211.01 Who Must Be Members SR 04-07, 03/04 (FAM-A)

Include the following individuals in the same TANF financial assistance group:

• All children who are blood, adoptive, or step-related siblings, provided they:

- live with a specified relative;

- are under the age of 18 or are under age 20 and are full-time students in a secondary school or its equivalent;

- meet all nonfinancial criteria for TANF financial assistance; and

- are deprived of parental support or care due to the death, continued absence, or incapacity of a parent, or unemployment of the principal wage earner.

• All natural, adoptive, and step-related parents of the children unless receiving SSI or OAA, APTD, or ANB financial assistance.

Exception: Do not include individuals in the TANF financial assistance group if they are ineligible for any reason other than income or resources.

A parent MUST be included in the assistance group if his or her child lives with a non-parent specified relative who has legal custody of the child, and the parent of the child lives in the household. (See Section 207.05, Living With a Specified Relative)

Exception: If a non-parent specified relative adopts the child and the childs biological parent moves into the household, do not include the biological parent (See Section 211.11, Who is Not a Member) unless the biological parent brings blood-related siblings to the adopted child into the household.

Example: Gloria adopts her grandson Sam and they receive cash assistance. Beth, Sams biological mother, moves into the household. She is not added to the assistance group because Beth relinquishing her parental rights over Sam severs the mother/son relationship. Two months later, Beth regains custody of her 4 other children and she moves them into the household with Gloria and Sam. The 4 other children are siblings of Sams and must be added to the assistance group. Beth must also be added to the assistance group because of her parental relationship with the siblings of Sam.

When 3 generations live in the same home, include the minor parent in the same TANF financial assistance group as their siblings if assistance has been requested for the siblings. Minor parents must meet the definition of a dependent child.

When minor parents request assistance for their own children, include the children in the same TANF financial assistance group as their minor parent.

Families who are not eligible for or who choose not to receive financial assistance can choose one coverage group for each individual who is eligible to participate in any medical assistance program. Each individual can only receive assistance in one coverage group.

All family members requesting the same type of medical assistance must be included in the same medical assistance group.