Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program

(m) Provide for all MOE-funded services the following information: the name of the program benefit or service, and the financial eligibility criteria that families must meet in order to receive that benefit or service. In addition, for TANF MOE-funded services (co-mingled or segregated MOE) describe the program benefit provided to eligible families (SSP services do not have to include a description but the Department of Health and Human Services encourages it) (§263.2(b)(3) & §263.2(c) preamble pages 17826-7)

Refer to Section (a) for detailed descriptions of MOE–funded services.

TANF OPTIONS SELECTED

Maryland has opted for the following:

• The option to assist all legal immigrants who lived in the U.S. before August 22, 1996 in the same way U.S. citizens are treated.
• In 2000, the Maryland General Assembly chose to opt out of the PRWORA Section 115 requirement to disqualify custodial parents convicted of a drug–related felony involving possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance on or after August 22, 1996 from receiving TANF or Food Supplement Program benefits. Mandatory and recurrent drug testing is a condition for receiving TANF and Food Supplement Program benefits for these custodial parents. The department developed regulations in consultation with the Department of Health regarding testing methods and intervals.
• The option to not require an individual who is a single custodial parent caring for a child who has not attained 12 months of age to engage in work.
• The option to disregard the single custodial parent exempt from work due to caring for a child under the age of 12 months in determining the participation rates for work requirements for not more than 12 months.
• The option to terminate assistance to a family where an individual receiving assistance refuses to engage in work requirements, subject to good cause.
• The option to deny assistance to a family where an individual is not cooperating with the establishment of paternity or obtaining child support.
• The option to exempt from the 60 month limitation a family by reason of hardship, not to exceed a total of 20 percent of the average monthly number of families to which assistance is provided.
• The option to continue assistance for a child absent from the home fewer than 180 consecutive days.
• The option to develop a family responsibility plan. The plan sets forth an employment goal and a plan for moving the individual into employment; sets forth the obligations of the individual which may include a requirement to attend school, keep school aged children in school, immunize children, and attend parenting and money management classes; set other requirements which will result in unsubsidized employment; and describe the services the state will provide to assist the individual to attain self–sufficiency.
• The option to comply with the above option within 180 days after the effective date of this part for a recipient of assistance and within 90 days after the effective date of this part after the individual is determined to be eligible for assistance.
• The option to apply a full–family sanction to a family that includes an individual who fails, without good cause, to meet the individual responsibility plan.
• The option to use a sampling method using the procedures the Secretary deems to be necessary to produce statistically valid estimates of the performance of state programs funded under this part.
• The option to sanction a family that fails to ensure that minor dependent school–age children attend school and minor dependent pre–school children get preventive health care.
• The option to screen and identify victims of domestic violence. Refer such individuals to counseling and supportive services. Waive, pursuant to a determination of good cause, other program requirements outlined in Section 402 (a), (7), (A), (I), (ii), and (iii) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
• The option to exempt a family from the 60 month limitation when a family includes an individual who has been battered or subject to extreme cruelty.
• The option to establish good cause reasons for a minor to be absent from the home for longer than 180 consecutive days.
• The option to screen recipients of assistance for use of controlled substances or sanction recipients who test positive for controlled substances.