1105 Application Processing | TANF

A completed application consists of a signed application submitted with a name, address, and the signature of the individual requesting assistance. An application can be filed:

Anyone may apply for cash assistance, including the following individuals:

Electronic signatures utilizing Adobe signature or other E-Signature software will be acceptable for all TANF forms. A completed application consists of a signed application submitted with a name and address. A typed name on the signature line of a paper application is not acceptable.

An individual has the right to file an application on the day of the initial request for benefits. The agency cannot refuse anyone the right to same day filing and must inform the individual of the right to file an application form on the same day s/he or his/her representative contacts the agency in person or by phone, expressing interest in obtaining assistance.

If an individual request an application by mail, the right to same-day filing is met if the application is mailed on the day s/he makes the request to the agency. The date of application is the date the signed application form is received in the county office.

The right to same-day filing affects the following:

A face-to-face or a telephone interview with the applicant is required prior to approval. The interview may be in the office, by phone, or a prearranged home visit. A home visit can be conducted when the applicant is unable to come to the office because of illness, physical or mental handicap, lack of transportation or undue hardship.

The applicant must be informed about the program orally and in writing, by use of appropriate information pamphlets and other printed material.

The applicant is interviewed, if possible, on the same day on which the application is filed.

TANF Community Outreach Services (TCOS) provides information and referral services about other programs and resources that are available through DHS, other State agencies or community organizations for all AUs who are applying for TANF and whose gross income falls below 130% of the FPL. For AUs in which the head of household is elderly or disabled the income level is below 200% of the FPL.

There is no resource limit for TCOS services.

Eligibility for TANF Community Outreach Services (TCOS) must be determined prior to a TANF eligibility determination.

The client’s statement of gross income is enough verification to initially establish eligibility for TANF Community Outreach Services.

Discuss the available information and referral services after initial TCOS eligibility is established (i.e. if the applicant’s stated income falls below 130% or 200% of FPL).

Persons who receive a TCOS brochure are considered categorically eligible to receive SNAP benefits. They, however, must meet all other eligibility requirements for the TANF program to receive TANF benefits.

It is the policy of the Department of Human Services (DHS) that all Office of Family Independence (OFI) programs offer voter registration services to all applicants and recipients whenever they apply for services, renew services or submit a change of address, whether in person, electronically, or via the telephone, facsimile or mail.

Voter registration services include distribution of:

The following forms must be provided to the parent, pregnant woman, parent caretaker and/or pregnant minor or minor parent (head of household) and completed, if applicable, when processing a TANF paper application:

The following forms are completed as necessary when processing a TANF application:

Refer to Section 1345 Personal Responsibility Requirements – Personal Responsibilities Requirements (for details about requirements to complete Form 785)

This list is not all inclusive. Other forms may also be requested based on the AUs circumstances.

The intent of policy is not that a hard copy form be completed if the same information can be collected, or the same process can be completed on-line. Rather, the forms listed above contain information that must be collected or sent. Whenever IES can be used to collect or transmit necessary information, it should be used. If IES cannot be used, even if only temporarily, the hard copy form must be used.

The standard of promptness (SOP) for completion of a TANF application is 45 calendar days.

The first day of the 45-day count is the day on which the applicant files a signed application in the county department or the day on which a signed application is received in the mail.

Completion of an application is defined as either the issuance of cash assistance or the issuance of a denial notice.

All interviews must be completed, and deadlines given to facilitate completion of the application within the SOP.

Approval or denial of an application is completed on the last workday prior to the weekend or holiday on which the SOP deadline falls. An approval or denial completed the business day after the SOP deadline falls is considered over the standard of promptness.

To determine SOP for denial of an application refer to:

A TANF application may be accepted from a pregnant applicant who has no minor dependent children. The TANF benefit amount will be determined based on the applicant and the number of fetuses. Third party verification of the number of fetuses is required.

An application is accepted from an individual outside the State who expresses intent to move to Georgia. An application is treated as an inquiry until the applicant establishes residency in Georgia.

The application processing standard begins once the individual establishes residency. The date of application is the date on which the applicant establishes Georgia residency.

If the AU received TANF in another State, the effective date of TANF termination and the number of months for which TANF was received must be verified.

Refer to Section 1390 Lifetime Limit.

If an applicant moves to another county prior to approval of the case, the county in which the applicant filed the application will complete the application process with the assistance of the new county of residence.

The case is transferred in the usual manner following approval of the application.

An applicant is responsible to report changes within 10 calendar days of the date on which the change occurs during the application process.

The case manager must act on the reported change during the application process, allowing the applicant enough time to provide any verification that may be required.

One-time only conciliation opportunity is available for TANF applicants if the applicant:

Follow the step-by-step conciliation process listed under “TANF Policy Procedures” manual under section 1105 Application Processing.

Refer to Section 1351 Sanctions for additional information about CONCILIATIONS and the right to claim GOOD CAUSE for failing to meet the requirements.

Refer to Section 1320 Child Support Enforcement of the policy manual regarding Re-Application after non-cooperation with DCSS.

The simplified reapplication process allows the case manager to conduct a modified interview and establish eligibility using verification obtained or available at the previous application, and verification obtained after the reapplication.

An application may be approved using a simplified reapplication process when all the following conditions are met:

If the closure was due to a sanction or the client’s request for closure to avoid a sanction, then a simplified reapplication is not appropriate.

The case manager must review the reason for the denial or termination of the previous application or TANF case, and the AU must fully comply with all requirements that resulted in the negative action. All unresolved points of eligibility, pending sanctions, and conciliation must be addressed.

Mandatory forms completed as part of the previous application process do not have to be completed again during the simplified reapplication process.

However, the Voter Registration Application Services procedure must be completed at application, each subsequent application, renewal, recertification, or changes of address.

An application may be reopened after denial if information made known to the agency indicates that the application was denied in error.

An application is approved when all necessary verification has been received and all points of eligibility have been established.

A TANF applicant must be alive and meet all eligibility requirements on the date the case is approved in the system.

A TANF application is approved for an unspecified time.

Initial benefits are prorated according to the following guidelines:

Calculating the Prorated Amount:

Since Georgia uses the standard 30-day calendar formula, the calculations to determine monthly benefits would be as follows:

(Full Monthly Benefit Amount) X (31 minus appropriate date from Step 2) divided by 30 = Allotment Amount

Round to the nearest whole dollar.

Written notice of the eligibility determination must be provided. The notice must include the following information:

The system generates a notice to the AU that contains the information above at approval or denial. If the system-generated notice is insufficient, a manual notice must be sent. Refer to Section 1705 Notification.

Information required to determine the applicant’s eligibility for cash assistance is requested as follows:

Verification received for another program may be used for TANF if the information is sufficient.

The applicant’s statement is accepted as verification for some eligibility criteria, as indicated.

The applicant’s statement is accepted if it establishes ineligibility and further verification is not required. The AU must be assisted in obtaining verification.

Assist the AU as needed to complete the application form.

Accept signed applications when the AU first requests assistance. DO NOT require an interview or other screening process prior to accepting an application.

Record on the application form the date on which it is received in the county office. Screen the application to determine if there is:

Consider the applicant as the primary source of information pertaining to individuals for whom assistance is requested.

Provide the AU with necessary forms needed to complete the application process.

Refer the AU to other appropriate services requested by the applicant or determined by the agency.

Interview the applicant, if possible, on the same day the application is filed. Schedule an interview for an applicant who is not interviewed on the day the application is filed.

Follow the procedures below when it is necessary to schedule an interview for a day other than the date of the application:

Follow the procedures below when scheduling the first appointment:

Follow the procedures below when scheduling a subsequent appointment:

Follow the steps below to conciliate if an individual has committed a material violation during the application process and was not previously conciliated.

Follow the procedures below to determine when to begin the date of application for processing standards.

Follow the steps below to process an application using simplified reapplication procedures:

Use existing Clearinghouse information if it was obtained within 30 days prior to the new application.

Use the following chart to determine how to complete a TANF application: