Diversion and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Comparison Desk Guide

If you have childrenandare applying forcashassistancefor yourfamily, you couldbe eligiblefor a Diversionpayment insteadof receivingongoingTANF benefits.Diversion is typically a better fitforfamilies whoseearned incomehasbeen reducedandwhoneed short-term help to payfor financial needs until self- sustaining income beginsagain.Diversionis acashbenefitthat you could receive ifyou:

•MeetalloftheTANFeligibilityconditionsinthemonthofapplicationorthefollowingmonth,and

•Arecurrentlyemployedorhavereceivedearnedincomewithin90daysofapplication,and

•Haveverifiedfinancialneed(s),andtheseneedswouldbemetfromaone-timecashassistancebenefit,and

•Areawaitingreceiptofverified,self-sustainingincome.

This chartcomparesthe differences betweenDiversionandongoing TANF benefits andwill help youmake the decisionofwhich typeof cashbenefitbest meets the needsofyour family. Acaseworkerat the countyassistance officewill review theseoptionswithyouandanswerany questions youmay have.

DIVERSION / ONGOING TANF
HowwillIreceiveDiversionbenefits?
•TheamountofmoneyyourfamilyreceivesforDiversiondependsonthesizeofyourfamily.
•ADiversionbenefitisaone-timepaymentequaltoaone-month,two-month,orthree-monthTANFbenefit.TheamountoftheDiversionpaymentdependsontheamountofyourfinancialneed.
•YoucanreceiveDiversiononlyonceina12monthperiod.
•Diversionbenefitsaredirectlydepositedintoanaccountthatisaccessedbyaplastic,EBTcard.
ChildSupport
•Youarenotrequiredtoapplyforcourt-orderedchildsupporttobeeligibletoreceiveDiversion. / HowwillIreceiveongoingTANFbenefits?
•TheamountofmoneyyourfamilyreceivesinongoingTANFdependsonthesizeofyourfamily.
•OngoingTANFbenefitsareissuedtwicepermonth.
•TANFbenefitsareongoingcashpayments.Youcontinuetoreceivethemaslongasyourneedandeligibilitycontinues.
•TANFbenefitsaredirectlydepositedintoanaccountthatisaccessedbyaplastic,EBTcard.
ChildSupport
•UnlesstheDepartmentdecidesyouhaveagoodreasonnotto,youarerequiredtoapplyforchildsupportatDomesticRelations.Thisappliesevenifyoucurrentlyreceivevoluntarysupport.

Revised July 2014

•Ifyoucurrentlyreceivechildsupport,theincomeyoureceiveisusedtodecideifyouareeligibleforDiversion

•YourchildsupportisnotadjustedtotheDiversionbenefit.

•YourchildsupportisnotassignedtotheDepartmentofWelfare.

Reimbursementofpendingincome

•Ifyouareexpectingincomefromcertaintypesofunearnedincome,youarenotrequiredtosignreimbursementformstorepaytheDiversionbenefitsyoureceive.

TimeLimits

•ADiversionbenefitdoesnotcounttowardstheTANF5-yearlimit.

Ismyincomeadjustedtothebenefit?

•YourcurrentincomeisnotadjustedtotheDiversionbenefit.ADiversionpaymentisequaltoafullone-month,two-monthorthree-monthTANFbenefit.

DoIhavetopaybackDiversionmoney?

•AnoverpaymentwilloccurifyouoverlapDiversionwithongoingTANFbenefits.

ThiswillhappenifyouapplyforandreceiveongoingcashassistanceduringtheDiversionperiod.TheDiversionperiodiseitheronemonth,twomonthsorthreemonths,dependingontheamountneeded.

•An overpayment may exist if you have received a Diversion payment in the last 12 months and receive Diversion again.

•Anoverpaymentwouldalsoexistifitwaslaterdeterminedthatyouwerenoteligibleforthebenefitsyoureceived.

•Ifyoucurrentlyreceivechildsupport,theincomeyoureceiveisusedtodecideifyouareeligibleforongoingTANF.

•YourchildsupportisadjustedtothefirstTANFbenefit.

•YourchildsupportissenttotheDepartmentofWelfare.If you have one child, you will receive the first $100 of the current child support paid in each month back to you.You will receive the first $200 if you have more than one child.You will receive the first $50 of current spousal support.

Reimbursementofpendingincome

•Ifyouareexpectingincomefromcertaintypesofunearnedincome,youmayberequiredtosignreimbursementformstopaybacktheongoingTANFbenefitsyoureceive.

TimeLimits

•InPennsylvania,ongoingTANFislimitedto5years.

Ismyincomeadjustedtothebenefit?

•YourcurrentincomeisconsideredandcouldbeadjustedtotheongoingTANFbenefit.

DoIhavetopaybackongoingTANF?

•Anoverpaymentwouldonlyexistifitwaslaterdeterminedthatyouwerenoteligibleforthebenefitsyoureceived.

Revised July 2014

EmploymentandTrainingRequirements

  • SupportiveservicesarenotavailabletoDiversionrecipients forthe time periodcovered by the Diversion payment.

ChildCareBenefits

•IfyouchoosetoreceiveDiversion,youwillreceiveaLetterofPotentialEligibility(PA1696)totaketoyourlocalchildcareinformationservicesagency(CCIS).Thisletterwillshowthemthatyouqualifytobegivenpriorityconsiderationforeligibilitydeterminationforhelpwithreducedchildcare.Youhave183daystogotoCCIStobeevaluatedforchildcareunder“formerTANFrules”.

MedicalBenefits

•YourfamilydoesnotautomaticallyreceivemedicalassistancewhenyoureceiveDiversion.YoumayapplyforMedicalAssistance(Medicaid)atthetimeofapplication.

Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA)

•IfyouchoosetoreceiveMedicaidwithyourDiversionpayment,theMedicaidbenefitisnotpartoftheDiversionprogram.YoucouldqualifyforTransitional Medical Assistance (TMA)ifyourfamilyreceives3of the previous 6monthsofMedicaidincategoryNonMoneyPaymentforFamilies(NMP-F)and earned income later causes NMP-F to close.

EmploymentandTrainingRequirements

•Youmayberequiredtoparticipateinwork-relatedactivitiesand/ortrainingthatwillassistyouwithgettingemployment.Thehourlyrequirementsarebasedonyouremployabilityandif you are a single parent or two-parent family.

NOTE: If you are required to participate in an EmploymentandTrainingprogram,youwillbeeligibletoreceivesupportiveserviceallowances.Youmaybeeligibleforchild care, transportation costsormoneytowardsacarpurchaseorrepairsofyourcarthatisusedtoattendemploymentandtrainingactivities.

ChildCareBenefits

•IfyouchoosetoreceiveongoingTANFandgetajob,youmayautomaticallybereferredtoyourlocalchildcareinformationservicesagency(CCIS),oryoumaybegivenaLetterofPotentialEligibility(PA1696)totaketoyourlocalchildcareagency.EitherofthesemethodswillshowCCISthatyouqualifytobegivenpriorityconsiderationforeligibilitydeterminationforhelpwithreducedchildcare.Youhave183daystogotoCCIStobeevaluatedforchildcareunder“formerTANFrules”.

MedicalBenefits

•Yourfamilyautomaticallyreceivesmedicalassistance(Medicaid)whenyoureceiveongoingTANF.

Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA)

•IfyoureceiveongoingTANF,youmaybeeligibleforTransitional Medical Assistance (TMA)foruptofour monthsifTANFclosesduetoearnedincomeandyoureceivedTANFand/orNonMoneyPaymentforFamilies(NMP-F)for3oftheprevious6months.

Revised July 2014

EligibilityforDeductionsfromIncome

IfyourfamilyreceivedongoingTANFinatleastone(1)ofthepreviousfour(4)months,youmayqualifyfortheEarnedIncomeDisregard.Thismeansthatonly½ofyourcurrentearnedincomewillbeconsideredinthecalculationtodetermineyourfamily’seligibilityforDiversion

EligibilityforDeductionsfromIncome

•IfyourfamilyreceivedongoingTANFinatleastone(1)ofthepreviousfour(4)months,youmayqualifyfortheEarnedIncomeDisregard.Thismeansthatonly½ofyourcurrentearnedincomewillbeconsideredinthecalculationtodetermineyourfamily’seligibilityforongoingTANF.

•AsarecipientofongoingTANF–youwill beeligiblefortheEarnedIncomeDisregardinthefuture,ifyougetajoband TANFcloses,butlaterneedtoapplyfor ongoingTANFagain.

Revised July 2014