Revised 6/1/05 ML #2971)
Purpose
TANF Kinship Care assistance expands the options for placement of children who are in the care, custody, and control of County Social Services by providing enhanced funding and services to those found eligible for the program.
Policy
If a child(ren) is placed with a relative within the fifth degree of relationship by a county agency that has care, custody, and control of the child(ren); the child(ren) may be eligible for TANF Kinship Care supportive services and a TANF benefit .
There must be a court order placing care. custody and control of the child(ren) with a county social service agency to be eligible for assistance. Eligibility for TANF Kinship Care ends when the county no longer has care, custody and control of the child(ren). The family may remain eligible under the TANF program if all eligibility requirements are met.
Before placing a child in TANF Kinship Care for more than thirty days, the county agency with care, custody, and control of the child must have completed a Kinship Care Study (SFN 426 available as an E-form), a child abuse and neglect background check, Kinship Placement (SFN 423 available as an E-form), and Kinship Care Agreement (SFN 424 available as an E-form). A Criminal Background check must be completed within 90 days of placement along with other investigations as the department may determine necessary. These forms are completed by the social worker.
To request TANF Kinship Care assistance, a TANF Application for Assistance must be completed and signed by the relative caretaker. Eligibility for TANF Kinship Care may be established on the date the county office receives the signed request or date of eligibility whichever is later.
All factors of TANF eligibility apply including:
A child in receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is not eligible for TANF Kinship Care assistance;
Child Support Enforcement requirements;
Monthly reporting, countable income received by or for the Kinship Care child(ren); and
Failure to comply with TANF program requirements may lead to case closure.
The Kinship Care caretaker must physically reside with the child and must take reasonable steps to secure all earned rights benefits to which the child(ren) may be entitled and redirect all monies to which the child is eligible including but not limited to Social Security benefits (i.e. survivors benefits or disability benefits) or Veteran’s benefits. The caretaker may not receive a TANF benefit with Kinship Care supportive services and Foster Care payments for the same child(ren) for the same month. A TANF caretaker may receive TANF Kinship Care supportive services to meet the needs of a Kinship Care child(ren) included in the TANF benefit if the child(ren) are otherwise eligible for TANF.
Supportive Services
Supportive services provides reimbursements for child care expenses, transportation, clothing, emergency needs, activity fees, and, as a payer of last resort, reasonable legal fees incurred by or on behalf of a child, and approved by the department. Supportive services may provide reimbursements within the limits established by the department under the Foster Care program. Any approved supportive services reimbursement will be paid retroactively and require proof of costs incurred.
Child care reimbursement
Reimbursement is available for caretaker(s) paid employment, paid employment and education, or work search where care is necessary and no other responsible adult member resides in the home.
The child care provider must be a licensed or certified provider unless the eligibility worker and social worker determine conditions prevent care from being provided outside the home or verified barriers prevent child care arrangements outside the home. If the eligibility worker and social worker determine in home child care is appropriate, reimbursements always must be made through the TANF benefit and not through the Child Care Assistance Program.
The Kinship Care child to whom care is provided must be younger than 13 years of age. (Requests for reimbursement for care provided to children between 13 and 18 years of age will require current, medical evidence from a physician, psychologist, or clinical specialist that clearly confirms the need).
Reimbursement for the costs of care may not exceed current Child Care Assistance rates by more than 25%, and is subject to the Child Care Assistance Tier schedule (allowable cost is defined by the number of hours of care provided the child, as related to the number of hours in which the Kinship Care Giver was engaged in allowable activities).
Example: The maximum allowed for an infant in a center is $460 per month. A Kinship Care child maximum would be $575 ($460 X25% = $115 + $460 = $575).
2. Initial and special clothing allowance reimbursement:
Initial Clothing Allowance - During the first five months after the child enters a Kinship Care arrangement, the child’s clothing needs can be met with an initial clothing allowance, if needed. The initial clothing allowance must be requested and prior approval received. A list of clothing purchases and receipts must be submitted to the county for reimbursement. Approval for the initial clothing allowance should be included in the permanency planning document.
Special Clothing Allowance - A special clothing allowance may be authorized to replace clothing lost in a fire, flood, theft, or other disasters, or for sudden spurts of growth. The special clothing allowance rate is for emergency and extraordinary circumstances and should rarely be used in meeting the needs of the child. The special allowance is not an entitlement, but an exception.
Following are the allowable rates for the initial and special clothing allowance established under Family Foster Care:
Children ages 0 – 4 years of age $150 maximum per year per child.
Children ages 5 – 12 years of age $225 maximum per year per child.
Children ages 13 – over 18 or 18* $300 maximum per year per child.
Once a child receives the initial clothing allowance, they should not receive it again. There is an expectation the clothes will follow the child.
Legal fees incurred by the Kinship Care caretaker necessary to obtain legal guardianship of the Kinship Care child. Reimbursement may not exceed $700 and is the payer of last resort. Funds designated for that purpose, as currently administered by NDDHS Children and Family Services Reimbursement for Legal fees will be allowed only if the Kinship Care caretaker requested and received specific approval from the eligibility worker and social worker prior to the services being provided. Normally this support service is available once for a Kinship Care child.
School Supplies/Activity fees may be reimbursed for such reasons as:
Charges for participation in school and community activities (uniform or supply rentals, activity fees, transportation costs, school pictures, field trips, school supplies, class ring, prom dress/tux, camps, music lessons/lease/purchase of musical instruments, etc.). Following are the allowable rates established under Family Foster Care:
Children ages 0 – 4 years of age $200 per year
Children ages 5 – 12 years of age $500 per year
Children 13 and over 18 or 18* $700 per year
Emergency needs, not to exceed $500, to meet expenses for which non-payment would threaten the placement as determined by the eligibility worker and social worker. The $500 is a one-time option that may be reimbursed in one payment or several payments not to exceed a total of $500. Reimbursement for miscellaneous expenses will be allowed only if the Kinship Care caretaker requested and received specific approval from the eligibility worker and social worker prior to the services being provided. Some examples of items that may qualify in this category are a bed, bedding, crib, highchair, damage by a child in Kinship Care placement, etc.
Transportation costs may be reimbursed on travel for the Kinship Care child(ren) for reasonable travel to the child(ren) parental home for visitation. The allowable reimbursement is the same as the Department’s reimbursement rates for travel.
Example: The Department’s reimbursement for mileage is $.31 per mile. The caretaker may be reimbursed based on receipts or at $.31 per mile but not to exceed $.31 per mile reimbursement rate.
TANF Eligibility Worker Role
Upon receipt of required information and forms from the social worker, inform the Kinship Care family and the social worker of the date and time of the face-to-face interview.
Forward copies of correspondence, eligibility determinations, benefit determinations, and supportive service reimbursements to the social worker.
Notify social worker if issues arise that may jeopardize continued eligibility such as no monthly report, not cooperating with Child Support Enforcement requirements, not providing required information/verification, etc.
Participate in quarterly Permanency Planning meeting as appropriate.
Be involved in all aspects of the Kinship Care case except the Kinship Care Study process.
Review supportive service requests with the social worker. The eligibility worker has the final decision making authority on TANF program eligibility requirements and supportive service payments.
Social Worker Role
Provide families potentially eligible for TANF Kinship Care Assistance with a Application for Benefits (Part 2 of SFN 405), program information, and verifications required under the TANF program.
Notify the eligibility worker of any changes that may effect ongoing eligibility such as a change in the child(ren)’s residency, change in the child(ren)’s school status, in individuals living in the home, a change in the legal status of the Kinship Care child(ren), and a change or addition of income of a child(ren) on TANF Kinship Care assistance.
Forward a copy of the signed Kinship Care Agreement, approved Kinship Care Study, copy of the court order, and a signed TANF Application for Assistance to the appropriate eligibility worker.
Participate in face-to-face interview and the assessment process at the time of application and redetermination for TANF.
Annually review pertinent aspects of placement with the eligibility worker.
Determine the need for requests for supportive services and forward to the eligibility worker along with a payment recommendation.
Communicate the status of the placement and continued eligibility for TANF Kinship Care assistance.
Notify the eligibility worker of the date and time of quarterly Permanency Planning meetings.