OKDHS - OAC 340:10-3-59. Assistance benefits

340:10-3-59. Assistance benefits

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Revised 6-1-08

(a) Availability of funds. If funds in any category of assistance are not sufficient to meet the full need of all persons in that category within the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) policy, the Commission for Human Services (Commission) specifies the percentage of total requirements for which funds are available. The formula for computing the assistance payment is the need standard multiplied by the percent specified by the Commission equals the payment standard. The payment standard minus the total available net income equals the amount of the assistance payment.

(b) Maximum benefits. The maximum benefit a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) assistance unit is eligible to receive cannot exceed a nine-person payment standard. • 1 A TANF eligible child(ren) who is not a blood-related sibling to the other TANF eligible child(ren) must have his or her own case. • 2

(c) Minimum payments. The minimum TANF benefit is $10 except for recoupment of an overpayment. No TANF benefit is issued when the family is eligible for a monthly benefit of less than $10. However, the TANF case is eligible as an active case in "Special Medical Status" and the family can receive food benefits in this case, if eligible. • 3

(d) Payment to minors. Minors may be considered as the adult payee for TANF on behalf of others if the person is assuming the responsibilities of an adult and meets all conditions of eligibility for TANF. • 4

(e) Overpayments. The overpayment may be the whole or any part of the benefit or vendor payment made when the recipient did not meet all conditions of eligibility. • 5

(f) Non-conditioning of benefits. The flat grant system of budgeting was developed to determine the extent of need based on the number of eligible persons and is not interpreted to restrict in any way the use the recipient makes of the TANF benefit. This also precludes any agreement on the part of OKDHS to pay or guarantee payment for goods or services provided to recipients by vendors in lieu of money payment.

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:10-3-59

Revised 6-1-08

1. See OKDHS Appendix 08AX001E (C-1), Schedule of Maximum Income, Resource, and Payment Standards, Schedule IX.

2. See OAC 340:10-3-56, Instructions to Staff 3.

3. The computer automatically places the case into Special Medical or active status as changes occur. This type of benefit continues to be redetermined every 12 months.

4. (a) Refer to OAC 340:10-3-56(3)(P) for rules on when a minor parent may not be considered part of the assistance unit.

(b) Using an adult as substitute payee for the minor is best practice but not mandatory. See OAC 340:65-5-66 for more information about substitute payees.

(c) On the Household tab on Family Assistance/Client Services (FACS), enter the "rel to payee" field for the minor parent as "applicant or recipient w/guardian, conservator, substitute payee." On the Case Information tab, the "guardian, substitute payee, conservator/extra address" field is updated to show the name of the minor payee's guardian or substitute payee and the "extra address indicator" field is updated to show "legal guardian," "natural guardian," or "substitute payee" depending on the relationship of the person to the minor payee.

5. See 340:65-9 for procedures involving overpayments.

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