(1) The Department
has developed a consolidated standard (CNS) of need based on the size of the
assistance group for subsistence items including the following, less any
discounts for other sources of assistance:
(a) Safe, healthful housing;
(b) A low-cost adequate food budget as
recommended by the USDA Thrifty Food Plan;
(c) An allowance for essential medical
care;
(d) Minimum clothing for
health and decency; and
(e) Other
necessary items including, but not limited to, transportation, personal care
and educational expenses.
(2) The Families First payment does not meet
100% of need as defined by the consolidated need standard. The maximum payment
per family size is set, dependent on available state and federal funds. Income
available to the AG (after all appropriate disregards and deductions have been
applied) is subtracted from the consolidated need standard. Payment is the
lesser of the resulting deficit or the maximum payment per family
size.
(3) If an assistance group's
available income equals or exceeds the CNS for the appropriate family size, the
AG is not eligible for a Families First grant. If there is a deficit of one
dollar ($1.00) to nine dollars, ninety-nine cents ($9.99), no payment can be
made, but the AG is deemed to be an eligible Families First assistance group
for other purposes, as long as all other points of eligibility continue to be
met. If the deficit is ten dollars ($10.00) or more and other eligibility
requirements are met, payment will be made.
(4) Payments.
(a) Families First payments are issued on a
monthly basis and are paid for the current month.
(b) Initial payments are made beginning with
the date of application if all other eligibility factors are met at that time,
or at the first of the month in which eligibility is achieved, whichever is
later.
(c) The amount of the
payment will be:
1. The deficit, after
countable income has been subtracted from the CNS, but not less than $10.00 per
month; or
2. A maximum payment
amount for each family size, which is based on available state and federal
funds.
Notes
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-01-50-.17
Original rule filed
December 2, 1996; effective February 15, 1997. Public necessity rule filed July
2, 2007; expired December 14, 2007. Amendment filed October 1, 2007; effective
December 15, 2007.
Authority: T.C.A. §§
4-5-201 et seq., 4-5-202, 4-5-209,
71-1-105, 71-3-152, 71-3-153, 71-3-154 and 71-3-155; 71-3-158(d)(2)(D); 42 U.S.C. §§
601 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. §
608(a)(6); Public Acts of
1996, Chapter 950, and 45
C.F.R. 233.20, 45 C.F.R. §
233.20;
Deficit Reduction Act 2005 (Pub. L.
109-171
§§ 7101 and 7102, February 8,
2006); 71 Federal Register 37454 (June 29, 2006); and Acts 2007, Chapter
31.
