1319 Deprivation Based on Recent Connection to the Work Force | TANF

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
TANF Policy Manual

Policy Title:

Deprivation Based on Recent Connection to the Work Force

Effective Date:

October 2020

Chapter:

1300

Policy Number:

1319

Previous Policy Number(s):

MT 50

Updated or Reviewed in MT:

MT-58

Requirements

Deprivation of parental support or care exists in a two-parent family in which both parents are able-bodied and at least one parent has a recent connection to the work force.

Basic Considerations

Deprivation is based on recent connection to the work force if both parents are in the home, both are able-bodied and one or both work or have a work history.

In two-parent families in which one or both parents claim incapacity, deprivation based on incapacity must be determined before deprivation based on recent connection to the work force.

Recent connection to the work force is defined as one of the following:

currently working at least 20 hours per week or worked an average of 20 hours per week in the four weeks prior to the application,
currently receiving Unemployment Compensation Benefits (UCB) in the month of application or received UCB within 12 months prior to the month of application,
currently unemployed or working less than 20 hours per week and earned a total of at least $500.00 in the period covering the month of application and the prior six months,
currently receiving retirement benefits or received retirement benefits in any of the six months prior to the month of application,
received disability benefits based on 100% disability in any of the last six months prior to the month of application.

Receipt of disability benefits in the month of application would establish deprivation based on incapacity.

Recent connection to the work force may be verified by the assistance unit’s (AU) statement, unless information known to the agency is questionable.

Work Requirements

In two-parent families in which both parents are able-bodied, both parents have a work requirement and must be referred to employment services.

A parent who is not included in the AU because s/he is an ineligible alien does not have a work requirement.

Blended Families

Standard filing unit (SFU) policy applies to a child in a blended family who is deprived based on a parent’s recent connection to the work force. When there is a mutual child who is deprived because his/her parent meets recent connection to the work force, SFU policy requires that the mutual child and his/her parents be included in the AU with half siblings. This may result in the entire AU being ineligible for cash assistance. In this situation, stepparent budgeting cannot be applied to half siblings of the mutual child.

Aliens

If both parents in a two-parent family are aliens and neither parent has Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) authorization to work, the family is not eligible for cash assistance.

If at least one parent in a two-parent family has INS authorization to work, the family is potentially eligible for cash assistance. However, only those individuals who meet the alien criteria may be included in the AU.

Deprivation cannot be established in families in which both able-bodied parents are in the home and neither parent meets recent connection. The AU is not eligible for cash assistance.

Procedures

Determine if either parent in a two-parent family meets recent connection to the work force.

Accept the applicant/recipient’s (AR) statement unless questionable.

If recent connection to the work force is based on receipt of Retirement Survivors Disability Insurance (RSD), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or UCB, document information obtained from Clearinghouse.

If questionable, verify recent connection to the work force by one of the following:

statement from employer
statement from the source of the retirement or disability payment.

Chart 1319.1 - Undocumented Two-Parent Households
If	Then
One parent is a United States (US) citizen and the other parent is an undocumented alien,	Recent connection would have to be determined from the parent that is a U.S. citizen.
Both parents are not U.S. citizens, but one parent has INS authorization to work,	Recent connection can be determined from the parent that has INS authorization to work.
Neither parent is a U.S. citizen and neither has INS authorization to work,	Recent connection cannot be determined and therefore the family is not eligible for TANF cash assistance.
Neither parent is a U.S. citizen, but both have INS authorization to work,	Recent connection can be determined from either parent.