Certain persons who live with the TANF child must be included in the budget group. Mandatory members of a TANF budget group include the following:
The biological or adoptive parents of the TANF child or a minor parent who does not meet any of the exemptions under Section 110.6
Siblings of the TANF child who meet the conditions in Section 110.42.
A person is still a mandatory budget group member even if he or she is TANF ineligible for any reason, including the following:
Not being a U.S. citizen, a resident alien, or an eligible refugee
A sanction, such as for failure to comply with:
Quality control review;
Signing required forms;
Applying for a Social Security number; or
NOTE: The person must be included in the TANF budget group, with an appropriate eligibility status code indicating sanctioned/disqualified or not eligible. The income and resources of this person must be considered in determining the eligibility for the rest of the eligible members of the budget group. When the person is no longer ineligible, his or her program status code must be changed from ineligible to eligible status in the budget group, unless the mandatory member is a child. See Section 110.213.
Exceptions: A person must not be included if:
He or she is getting SSI, including special SSI recipient status (the person is working is and not eligible for SSI cash benefits but gets Medical Assistance).
He or she is getting Title IV-E or state or local foster care or adoption assistance, unless the child’s inclusion in the budget group would increase the group’s benefits. If the inclusion of the adopted child would increase the benefits, then the child must be included in the budget group and his or her income from the federal, state, or local subsidies must count in the eligibility determination and benefit computation. See Chapter 150.
He or she is a child in the subsidized permanent legal custodianship (SPLC) program, unless including him or her would benefit the budget group. Any subsidy received by the legal custodian is considered income to the child so that the family is able to provide appropriate care and support to meet the child’s needs. The income is not counted unless the child is included in the budget group.
Failure to add a mandatory person to a budget group may result in an overpayment or in the ineligibility of the entire budget group. See Chapter 168.
Citations:
55 Pa. Code § 171.21(a)(1)(i)(B)
55 Pa. Code § 171.21(a)(1)(i)(C)
The CAO must include the biological or adoptive parents living with the TANF child in that child's budget group or a minor parent who does not meet any of the exemptions under Section 110.6.
A stepparent is not a mandatory budget group member. The CAO must not include a stepparent in the TANF budget unless he or she is designated as the specified relative or an essential person.
A parent must be included in the budget group as one of the following:
A specified relative (eligibility code ES or NS). If both parents are in the budget group, they are both coded ES or NS.
A parent, 18 years of age or older, who is required to be included in the budget group because his or her own child is eligible for TANF but who is not the specified relative (code EA).
A minor parent who is age 17 or younger and is exempt from the requirement to live in the home of a parent, legal guardian, other adult relative, or in an adult-supervised supportive living arrangement and is the specified relative (code ES).
A minor parent who is age 17 or younger and (a) is required to live in the home of a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative or in an adult-supervised supportive living arrangement, or (b) must be included in the budget group because his or her own child is eligible for TANF or (c) is pregnant and eligible for TANF, and who is not designated the specified relative (code EP). If that minor parent is required to be included in the budget group of his or her TANF siblings who live in the common residence, he or she is coded EC.
An eligible dependent child, if he or she is required to be included as the sibling of a TANF child (code EC).
NOTE: n a budget group with several generations, the coding depends on who is designated as the specified relative. This determines the coding of others in the budget group who could qualify as a specified relative based on relationship. See Section 110.6.
NOTE: The CAO must review and update any eligibility status codes when a person is added to or removed from the budget group.
Example: Mrs. Evans and three daughters, age 14, 15, and 19, live in an apartment. Mrs. Evans (ES) and her daughters 14 and 15 (both EC) are eligible for TANF benefits because of the absence of the children’s father. Mrs. Evans is the payment name. The 19-year-old daughter does not qualify for assistance at this time. Mrs. Evans dies and the 19-year-old-daughter assumes care and control of her siblings. She qualifies as the specified relative to the children. The CAO adds her to the TANF budget group as the specified relative (ES) and the payment name.
Citations:
55 Pa. Code § 171.21(a)(1)(i)(B)
The CAO must include a sibling living with the TANF child if the sibling meets the following TANF eligibility conditions:
Age (see Chapter 121)
Deprivation (see Chapter 129)
The relationship must be by blood (for example, brother or half brother) or by adoption. A child getting Title IV-E or state or local foster care or adoption assistance must not be included as a member of a TANF budget group unless including the child in the budget group would increase the budget group’s benefits. The child must be included in the budget group if benefits would increase.
A stepbrother or stepsister is not a mandatory budget group member. The CAO may include the stepsibling if he or she is designated as the specified relative or meets the requirements to be an essential person.
NOTE: A step relationship is not a blood relationship. Half siblings have one parent in common. Stepsiblings have no parents in common.
Example: Mr. and Mrs. Brown, their daughter, Brenda; Mrs. Brown's daughter from a previous marriage, Susan; and Mr. Brown's son from a previous marriage, Bob, live together.
Mr. Brown is Susan’s stepfather.
Mrs. Brown is Bob’s stepmother.
Brenda and Susan are half siblings.
Brenda and Bob are half siblings.
Susan and Bob are stepsiblings.
Code EC is used for the child who is included as a TANF child’s sibling.
Code EP is used for a minor parent who:
a. is age 17 or younger and
b. is not designated the specified relative and
c. is not qualified as a TANF dependent and
d. is required to live in the home of a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative or in an adult supervised supportive living arrangement or
e. must be included in the budget group because their own child is eligible for TANF or
f. is pregnant and eligible for TANF.
Code EC is used if a minor parent also qualifies as a TANF dependent and is required to be included in the TANF budget group of a sibling who is eligible as a TANF dependent child.
Code ES is used for a minor parent who is exempt from the requirements listed in Section 110.6 and is designated as the specified relative.
Citations:
55 Pa. Code § 171.21(a)(1)(i)(C)
PCT 1511810 Adopted Child Returns to Biological Parent’s Household (Linked February 22, 2010)
Reissued May 7, 2009, replacing June 27, 2005; Reviewed January 31, 2012