The Florida Senate

414.045  Cash assistance program.--Cash assistance families include any families receiving cash assistance payments from the state program for temporary assistance for needy families as defined in federal law, whether such funds are from federal funds, state funds, or commingled federal and state funds. Cash assistance families may also include families receiving cash assistance through a program defined as a separate state program.

(1)  For reporting purposes, families receiving cash assistance shall be grouped in the following categories. The department may develop additional groupings in order to comply with federal reporting requirements, to comply with the data-reporting needs of the WAGES Program State Board of Directors, or to better inform the public of program progress. Program reporting data shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following groupings:

(a)  WAGES cases.--WAGES cases shall include:

1.  Families containing an adult or a teen head of household, as defined by federal law. These cases are generally subject to the work activity requirements provided in s. 414.065 and the time limitations on benefits provided in s. 414.105.

2.  Families with a parent where the parent's needs have been removed from the case due to sanction or disqualification shall be considered WAGES cases to the extent that such cases are considered in the calculation of federal participation rates or would be counted in such calculation in future months.

3.  Families participating in transition assistance programs.

4.  Families otherwise eligible for the WAGES Program that receive a diversion or early exit payment or participate in the relocation program.

(b)  Child-only cases.--Child-only cases include cases that do not have an adult or teen head of household as defined in federal law. Such cases include:

1.  Child-only families with children in the care of caretaker relatives where the caretaker relatives choose to have their needs excluded in the calculation of the amount of cash assistance.

2.  Families in the Relative Caregiver Program as provided in s. 39.5085.

3.  Families in which the only parent in a single-parent family or both parents in a two-parent family receive supplemental security income (SSI) benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, as amended. To the extent permitted by federal law, individuals receiving SSI shall be excluded as household members in determining the amount of cash assistance, and such cases shall not be considered families containing an adult. Parents or caretaker relatives who are excluded from the cash assistance group due to receipt of SSI may choose to participate in WAGES work activities. An individual who volunteers to participate in WAGES work activity but whose ability to participate in work activities is limited shall be assigned to work activities consistent with such limitations. An individual who volunteers to participate in a WAGES work activity may receive WAGES-related child care or support services consistent with such participation.

4.  Families where the only parent in a single-parent family or both parents in a two-parent family are not eligible for cash assistance due to immigration status or other requirements of federal law. To the extent required by federal law, such cases shall not be considered families containing an adult.

Families described in subparagraph 1., subparagraph 2., or subparagraph 3. may receive child care assistance or other supports or services so that the children may continue to be cared for in their own homes or the homes of relatives. Such assistance or services may be funded from the temporary assistance for needy families block grant to the extent permitted under federal law and to the extent permitted by appropriation of funds.

(2)  The oversight of the WAGES Program State Board of Directors and the service delivery and financial planning responsibilities of the local WAGES coalitions shall apply to the families defined as WAGES cases in paragraph (1)(a). The department shall be responsible for program administration related to families in groups defined in paragraph (1)(b), and the department shall coordinate such administration with the WAGES Program State Board of Directors to the extent needed for operation of the program.

History.--s. 8, ch. 99-241.