209.01 Eligibility Requirements SR 97-09, 03/97 (FAM-A)

To receive TANF, a child must be deprived of the support or care of a parent for one of the following reasons:

• death of a parent,

• continued absence of a parent from the home,

• unemployment of the parent who is the primary wage earner, or

• physical or mental incapacity of a parent.

A parent can be natural, adoptive, or step. A child who lives with two such parents can only be deprived by one of the two, and not by a third parent outside the household.

Example

A 12 year old boy’s natural father is deceased. His natural mother lives in another town. The boy lives with his stepmother and her new husband, who adopted him. In essence, the boy has 3 living parents. However, no deprivation exists unless the stepmother or adoptive father with whom he lives meets requirements for deprivation by unemployment or incapacitation.