016.02.18 Ark. Code R. 001
In addition to the eligibitity requirements dealt with during the application interview (i.e., the PRA, providing or applying for an SSN for all family members, and initial cooperation with the OCSE), it will be determined and documented in the case record whether the family meets the remaining TEA eligibility requirements as described in the following sections.
If it is determined, at any point, that an eligibility requirement is not met, it is not necessary to determine whether the applicant meets any other requirements. The application may be denied based on the requirement not met. Each requirement is discussed in more detail in the following sections.
08/01/18
For purposes of the TEA program, the terms "TEA family" and "assistance unit" have the same meaning and are used interchangeably throughout this manual.
The above terms refer to the under age 18, non-SSI child{ren) for whom application is made and the following persons:
Please see the NOTES below.
The persons described in Items 1-3 are required to be included as TEA family members except when a specific individual eligibility requirement is not met by such person. Individual eligibility requirements are the following:
\ NOTES:
* Minor Parents - If the application is made for the minor parent and child only, the minor parent's parent(s), stepparent, or siblings are not required to be included in the assistance unit. (See Example #2 below.}
* Legal/Biological Father - If the child has a legal father (according to state law) who does not live in the home but the alleged biological father does, such biological father will not be included as the child's parent until the issue of the legal father has been legally resolved.
* Consolfdated Units
If there are two or more otherwise separate families living in the same house, such families will not be combined into one single TEA family even if some of the children may be half-siblings to each other. (See EXAMPLE #3 below.}
Ail minor non-SSI children in the home for whom the caretaker relative has responsibility will be included in one unit.
All minor non-SSI children in the home for whom a legally married couple has responsibility and for whom they are receiving, or wish to receive, assistance will be included with the couple as one TEA family, or assistance unit. (See EXAMPLE #Abelow.)
EXAMPLE #1: Ms. Adams applies only for her son James and does not want to apply for her daughter Crystal because Crystal receives SSA benefits from her deceased father's account. Even though Ms. Adams is not applying for Crystal, she must be included in the application and the TEA family, even if Crystal's SSA income causes ineligibility for the assistance unit.
EXAMPLE #2: Ms. Craig applies for assistance for her 16 year old daughter Sue and Sue's baby, Emily. Other household members include Sue's two brothers. Ms. Craig does not want assistance for herself and her two sons. The TEA family will consist of Emily and her mother. Sue.
EXAMPLE #3: Ms. Jones and Ms. Smith each have two children. Mary, Ms. Jones' child, and Tom, Ms. Smith's child, have the same father making them half-siblings. The Jones and Smith families will remain separate families under TEA even though Mary and Tom are half-siblings.
EXAMPLE #4: Mr. and Mrs. Madison each have a child of their own from a previous marriage living with them. Even though they have no child in common, the four of them (Mr. and Mrs. M. and the two children) will be considered to be one TEA family, not separate families.
EXAMPLE #5: Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez each have a child of their own from a previous marriage living with them. They do not have a child in common. Mr. Sanchez's son is receiving $400 per month in child support from his mother. Mr. Sanchez does not want to receive TEA assistance for his son. Because Mr. Sanchez is a stepparent to Mrs. Sanchez's child, he must be included in the TEA case with Mrs. Sanchez and her child. However, his child is not required to be in the case because his child is not a sibling or half sibling to Mrs. Sanchez's child. Therefore, Mr. Sanchez may choose to exclude his child and thus, the child's income.
The eligibility requirements described in the following sections will be determined in relation to the TEA family members as defined above. If a requirement affects only an individual's eligibility, the section specific to that requirement specifies so and describes how to treat an individual family member who is ineligible due to the requirement.
08/01/18
As a condition of eligibility, a declaration of citizenship, or lawful alien status, must be made in writing, under penalty of perjury, for each TEA family member.
The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 (P.L 99-603) requires an applicant for public benefits to declare in writing, under penalty of perjury, whether he is a citizen or national of the United States, or if not, that he is an alien in satisfactory immigration status. An individual must be given certain status options from which to choose to make his citizenship declaration.
* The ANSWER generated Client Declaration statement is used to obtain the written declaration for the family. The Eligibility Worker enters the information in the citizenship area of the Client Profile tab for each member of the TEA Budget Unit. The individual must be given the status options listed on the Client Profile tab from which to choose to make his citizenship declaration.
* The alien number, status, date of entry and country of origin must be completed on the Client Profile tab for any family member included in the assistance unit who is not a U.S. citizen. It must be verified, as described in TEA 2221. that the INS status meets the TEA eligibility criteria for an alien. The Client Declaration is printed and the case head signs the form on behalf of all adults and children included in the assistance unit.
* The case head is required to sign the Client Declaration to declare citizenship status of the individual each time a new member is added to the case. If the case is closed and the client reapplies, a new Client Declaration declaring the citizenship status of the assistance unit will be required.
07/01/97
An individual who is fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after conviction, of a felony offense is ineligible for TEA benefits.
An individual who is violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under Federal or State law is ineligible for TEA benefits.
The eligibility of other family members is not affected by the ineligibility of a person described above. Such ineligible person will not be included in the family size for purposes of determining the payment amount. However, if the person is the parent or stepparent of any child included in the unit, his or her income will be counted.
07/01/97
The family must presently reside in Arkansas and intend to make it their home.
No specific duration of residence is required. If the applicant has the present intention to make the state his home, current eligibility will not be affected even if the applicant intends to leave the state at some future time. Residence is not affected by a temporary absence from the state, provided the absence is less than one (1) month.
Homeless families who do not have a fixed or permanent address but reside in the state as residents of Arkansas are eligible for TEA provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.
The county office will determine an address of choice (e.g., a PO Box, homeless shelter, etc.) for such families. If otherwise eligible, the case may be certified with this chosen address.
03/28/98
The Personal Responsibility Agreennent requires the adult caretaker, or minor parent, to ensure that school-age children attend school regularly and that the children receive immunizations as needed. "School-age" is defined as five (5) years through seventeen (17) years of age and "preschool age" is two (2) months to five (5) years of age. Exemptions to the immunization requirement may be approved as described in TEA 2262.1.
016.02.18 Ark. Code R. 001