This policy applies to both applicants and recipients not covered by family cap rules.

Babies born after December 31, 1998 to a teenage parent are not eligible for cash assistance (TANF and GA) unless the parent is:

• married; or

• at least eighteen (18) years of age.

An emancipated minor is considered an adult and therefore, the baby would be eligible for cash assistance. If both parents live in the home, both parents must be at least eighteen (18) years of age or married for the baby to be eligible. Once the minor parent turns 18, the parent and the baby are both eligible for cash assistance, if otherwise eligible.

Babies not receiving cash assistance are eligible for all other DSS services and programs including food stamps, grant-related Medicaid, and Welfare Reform child care. In lieu of cash assistance, the Division may provide non-cash assistance services. (See DSSM 3008.1.3)

Determining financial eligibility and grant amounts for an assistance unit which contains a child(ren) affected by this provision:

The child(ren) is/are included when determining the assistance unit’s need for assistance. The child(ren)’s income and resources are included when determining the assistance unit’s income and resources. The child(ren) is/are not included when determining the payment standard for the assistance unit.

Exception:

This restriction will not apply when:

• the child is conceived as a result of incest or sexual assault; or

• the child does not reside with his/her parents.

9 DE Reg. 1978 (06/01/06)

In a three (3) generation household, the grandparent could receive benefits for him/herself and for the teen parent but not for the child of the teen parent. This means that there is not grandparent deeming in these cases.

The services that non-cash assistance will provide are as follows:

DSS will offer non-cash assistance to these families after their request for cash assistance has been denied. The purpose of the voucher program is so the caretaker can purchase necessary items for the child denied benefits due to the parent being unmarried and a minor. Necessary items may include formula, if the minor parent and child are not WIC eligible, diapers, baby wipes, clothing. This is not an all inclusive list. Items covered by Medicaid are not eligible. A determination of need is to be completed by the contracted vendor. Though a baby may receive these services in subsequent months, the service ends when the parent either marries or turns eighteen.

A monthly voucher is to be no more than $69. The primary caseworker will explain that the family could receive a monthly voucher that may cover more than one month, but shall not exceed $207, the amount of three months of A Better Chance Welfare Reform Program grant awarded to children born before January 1, 1999. When a customer receives a monthly voucher greater than $69, the customer will be ineligible to receive services as follows:

For the following month when the voucher is between $70 and $138.

For the following two months when the voucher is between $139 and $207.

The primary caseworker will make the initial referral for the non-cash assistance to the contracted vendor. Referrals will include the name and Social Security number of the adult caretaker and the minor parent, the name and date of birth of the baby, address, a phone number for contacting the family and a DCIS II case number. The adult caretaker will contact the vendor if there is a need for services in subsequent months. The case record will be documented when a referral for this program is made to a contracted vendor.

Provide families referred for this service with appropriate vendor address and telephone number.

Teen parents are required to attend either:

• elementary;

• secondary;

• post-secondary;

• vocational;

• training school,

• a GED program; or

• work.

If these minor teen parents are not participating in any of the above activities they should be referred to the Employment and Training contractors.

Refer to DSSM 3012.2, DSSM 3012.4 and DSSM 3012.5 to be able to receive TANF.

10 DE Reg. 706 (10/01/06)

Required Individuals:

No additional TANF cash benefits will be issued due to the birth of

a child, if the birth occurs more than ten (10) calendar months after:

the date of application for TANF; or

for active cases, the date of the first redetermination after October 1, 1995.

While no additional TANF cash benefits will be issued for the child(ren), the child(ren) will be considered a TANF recipient for all other purposes, including Medicaid coverage, Welfare Reform child care, other supportive services and food stamp benefits.

NOTE: Children born prior to the periods identified above who return or enter the household are not included in this restriction.

Exceptions

The family cap restrictions will not apply in the following cases:

to an additional child conceived as a result of incest or sexual assault; or

to a child who does not reside with his or her parent; or

to a child that was conceived in a month the assistance unit (i.e., the entire family) was not receiving TANF. This does not apply in cases that close due to being sanctioned.

Determining financial eligibility and grant amounts for an assistance unit which contains child(ren) affected by the family cap provision.

The child(ren) is/are included when determining the assistance unit's need for assistance. The child(ren)'s income and resources is/are included when determining the assistance unit's income and resources. The child(ren) is/are not included when determining the payment standard for the assistance unit.

See 3022 Ineligibility Due to Family Cap