HB 1247 -- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Sponsor:  Sater

By October 28, 2010, this bill requires the Department of Social
Services to apply for a federal waiver from the United States
Department of Health and Human Services to modify the eligibility
requirements for the Missouri Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) Program to:

(1)  Reduce the lifetime eligibility limits for recipients from
five years to two years and require beneficiaries subject to any
work requirements to be employed at the time of receiving any
TANF benefits;

(2)  Establish a cash diversion program for unemployed applicants
whose TANF benefits are subject to work requirements.  The
department must offer job assistance services for up to three
months to unemployed applicants; and if the applicant is using
the services, he or she will be eligible to receive up to three
monthly payments equal to the amount the applicant would be
eligible to receive if he or she was a TANF recipient; and

(3)  Establish a cap on TANF cash benefits for recipients that is
based on the number of children in the recipient's family.
Additional cash benefits will not be awarded to a recipient in
the event of a child's birth after an initial award has been
granted, except if a child is born as a result of rape or incest.
The department must offer family planning services to all TANF
cash benefit recipients.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:10 pm