OKDHS - OAC 340:10-3-81. Adjustment period

340:10-3-81. Adjustment period

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Revised 6-1-09

(a) Scope. In an effort to promote marriage and provide a more secure and stable family situation, an adjustment period up to three months of the existing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefit may be approved by the worker. The intent of the adjustment period is to assist the family in the payment of outstanding bills and to allow for the gradual assumption of financial responsibilities.

(1) When a TANF recipient marries and the income of the spouse will close the case, an adjustment period may be made available to the family. • 1
(2) If deprivation ends for the child(ren) when the spouse returns home and he or she is not incapacitated or does not meet the unemployed parent policy, an adjustment period may be made available to the family. • 2
(3) At the time the recipient reports his or her marriage or the return of the spouse, it is the responsibility of the worker to discuss the adjustment period with the family to determine possible eligibility.
(4) The marriage of the recipient or return of the spouse must be reported timely. If the TANF recipient fails to report the marriage or return of the absent spouse, the number of months of benefits approved is adjusted accordingly. • 3
(5) The TANF recipient must be made aware the receipt of an adjustment period counts towards the 60-month lifetime limit of receipt of TANF.

(b) Benefits. The maximum adjustment period approved is three months. • 4 The benefit issued is the same as the existing TANF benefit issued prior to the recipient's marriage or the return of the spouse. • 5

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:10-3-81

Revised 5-1-11

1.   The worker documents in Family Assistance/Client Services (FACS) case notes what discussion occurred regarding the adjustment period.

2.   (a) Refer to OAC 340:10-10 for information regarding deprivation.

(b) The Deprivation tab on FACS is updated to show "adjustment period" in the deprivation field when absence is no longer appropriate as the parent of the child(ren) has returned home.

3.   (a) The worker documents in FACS case notes when the marriage or return of the spouse occurred and whether the change was reported timely.

(b) Refer to OAC 340:65-3-8(a) and 340:65-5-1 for timely reporting.

4.   (a) The worker is responsible for determining the number of months the family is eligible and entering on the FACS Financial Assistance tab the effective date of ineligibility. The computer automatically closes the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) case effective this date using a closure code of 30.

(b) The worker documents in FACS case notes whether an adjustment period is approved and if approved, for how many months.

5.   (a) For TANF, the worker enters the benefit type of the stepparent or absent parent returning to the home on the FACS Household tab of "TANF" and the status of "Income and resources are not considered for benefit computation. Not included in benefit."

(b) When the TANF recipient receives child care subsidy benefits for the child(ren), no change is made regarding child care eligibility or the family share co-payment during the time of the adjustment period.

(c) If the family continues to be eligible for food benefits, it is necessary to add the stepparent or returning spouse to the food benefit on the FACS Household tab and show his or her income on the Income tab so food benefits are correctly computed.

(d) Medical benefits remain open until SoonerCare (Medicaid) eligibility is determined by the worker.

(e) The worker documents in FACS case notes what action was taken and how benefits were affected.

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