live in the home because of lack of space, housing code requirements, or lease requirements.
3. The physical or emotional health or safety of the minor parent or the dependent child would be at risk if they lived with the minor parent’s parent, legal guardian, or adult relative, or there could be a risk to their physical or emotional health or safety from another person living in or visiting the home. Eligibility for this condition is based on the following:
The present emotional state of the minor parent or dependent child, obtained from health records, collateral contacts, worker observation, or other such sources.
The emotional history of the minor parent or dependent child, obtained from health facility records or collateral contacts with school counselors, health professionals, social service agency personnel, police, courts, or other sources.
The intensity and duration of the emotional upset previously caused to the minor parent or dependent child from residing in the home of the minor parent’s parent, legal guardian, or adult relative, obtained from health facility records or collateral contacts with school counselors, health professionals, social service agency personnel, police, courts. or other sources.
4. The parent, legal guardian, or adult relative will not assume responsibility for the care and control of the minor parent. A statement to this effect is not acceptable if the minor parent lives in the home and all other proof established that the minor parent is dependent financially and otherwise on the parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative.
5. The parent, legal guardian, or adult relative is not able to control and supervise the minor parent because of a physical, emotional, financial, or other limitation.
6. The minor parent’s child or unborn child was conceived as a result of incest or rape committed by someone still living in or visiting with other persons living in the home.
7. The minor parent and dependent child no longer live in the home of the parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative because of sexual abuse.
8. The parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative lives in another area of the state, in another state, or out of the country, and it is not practical for the minor parent to live in that location for reasons such as, but not limited to, attendance at a vocational school, educational program, job training, or substance abuse treatment program, or the minor parent’s job is not a reasonable distance from the home of the parent, legal guardian, or adult relative.
NOTE: If the minor parent cannot return to the home of a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative, the CAO must help the minor parent locate a second-chance home, maternity home, or other appropriate adult-supervised supportive living arrangement, unless the CAO determines that the minor parent’s living situation is appropriate.
9. There is no space available for the minor parent and dependent child in an adult-supervised supportive living arrangement, and no immediate arrangements can be made.
DHS must grant additional exemptions under this subsection when DHS determines that the exemption would be in the best interest of the minor parent and the dependent child.
A minor parent must be included in the TANF budget group as one of the following:
1. A TANF child. If assistance is requested for a minor parent who qualifies as a TANF dependent child, the minor parent is coded EC. See Section 110.21.
2. A sibling. See Section 110.42. A minor parent who qualifies as a TANF dependent child is required to be included in the TANF budget group of a sibling who is eligible as a TANF dependent child. The minor parent is coded EC.
3. A specified relative. See Chapter 127.
NOTE: The minor parent may not be designated as a specified relative if they are required to be in the budget group of their sibling or if they are required to live in the home of a parent or other adult relative. If the minor parent is exempt from the requirement to live in the home of their parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative or in an adult-supervised supportive living arrangement, the minor parent must exercise care and control of the TANF child. The minor parent can then be designated the specified relative and coded ES or NS.
4. A parent to the TANF child. See Section 110.41. The minor parent is required to be in the budget group as a parent when:
The minor parent does not qualify as a TANF child (EC);
The minor parent is not designated the specified relative (ES or NS); or
The minor parent is not required to be in the TANF budget group of a sibling (EC).
The minor parent is coded EP.
5. A pregnant minor. If assistance is requested for a pregnant minor parent who qualifies for TANF benefits, the minor parent is coded EP.
If the minor parent qualifies as a TANF child and their parents and siblings are applying for or receiving cash benefits, the minor parent must be included in their parent’s budget group as a TANF child. The minor parent cannot be the specified relative for their own child. The minor parent’s child is also included as a TANF child.
The minor parent’s siblings who meet TANF conditions and their parents are mandatory budget group members, because they are the siblings and parents of a TANF child.
Resulting eCIS eligibility status coding is as follows:
ES—Minor parent’s parent(s)
EC—Minor parent’s sibling(s)
EC—Minor parent
EC—Minor parent’s child
If the minor parent or siblings of the minor parent do not qualify as TANF children and the minor parent is required to live in the parent’s home, the minor parent’s parent must complete the application. The minor parent’s child is the TANF child. The minor parent must be included in the TANF budget group with the child. The siblings and parent of the minor parent do not have to be included.
Resulting eCIS eligibility status coding is as follows:
NS—Minor parent's parent
NP—Minor parent’s other parent
NC—Minor parent’s sibling(s)
EP—Minor parent
EC—Minor parent’s child
NOTE: Income from the minor parent’s parent is deemed as available to the budget group. See Chapter 155.
If the minor parent is required to live in the home of a parent, legal guardian, or adult relative or in an adult-supervised supportive living arrangement because the minor parent does not meet any of the exemptions in Section 110.6, the minor parent may not be designated as a specified relative or payment name for themselves or for their child.
The adult with whom the minor parent lives must complete the application. The minor parent must be included in the TANF budget group with the child, because they are the parent. The adult with whom the minor parent lives may be the payment name. The specified relative for the minor parent and the TANF child does not have to be included in the budget group.
Resulting eCIS eligibility status coding is as follows:
NS—Minor parent's parent or other adult relative or
NP—Minor parent’s other parent or
NG—Legal guardian or
NA—Adult representative
EP—Minor parent
EC—Minor parent’s child
NOTE: Income from the minor parent's parent is deemed to the budget group. See Chapter 155.
If the minor parent is pregnant and qualifies for TANF benefits but is required to live in the home of a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative or in an adult-supervised supportive living arrangement because they do not meet any of the exemptions in Section 110.6, the minor parent may not be designated as a specified relative or payment name for themself. The adult with whom the minor parent lives must complete the application and may be the payment name. The minor parent is coded EP.
Resulting eCIS eligibility status coding is as follows:
NS—Minor parent's parent or other adult relative
NP—Minor parent’s other parent
NG—Legal guardian
NA—Adult representative
EP—Pregnant Minor
NOTE: Income from the pregnant minor's parent is deemed to the budget group. See Chapter 155.
Revised July 10, 2024, replacing August 16, 2013