An inmate or resident of any of the following institutions is ineligible for TANF:
A public psychiatric institution;
Any other public institution; or
A public penal, reform or correctional institution.
NOTE: A person on house arrest is not eligible for cash assistance, with two exceptions:
When a person is on house arrest or is on electronic monitoring (a form of house arrest) as a term of their probation or parole. If otherwise eligible, the person may receive cash assistance as long as they are meeting the requirements of their probation or parole.
When a person is on house arrest or on electronic monitoring while awaiting trial or sentencing. If otherwise eligible, the person may receive cash assistance because they have not been convicted or sentenced.
A person who is temporarily hospitalized in a medical institution may be eligible for TANF if:
they are free to make their own financial arrangements with the institution;
they are free to leave at any time, even though their physical condition may prevent it; and
the institution is not one established for the treatment of psychiatric disorder.
NOTE: An institution for the intellectually disabled is not an institution for psychiatric disorders.
45 CFR 233.60(a)(3)(iii)
Updated October 15, 2024, Replacing July 14, 2017