When deprivation is established due to incapacity of either parent or due to unemployment, a C budget will be authorized if the incapacity exempts the parent from participating in work or work-related activities. A U budget will be authorized if the parent’s incapacity does not prevent participation in work or work-related activities. See Appendix B, Desk Guide for Determining Category - Two-Parent Families.
Examples:
Mr. and Mrs. Topper, who are both unemployed, apply for cash assistance for themselves and their two minor children. Mr. Topper has no health problems. Mrs. Topper is asthmatic, limiting employment opportunities and establishing deprivation based on incapacity. The incapacity does not exempt Mrs. Topper or give good cause from participating in work or work-related activities. A U budget will be authorized.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams live with their twins. They request cash benefits for all family members. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are both unemployed. Mr. Williams is temporarily disabled with a broken leg. The twins may be considered deprived either due to Mr. William's incapacity or due to the unemployment of their parents. The category for the entire budget group is TANF-C due to Mr. William’s incapacity.
NOTE: U takes precedence over C as the budget group category when a budget group has two or more TANF dependent children who qualify under different factors unless one of the factors is an incapacity in the household. A TANF-C budget will always be authorized when there an incapacity deprivation in the household.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill, their common child, Sue and Mrs. Hill's child Tom from a previous marriage live together. The Hills ask for a cash benefit for all family members. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are unemployed. Tom qualifies as a TANF dependent child based on the absence of a parent. Sue is included in the budget group because Sue is a half sibling of Tom and meets TANF dependent child conditions based on unemployment. The category of the entire budget group is TANF-U.
Ms. Haynes, who is unemployed, lives with their partner, Mr. Sampson, Ms. Haynes’ child from a previous relationship and a common child (paternity established) Mr. Sampson works. Mr. Sampson’s income, with allowable deductions, is greater than the FSA for four people. No deprivation exists for the common child. The common child is not considered a TANF child. Ms. Haynes and the child from a previous relationship are eligible for TANF-C, if otherwise eligible. If Mr. Sampson was not working but receiving UC, their common child would be deprived and a TANF child.
When the disability deprivation of a C budget group is resolved, the budget group would change from C to U if the budget group was eligible for U at application or would now be eligible for U.
When the absence deprivation of a C budget group is resolved, the budget group would change from C to U if the budget group met the requirements for U as of the date when the absent parent who has returned is added.
Updated September 27, 2024; replacing September 21, 2012