TANF Rhode Island (also known as Rhode Island Works) is a support service for Rhode Island families.  The purpose of TANF Rhode Island is to provide financial and medical assistance to needy dependent children and the parents or relatives with whom they are living.  Eligible TANF households receive monthly cash and Medicaid benefits. TANF uses state funds to provide cash assistance to families.

Under TANF, eligible adults are limited to receiving benefits for a total of 60 months in their lifetime, including months of TANF-funded assistance granted in other states. Once this limit is reached, that adult and all members of that adult's FA household are ineligible to receive any more TANF benefits. The 60 months need not be consecutive, but rather each individual month in which TANF-funded benefits are received is included in the lifetime count.

Because funding for TANF comes partially from Federal block grants, TANF payments are considered income based on need (IBON). The individual’s share of a TANF grant is counted dollar for dollar as income and the $20.00 general income exclusion does not apply to this income.

RI DHS issues a statement to TANF beneficiaries showing: the current TANF amount as of the statement date; a total amount for the last 3 months; a total amount for the year to date; a total amount for the last 12 months; and the family members included on the grant. Use this statement and/or the recipient’s allegation to determine the recipient’s share of the TANF grant amount if the statement and/or allegation cover the period requiring verification and the grant amount matches exactly to a grant amount in the standard payment chart in SI BOS00830.407E. Use the grant amount in the chart for the number of household members included in the TANF benefit (as indicated in the statement). Exclude any other individuals listed on the statement that do not have a TANF designation.

NOTE: The payment standard is reduced by fifty dollars ($50) for any family residing in subsidized housing. Subsidized housing is defined as housing for a family whose rent is restricted to a percentage of its income. Therefore, if using the chart, you must determine from the individual whether they reside in subsidized housing. See the example in SI BOS00830.407F.

It is possible to use a combination of the allegation and the TANF statement in order to verify the entire applicable period, as long as there is an exact match between the statement/allegation and the chart after determining the monthly amount. From the TANF statement, divide any total amounts by the number of months the total represents (i.e., the “last 3 months” total is divided by 3 or use the applicant’s allegation as to the monthly amount for the period requiring verification).

If you are verifying the first month of TANF using the TANF statement and/or recipient’s allegation, determine the prorated amount for the first month using the proration method described in SI BOS00830.407B.6.

If the current grant amount on the statement/allegation or any applicable past grant amounts (divided by the appropriate months) do not match the grant amount in the chart, you must contact RI DHS to verify the grant amounts and then determine the individual’s share of the TANF payment. Generally, if a household has wages or other income, it is unlikely that the TANF grant amount will match an amount in the chart exactly. Direct contact with RI DHS is necessary in these situations.

Record all pertinent information related to the TANF grant on a Report of Contact page, or complete a paper SSA-5002 with the information below and scan it into Evidence Portal for Non-MSSICS cases. Specifically, record the following:

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  Agency name and contact person (if applicable);

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  Source used to verify TANF grant (e.g., DHS statement, phone contact with DHS employee, etc.);

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  Amount of TANF grant paid to the household unit for each month of SSI eligibility;

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  Amount the grant would be without the SSI claimant/recipient for each month of SSI eligibility;

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  Explanation of any discrepancies between the grant amount verified by DHS against the standard grant amount chart in Section E of this reference (e.g., payment standard was reduced due to subsidized housing);

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  If you are using the Report of Contact screen, lock the Report of Contact page to secure the information.

Input the grant information on the Temporary Assistance For Needy Families page per MS 08114.008. For Non-MSSICS inputs, input the individual's countable share as type "F" income in the UM field per SM 01005.180-SM 01005.185.

 

RI DHS does not allow an individual to receive TANF concurrently with SSI. Take the following actions upon approval of the claim:

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  Advise RI DHS of the individual’s eligibility to SSI and the date of the first SSI payment.

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  Request the date that the individual will be removed from the TANF grant.

Record all pertinent information related to the TANF grant on a Report of Contact page, or complete a paper SSA-5002 with the information below and scan it into the Evidence Portal (EP) for Non-MSSICS cases. Specifically, record the following:

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  Agency name and contact person (if applicable);

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  Source used to verify TANF termination (e.g., DHS statement, phone contact with DHS employee, etc.);

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  Date of TANF termination;

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  If you are using the Report of Contact screen, lock the Report of Contact page to secure the information.

Input the end date on the Temporary Assistance For Needy Families page per MS 08114.008. For Non-MSSICS inputs, input an end date for the type "F" income in the UM field per SM 01005.180-SM 01005.185.

Standard Payment Chart

To utilize the table below, select the appropriate amount from the cash assistance monthly standard column according to the number of eligible persons in the assistance plan. Take into consideration the fifty dollar ($50) subsidized housing reduction.

Example: Individual provides RI DHS statement dated July 21, 2020 showing the current TANF payment of $399 and 1 other household member is receiving TANF. Since $399 is not shown below, ask if they reside in subsidized housing. If yes, assume the standard payment amount is the monthly standard ($449) for a family of two minus the $50 subsidized housing reduction or $399. If the individual were removed from the grant, the new monthly standard would be $277 ($327 minus $50). The individual’s share is $122 ($399 minus $277).

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  GN 00301.286 Electronic Evidence Documentation and Retention

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  MS 08114.008 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

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  SI 00830.403 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

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  SI 00830.425 Support Payments

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  SI 00830.403B.5 Cash Diversion Program

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  SI 00830.175 Assistance Based on Need (ABON)

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  SI 00830.170 Income Based on Need (IBON)