37.78.202    TANF: CASH ASSISTANCE EXEMPTIONS TO TIME LIMITS

(1) Benefits under the TANF Cash Assistance Programs are time limited as provided in ARM 37.78.201.

(2) Households may be eligible for TANF Cash Assistance when an adult household member has received 60 months of TANF Cash Assistance if each adult household member is in compliance with the Family Investment Agreement and each adult meets one of the following extension reason criteria:

(a) each adult household member is temporarily or permanently physically or mentally ill or physically or mentally incapacitated in a manner that prevents the household member from working;

(b) each adult household member is temporarily or permanently physically or mentally ill or physically or mentally incapacitated in a manner that prevents the household member from working as a result of domestic violence;

(c) each adult household member is required in the home full time as the primary caretaker of a person who is temporarily or permanently physically or mentally ill or physically or mentally incapacitated and no alternative care is available, and the person who needs care is either:

(i) a member of the filing unit; or

(ii) a person who would be a member of the filing unit if the person was eligible;

(d) the adult household member is presently attempting to resolve a current domestic violence situation.

(3) Each adult household member must submit an application for the extension of TANF Cash Assistance and all required proof showing the household members meets an extension criterion before an extension will be considered. An application for the extension of TANF Cash Assistance will not be considered complete if required proof is not attached. Required proof may include, but is not limited to: physician statements, medical records, police reports, professional assessments, and psychological evaluations.

(4) All completed applications for the extension of TANF Cash Assistance will be evaluated by the eligibility case manager, the local director and a central committee made up of Public Assistance Bureau administrative program staff or their designees. The central committee will make the final determination on whether an extension will be granted.

History: 53-2-201, 53-4-211, 53-4-212, MCA; IMP, 53-4-211, 53-4-212, 53-4-231, 53-4-601, 53-4-607, MCA; NEW, 1996 MAR p. 284, Eff. 1/26/96; AMD, 1998 MAR p. 3284, Eff. 12/18/98; TRANS, from SRS, 2000 MAR p. 3414; AMD, 2002 MAR p. 952, Eff. 3/29/02; AMD, 2007 MAR p. 976, Eff. 7/6/07.