133 LENGTH OF ELIGIBILITY SR 08-04, 04/08 (FAM-A)

*Financial Assistance To Needy Families cases do not have certification periods. Cases remain eligible until they are determined ineligible.

60-Month Lifetime Limit on Receipt of TANF and/or Financial Assistance To Needy Families*

Individuals who receive Financial Assistance To Needy Families* as an adult, minor casehead, or minor spouse of the casehead are restricted to a 60-month (120 payroll period) lifetime limit on receipt of financial assistance. Any payroll periods in which *financial assistance is received while a dependent child are not counted toward the lifetime limit. The 60 months do not have to be consecutive. All *households have both a federal and state timeclock. The clocks advance as follows:

• The federal clock advances for every month the household receives TANF financial assistance; and

• The state clock advances for every month the household receives Financial Assistance To Needy Families*. Months in which an individual receives TANF financial assistance counts towards both the federal and state clock, however, months spent receiving UP/IDP/TAP/FWOC financial assistance only count towards the state clock.

Other states inquiring about the number of months an individual received TANF financial assistance in NH must only be provided with the count on the federal clock.

Certain *assistance groups may have eligibility extended beyond the 60-month state clock. See PART 134, HARDSHIP EXTENSIONS TO THE 60-MONTH LIFETIME LIMIT.

Eligibility for other assistance programs, including Medicaid and Food Stamps, is not connected to the *time limit. Families whose *eligibility for financial assistance ends due to the time limit must have eligibility for other assistance programs determined independently of their previous category of eligibility.