Exemptions from Time Limits and Work Program Rules

A grantee is exempt from the 24-month Time Limit and the Work Program Rules when they meet one of the exemptions listed in this section. These parents do not need to meet the work rules.  In a two-parent case (Two Parent Household Exemption Rules), both parents must meet an exemption reason for the case to be exempt. Exemption reasons must be entered on the Work Requirements TAFDC page.

To be exempt, a grantee must:

• be disabled, verified by:
• receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) including the state portion of SSI known as SSP or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)(proven with an award letter, external data from BENDEX/SDX or SSI Tracking.

Reminder: A grantee who receives SSI is not eligible for TAFDC. A client may not receive benefits from both programs at the same time.

Important: At this time, a TAFDC client who states they cannot work or participate in Pathways to Work activities due to a disability or medical condition may also request an exemption from work rules based on their verbal self-declaration.
(See Temporary TAFDC Disability Exemption Procedures)

• be essential to the care for one of the following persons with a disability or health issue living in the home:
  • a child, verified by Verification of Caring for the Disabled form (TAFDC-4)

If the client is not able to obtain a completed Verification of Caring for the Disabled form, they will need to provide a statement from a competent medical authority or other source involved in the child’s care, or medical or school records, specifying the severity of the child’s disability and the extent of the care needed by the client, and that the child has disability-related needs during the day and/or night, which prevents the grantee from working or participating in employment-related activities.

• the grantee’s spouse or child’s other parent, verified by Verification of Caring for the Disabled form (TAFDC-4)

If the client is not able to get the Verification of Caring for the Disabled form completed, written documentation from the disabled person’s competent medical authority that specifies the severity of the disability and the reason the client is essential to the care for this person. This person may be receiving TAFDC but exempt from work rules due to their disability or in receipt of SSI/SSP or SSDI.

Reminder: When entering a Caring for a Disabled Person exemption and Essential to Care record must be entered on the Caretakers page.

• be a pregnant person whose child is expected to be born within the next 120 days, verified by: a medical statement from a competent medical authority stating that the household member is pregnant and the expected due date.  

Reminder: You must enter the due date on the Pregnancy page in the AU Composition Details workflow. (See Pregnancy)

• have a child who is under age two and receiving TAFDC or would be, but is not included in the Assistance Unit because of their receipt of SSI/SSP, state and/or federal foster care payments or adoption assistance, verified by:
  • proof of SSI/SSP, foster care or adoption assistance for that child, if applicable.

Note: A grantee may not claim this exemption for the dependent child of a parent under the age of 20 if that child’s parent is living in the home.

• be a parent under age 20 who is meeting the living arrangement requirements, is meeting the school attendance rules, or if living in a Young Parent Living Program (YPLP), meeting the requirements of that program, verified by:
  • an approved Pathways to Work Plan for an approved education or training program, including a Young Parents Program (YPP) or
  • full-time school enrollment status from a school official and
  • living arrangement including placement in a YPLP
• be age 60 or older
• be a non-liable ineligible grantee, verified by:
  • their status as a relative caregiver in receipt of benefits for a child(ren) they have in their care
  • their immigration status does not provide them with authorization to work for pay