PART IV NON-FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
CHAPTER 13 LIFETIME LIMITS
13.1 Introduction
This chapter only applies to the TANF program. Since its beginning in 1997, federal regulations have set a lifetime limit of 60 months for receipt of TANF benefits, but allowed for a percentage of a state’s TANF caseload to exceed that limit.
Up through March, 2011, the District of Columbia has maintained families on TANF beyond the 60 month limit in excess of federal law.
Effective April 1, 2011, District law requires that TANF eligibility for groups including adult recipients of TANF will be determined using a Reduced Payment Level, once the adult member(s) receive TANF for more than a cumulative total of 60 months in the District of Columbia, not necessarily consecutive. The Reduced Payment Level is 80% of the Full Payment Level (See Exhibit VI-4: Standard of Assistance and Payment Levels in Part VI.)
13.2 Legislative Authority
| Lifetime Limits |
TANF: DC Act 18-0694,
DC Act 18-0721 |
TANF: 42 USC 608(a)(7) |
13.3 Groups Covered by Lifetime Limits
Any TANF group that includes a mandatory or optional adult member who has received TANF benefits for more than 60 months is subject to the lifetime limit provision.
The 60 month lifetime limit is applied to:
· Adults who are mandatory members of a TANF assistance unit. This includes adults who are mandatory members but who are disqualified from receiving benefits(such as persons sanctioned for non-participation in work efforts and persons who are unqualified aliens); and
· Adults who are optional members of a TANF group and have opted to be included in the group.
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Example |
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Joyce Esthers has received TANF for herself and her children for every month since July, 2005. The TANF group consists of Joyce and the children. As of April 1, 2011, she has received TANF benefits for 68 months. As the children’s mother, she is a mandatory member of the TANF group. Effective April, 2011, determine the group’s eligibility using the Reduced Payment Level. |
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Example |
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Ralph Justice has received TANF intermittently for himself and his child since May, 2003. In June, 2011, he receives the 60th TANF payment. As his child’s father, he is a mandatory member of the TANF group. Effective July 1, 2011, determine the group’s eligibility using the Reduced Payment Level. |
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Example |
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Elizabeth Patterson has received TANF for herself and her two grandchildren continuously since June 2000. As of April 1, 2011, she has received TANF for a total of 129 months. Although an optional member, Ms. Patterson has chosen to be part of the group for the entire time period. Effective April 1, 2011, determine the group’s eligibility using the Reduced Payment Level. |
13.4 Counting Months Towards the Lifetime Limit
The following months count towards the 60 month lifetime limit:
· Any month for which a TANF payment is made that includes a mandatory or optional adult member ;
· Any month for which a prorated TANF payment is made based on the date of application and the payment includes the needs of a mandatory or optional adult member; and
· Any month for which a TANF payment is made to the group and an adult member’s needs are excluded because the adult is disqualified but otherwise mandatory.
The following months do not count towards the 60 month lifetime limit:
· Any month for which a TANF payment is issued for a child or children that does not include the needs of an adult and there is NO mandatory adult member who is in the home but disqualified from receiving TANF;
· Any month for which a TANF payment is issued to a recipient of SSI for his/her child(ren); and
· Any month for which a POWER payment is issued.
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Example |
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Lydia Johnson has received TANF for herself and her children off and on since January, 2002. As of April 1, 2011, she has received TANF for a total of 63 months. During four of those months, her needs were not included in the grant because she was disqualified due to a TANF work sanction. The four months that Ms. Johnson was disqualified do count towards the 60 month lifetime limit. Effective April 1, 2011, determine the group’s eligibility using the Reduced Payment Level. |
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Example |
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Alfred Johnson started receiving TANF for himself and his children in October, 2003. Mr. Johnson was found to be disabled and eligible for SSI effective August, 2006 and his needs were removed from the TANF grant effective August, 2006. Only the months of October, 2003 through July, 2006 count towards the 60 month lifetime limit. The countable months add up to 34 months. If otherwise eligible, continue to calculate the TANF grant using the Full Payment Level |
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Example |
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Julio Garcia has received TANF benefits for his nephew Antoine since April, 2001. Mr. Garcia has never opted to be included in the TANF grant. There are no countable months against the 60 month lifetime limit. If Mr. Garcia is otherwise eligible, continue to determine the group’s TANF grant using the Full Payment Level. |
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Example |
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Daniella N’Gansi has received TANF for her children since February, 2002. Ms. N’Gansi’s needs have never been included in the grant because she is disqualified as an unqualified alien. Since she is otherwise a mandatory member of the group as the mother of the children, all of the months of TANF receipt count towards the 60 month lifetime limit. As of April 1, 2011, she has received TANF for 109 months. Effective April 1, 2011, determine the group’s eligibility using the Reduced Payment Level. |
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Example |
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April Reed has received TANF benefits for herself and her children off and on since December, 2002. She last received TANF in October, 2010, and that was her 70th month countable towards the lifetime limit. Ms. Reed was incarcerated in November, 2010. Her brother, James Reed, applies for TANF for the children in May, 2011. Since Ms. Reed is no longer in the TANF grant, there are no months countable towards the 60 month limit. If Mr. Reed opts to have his needs included in the TANF grant, and has never received TANF before, countable months will begin with the first TANF payment for him and the children. Until countable months exceed 60 months, determine eligibility using the Full Payment Level. |
