Based on Federal legislation passed in 1996, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). The legislation provides cash block grants to States and gives them flexibility to determine eligibility criteria and to set benefit amounts.

Because funding for TANF comes partially from Federal block grants, TFA payments are considered income based on need. The individual’s share of a TFA grant is counted dollar for dollar against SSI. Verify this amount with the DSS, as required in SI 00830.403.

Use SSA Access to State Records Online (SASRO) to verify an individual’s receipt of TFA in Connecticut. (See Section E below.) The DSS Eligibility Management System (EMS) gives the names of the individuals on the grant and the family grant amount. When the family grant amount agrees with one of the payment standards in the chart shown in Section F below, use the chart to derive the individual’s share for each month of SSI eligibility.

In MSSICS cases, document online verification on the IADC and ASSOCIATED REMARKS screens. When MSSICS cannot be used, document the EVID screen in Shared Processes. Record the following:

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  the name of the agency (DSS) whose records were accessed,

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  the system (EMS) used for access,

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  the date of access,

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  the family grant amount and number on the grant for each month of SSI eligibility, and

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  the EMS screens where this information was located.

NOTE: Use the EVID screen or the Report of Contact page (and lock it) in post-eligibility situations. Do not use the FILE DOCUMENTATION REMARKS of the ASSOCIATED REMARKS SCREEN (for the IADC screen) when documenting TANF in a post-eligibility situation. The screen must lock in order for the documentation to be acceptable. The FILE DOCUMENTATION REMARKS of the ASSOCIATED REMARKS SCREEN only locks for information posted at the time of adjudication.

Click the following links for examples on documenting TFA and coding the appropriate screens. They are located in the TANF Guide for Connecticut on the Boston Region SSI Subject Index :

Example 1 - Verification and Documentation of TFA Grant for SSI Applicant - MSSICS Case

Example 2 - Verification and Documentation of TFA Grant for SSI Applicant - Non-MSSICS Case

If the family grant amount is not one of those shown in the chart, or if SASRO shows that the SSI recipient is a cap child, contact the DSS servicing office directly. Ask the agency for:

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  the amount of the TFA grant paid to the family for each month of SSI eligibility and

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  the amount the grant would be for each of those months without the SSI applicant.

Obtain this information orally. Document the grant amounts, along with the agency name, the date of contact, and the name and phone number of the individual contacted. For MSSICS cases, use the IADC and ASSOCIATED REMARKS screens. For non-MSSICS cases, use the EVID screen and input the individual’s share as type “F” income in the UM field per SM 01005.180-SM 01005.185.

Connecticut does not allow an individual to receive TFA concurrently with SSI. When an SSA field office inputs an SSI allowance for a TFA recipient in Connecticut, the DSS receives electronic notification of this event. The agency then updates the TFA eligibility information on EMS, usually within two business days.

Verify the date an SSI recipient is removed from the TFA grant by monitoring SASRO. When the final SSI allowance is input, make sure that the type “F” income is verified and posted as a continuing amount. Control the case for follow up on SASRO. Input the termination date for the TFA income, once it appears on EMS.

Document online verification of TFA termination using the Report of Contact page in MSSICS cases or the EVID screen in non-MSSICS cases. Include:

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  the name of the agency (DSS) whose records were accessed,

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  the system (EMS) used for access,

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  the date of access,

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  the date of TFA termination, and

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  the EMS screen where this information was located.

Click the following links for examples on documenting TFA termination and coding the appropriate screens. The examples are located in the TANF Guide for Connecticut on the Boston Region SSI Subject Index:

Example 3 - Verification and Documentation of TFA Termination for SSI Applicant - MSSICS Case.

Example 4 - Verification and Documentation of TFA Termination for SSI Applicant - Non-MSSICS Case.

If a TFA termination date cannot be verified using SASRO within 10 days of the SSI allowance, contact the DSS directly.

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  Advise the agency of the individual’s eligibility and the date of the first SSI payment.

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  Verify the individual’s removal from the TFA grant and the date of removal.

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  Terminate the “F” income using the date provided by the State agency.

Document the TFA termination date, along with the agency name, the date of contact, and the name and phone number of the individual contacted. For MSSICS cases, use the IADC and Report of Contact page. Lock the Report of Contact page after entering the necessary data. For non-MSSICS cases, use the EVID screen, and input the individual’s share as type “F” income in the UM field per SM 01305.200-SM 01305.215.

NOTE: Use the EVID screen or the Report of Contact page (and lock it) in post-eligibility situations. Do not use the FILE DOCUMENTATION REMARKS of the ASSOCIATED REMARKS SCREEN (for the IADC screen) when documenting TANF in a post-eligibility situation. The screen must lock in order for the documentation to be acceptable. The FILE DOCUMENTATION REMARKS of the ASSOCIATED REMARKS SCREEN only locks for information posted at the time of adjudication.

SSA has an agreement with the Connecticut DSS allowing field office employees access to the DSS Eligibility Management System (EMS). Access is provided through a PIN and password system, as described in GN BOS00301.035.

Training packages and forms for SASRO access are available on the Boston Region Center for Programs and Disability Support site.

(Effective July 1, 2014)

The regional breakdown of the state by cities and towns is as follows:

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  GN 00301.286 Electronic Evidence Documentation and Retention

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  GN BOS00301.035 SSA Access to State Records Online (SASRO) - Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS)

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  SI 00830.403 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)