Assume there is no income.

Family budget group is the total number of persons whose needs and income are budgeted together. This will always include the following:

1. Married couples if they live together and are both eligible for a grant.

2. Unmarried couples who live together as husband and wife and are both eligible for a grant.

NOTE: In GA, couples will be considered as living together as husband and wife if:

a. They say they are married, even if the marriage cannot be verified, or

b. They are recognized as husband and wife in the community, or

c. One partner uses the other's last name, or

d. They state they intend to marry, or

e. They jointly hold resources.

3. Parents and their eligible children.

Family budget groups will consist of more than one assistance unit when all budget group members are not placed in the same assistance unit. In those instances, the need standard for the family cannot exceed the TANF need standard for the budget group size as specified in Section 4007.2. (See DSSM 3028 for a definition of an assistance unit)

In households that include a caretaker, the caretaker's children and other children that are the caretaker's responsibility, the caretaker's needs and income and those of his/her children are always budgeted together. The needs and income of any other children in the home will be considered separately. In these situations, the separate budget groups can be combined to form a single family budget group only when the following conditions are met:

A. Assistance would be denied to any of the recipients by maintaining separate budget groups.

B. The caretaker understands the implications of combining the budget groups (i.e., lower assistance payments) and chooses to have his/her needs and income and those of his/her children considered with the needs and income of any other children in the home.

4. A needy caretaker caring for an unrelated child under the age of six (6) who is needed in the home to care for the child because no one else is available can receive General Assistance (GA) for him/her self and the child in two assistance units but one budget group. SEE DSSM 3028.

5. A caretaker caring for an unrelated child may be able to receive GA for the child in one assistance unit while receiving GA for him/her self as well, in a separate assistance unit as long as one condition in DSSM 3019, other than #4 is met. They would be in two separate budget groups.

1. Mr. and Mrs. Brown apply for assistance for themselves, their two (2) children, and Mrs. Brown's niece. Mr. Brown is ill and unable to work. (Refer to A-18-99 for more details)

Mr. and Mrs. Brown are eligible for TANF and are placed in one budget group with their two (2) children. Mrs. Brown's niece is eligible for TANF and is placed in another budget group with Mrs. Brown as payee. The Browns with their children receive an TANF grant for four (4) people. Mrs. Brown's niece receives a TANF grant for one (l) person.

2. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are applying for themselves, their child, and an unrelated child that lives in their home.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and their child are eligible for TANF and are placed in one budget group. The unrelated child is eligible for GA and placed in a separate budget group. The Johnson’s will receive a TANF grant for three (3) people and the unrelated child will receive a GA grant for one (l) person.

3. Mrs. Jones is divorced and is applying for herself, her daughter, a niece, and an unrelated child.

Mrs. Jones and her child are eligible for TANF and are placed in one budget group. The niece is eligible for TANF and placed in another budget group. The unrelated child is eligible for GA and is in a third budget group.

4. Ms. Lord is applying for herself, her child and her niece and nephew who are sister and brother.

Ms. Lord and her child are eligible for TANF and are in one budget group. Ms. Lord's niece and nephew are eligible for TANF and placed in another budget group.

5. Mr. Smith is caring for a three year old child for whom he is not related. Mr. Smith is needy. Someone is needed in the home to care for the child but there is no one else available.

Mr. Smith and the child could each receive GA in separate assistance units. They would be in one budget group capped by the GA size for two (2) people.

6. Mrs. Robinson is caring for a child for whom she is not related. Mrs. Robinson is fifty-five (55) years of age.

Mrs. Robinson and the child could each receive GA in separate assistance units. They would be two (2) separate budget groups.

NOTE: When income is included in any of the above situations, it is possible that some of the recipients would be denied by maintaining separate budget groups, but all recipients could remain eligible if the groups are combined. In those situations the budget groups can be combined if the caretaker so chooses.