Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program

(b) Require a parent or caretaker receiving assistance to engage in work (defined by the State) once the State determines the parent or caretaker is ready to engage in work, or once he or she has received 24 months of assistance, whichever is earlier, consistent with the child care exception at 407(e)(2) (section 402(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act)

Each adult in the TANF assistance unit and each child age 16 years or older in the assistance unit who is not enrolled full–time in school must participate in a work activity approved by the local department that is likely to result in unsubsidized employment. Local departments follow the 12 approved core and non– core work activities set forth by the law (The participation requirement is based on immediate universal engagement and is compliant with the 24 month work rule found in §402(a)(1) A (ii) of the TANF law.). Maryland also statutorily provides good cause for any single parents caring for a child younger than 6 years old who is unable to obtain child care for one or more of the following reasons: unavailability of appropriate child care within a reasonable distance from the parent's home or work site; unavailability or unsuitability of informal child care by a relative or others; or unavailability or unsuitability of appropriate and affordable formal child care arrangement. Maryland also requires that before sanctioning any individual for non-compliance with a work program, the case manager must investigate good cause prior to sending a notice of adverse action.

Exemptions from the work activity requirements are:

• A single custodial parent who is required to care for a child under age one who is a member of the assistance unit (this exemption applies for a cumulative total of 12 months for a parent’s lifetime) and children under age 16.
• A teen parent (either head of household or included as a child on an adult’s TANF case) who has not finished secondary school may not be exempt to care for a child younger than one year old.
• A caretaker relative in an assistance unit with a child cared for by a non–parent relative who has demonstrated need and has no dependent children of his or her own in the assistance unit.
• An Immigrant parent or caretaker relative who is not eligible for federal TANF assistance.

Failure of any non–exempt adult to cooperate in a work requirement without good cause, including failure to accept offered employment, shall result in ineligibility of the entire assistance unit until the household cooperates.