Welfare-to-Work eligibility clarification for custodial caretaker relatives

The full letter text appears in ETA's official TEGL listing.

TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE LETTER NO. 6-98, CHANGE 1
DATE: December 17, 1998
CLASSIFICATION: WtW
CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL: TD
TO: All State Welfare-To-Work Contacts; All State JTPA Liaisons
FROM: David Henson, Director, Office of Regional Management
SUBJECT: Technical Amendment to Welfare-to-Work Eligibility Criteria for Noncustodial Parents

Purpose: To provide States with a clarification regarding the interpretation of the technical amendment affecting the eligibility requirements under the 70 percent targeted portion of Welfare-to-Work (WtW) programs.

Reference: TEGL No. 6-98, dated September 21, 1998.

Background: TEGL No. 6-98 explains the amended eligibility criteria for custodial and non-custodial parents under the 70 percent targeted portion of the WtW program. Questions arose concerning the eligibility of custodial caretaker relatives who receive TANF benefits for themselves and on behalf of the children in their custody. While the number of these cases nationwide is relatively small, we wish to clarify that custodial caretaker relatives, who are TANF recipients, are subject to the same TANF participation requirements, time limitations and other requirements under section 403(a)(5)(C)(ii) as other TANF recipients and, therefore, may be eligible for the WtW program.

Clarification of the Interpretation of the Technical Amendment to the Eligibility Criteria for Custodial Caretaker Relatives: On July 16, 1998, President Clinton signed into law the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998, which included a technical amendment to Section 403(a)(5)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act regarding the eligibility of non-custodial parents under the 70 percent targeted portion of the WtW program. Pursuant to the technical amendment, the eligibility criteria have been changed so that the individual to be served in a WtW program must be the one who meets the eligibility requirements, whether the individual is the TANF recipient (which includes the custodial parent or the custodial caretaker relative) or a non-custodial parent. The purpose of this letter is to clarify that the requirements for the non-custodial parent are the same whether the TANF recipient is the custodial parent or a custodial caretaker relative.

Effective Date: These revised eligibility requirements are effective as of July 16, 1998.

Action: States should provide this guidance to appropriate staff.

Inquiries: Inquiries on this TEGL change should be directed to your Regional Office.