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.
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 only needs to provide information about the individual 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. See Section 168.8 Changes in Budget Group Members.
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 and a personal interview. The CAO may complete a telephone or face-to-face interview.
The new member will be requested to complete an Authorization for Release of Information (PA 4) within 15 working days of the authorization date if they are age 18 or older or an emancipated minor.
55 Pa. Code § 201.4(2)(ii)(A)(II)
A request to add an individual 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 personal interview.
See Chapter 104.
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 must do the following prior to the end of the grace period:
File a renewal form.
Complete enumeration.
Provide verification of eligibility factors.
Complete all support requirements. See Chapter 131.
A newborn child is added when the CAO is notified of the birth. Notification can be either of the following:
An oral or written statement by the caretaker/relative (a representative such as a family member, neighbor, etc. can also provide this).
An MA 112 (Medical Assistance Newborn Eligibility Form) received by the CAO. The MA 112 is considered notice to add a newborn child to an existing budget and must be referred to a worker for the budget group add-on. See Chapter 168 for other newborn child requirements.
Determining eligibility for Extended TANF requires a partial renewal.
55 Pa. Code § 133.23(b)(1)(iii)
The partial renewal interview requires the following:
A review of pertinent Extended TANF eligibility requirements.
Completion of a new AMR or an update of an existing AMR.
A summary of the interview documented in Case Comments.
CIS Program Status Code (PSC) change and tracking Exemption (TE) code input (see Appendix B and Daily Status D1322).
A notice to the family indicating the eligibility decision.
The CAO must send the TANF recipient an appointment letter (PA 1834) to schedule a telephone or face-to-face interview.
If the CAO conducts a telephone interview, the recipient may orally sign the updated or new AMR If the recipient opts to not orally sign the updated or new AMR, the CAO can e-mail the AMR for signature using the CAO resource account, have the individual sign at the CAO or mail the AMR for signature. If mailed, the recipient must initial and 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. The CAO must tell the reason a new or updated AMR is needed.
NOTE: A new or updated AMR may be completed by a telephone or face-to-face interview. 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 in case comments. The recipient must be given the option to orally sign the new or updated AMR. If the recipient chooses not to orally sign the AMR, the CAO can e-mail the AMR for signature using the CAO resource account, have the individual sign at the CAO or mail the AMR for signature. Advise the recipient that failure to sign and return the AMR within 30 days will result in ineligibility for the entire budget group.
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 their initial eligibility determination for Extended TANF. These families are changed to Extended TANF with a case review and eCIS is updated to include the following:
A review and update of all eCIS screens that support the eligibility determination, including the ETP Project enrollment screen.
Changing the program status code (PSC) from (07) to (08) with appropriate Tracking Exemption.
Narrate in case comments.
Do not send an eligibility notice until the family is properly determined eligible for Extended TANF based on meeting harship criteria.
Updated September 24, 2025, replacing January 12, 2023