Department of Human Services

Families First Online Policy Manual

Assistance Unit

Revised:

7.3

OPTIONAL ASSISTANCE UNIT MEMBERS

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Optional AU members include:

 

·         Grantee relative other than a parent, e.g. grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other relative within the specified degree of relationship who:

 

-       Provides a home for the child.

-       Exercises primary responsibility for the care and control of the child.

-       Asks to be included.

-       Is otherwise eligible.

 

Consider the relative’s income and all of the income of the relative’s spouse, if the spouse lives in the home, as available to the AU.  If the AU is eligible (when the relative’s spouse’s income is included,) the relative can be included in the AU.  If the relative is included, his/her resources must be considered as available to the AU.  If the income causes ineligibility, the relative should be advised that his/her income will make the AU ineligible.  Eligibility for the AU can be determined without the relative and his/her spouse.

 

·         Stepparent living in the home with the child when a natural/adoptive parent in the home is incapacitated, or when the stepparent is the only relative in the home who meets the requirements as a caretaker.  (Refer to Treatment of Income Chapter, Stepparents and Parents of Minor Children for instructions on how to budget stepparent income.)

 

·         Parent of a minor parent.  When the minor’s parent is in the home, but is not requesting assistance for the minor or any half or whole sibling(s) of the minor parents, the minor parent may apply for assistance.  Income of parents in the home will be deemed to the minor’s AU.

 

·         Spouse Married during the Receipt of Assistance for the first 3 months after the marriage.  When a caretaker marries during the receipt of assistance, the caretaker may choose to include or exclude the spouse for the first three months after the marriage.  After the first three months have passed, the new spouse is a mandatory member of the AU.  The count of the 3 months begins the month following the month of the marriage. (Refer to Marriage During Receipt of Assistance.)

 

Glossary

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