PM 10-04-03
When an excluded spouse/civil union partner's income is budgeted, it is coded in Item 90 as code 602 or code 603.
A determination is made by the system to calculate how much money needs to be diverted to meet the needs of the excluded spouse/civil union partner and any other dependents of either spouse/partner who are not included in the TANF unit. The amount is computed by the system based on the payment level size for the following persons divided by the total number of persons. See WAG 10-04-02. The total number of persons includes:
- TANF customers included in the case,
- the excluded spouse/civil union partner, and
- any dependents of either spouse who are not included in the TANF unit.
The "per person" share for the excluded person(s) appears in Item 80 under code 467 DINC.
Budget the excluded spouse/civil union partner's income using the following procedures:
AIS
- Identify the relationship of the excluded individual to the grantee as indicated on CAF Screen 2A.
- Enter the income of the excluded individual on the appropriate Income Screen. This amount will be budgeted in Item 90 on Form 552 as code 602 or code 603.
- Indicate that there is income to be diverted from TANF on the Miscellaneous Calculation Entries Screen.
- To allow for a "per person" share, complete the Determination of Amount to be Diverted to Support Excluded Dependents Screen. The amount calculated will be shown in Item 80 of Form 552 as code 467 DINC.
IES (reserved)
ACM
- Indicate on the ACM Actual Generic Screen that diverted income will be used in the calculation.
- On the HH Members Not in Primary Request Whose Income is Used in Calcs Screen, identify that there is a spouse not included in the TANF unit whose income must be considered.
- Enter his or her income, as appropriate, on the ACM Earned Income Screen or All Other Income Screen. This amount will be budgeted in Item 90 on Form 552 as code 602 or code 603.
- Enter a Y under Diverted Income on the Responsible Relative/Diverted Income Screen.
- Complete the ACM Actual Entry for Diversion to Support Excluded Dependents Screen. The amount calculated will be shown in Item 80 of Form 552 as code 467 DINC.
IPACS
- Enter the excluded spouse's income using Item 90 code 602 or 603, as appropriate.
- Complete the Diverted Income section on TANF Information/SNAP Central Notice (Form 2943). Entry of this information through IPACS will result in Item 80 code 467 DINC.
Example 1: A mother receiving TANF in Cook County for herself and her child marries a man who is not the father of her child. He is self-employed earning $2000 monthly. After allowable self-employment deductions ($100), and a "per person" share ($432 divided by 3 = $144), there is a remainder of $1756. Since $1756 is greater than the $318 payment level, the unit is no longer eligible for cash.
Example 2: A mother receiving SSI in Cook County is RPY for a TANF case that contains her child. She marries a man who is not the father of her child. He is employed. Since the mother is not included in the TANF unit, do not budget any of the spouse's income against the RPY case.
Example 3: A mother receiving TANF in Cook County for herself and her child enters into a civil union with a woman who is employed, earning $237 monthly. The civil union partner does not want to be included in the TANF case.
After deducting a "per person" share ($144), there is a remainder of $93. Since $93 is less than the $318 payment level, the unit remains eligible for a reduced grant amount. When budgeting, enter code 602 with an amount of $237 and allow for the diversion of a "per person" share for the excluded civil union partner.
Adding the Spouse/Civil Union Partner as an Optional Person
The following examples illustrate the financial implications of including or excluding a spouse/civil union partner.
Example 1: A father receiving TANF in Cook County for himself and his child enters into a civil union with a man who is employed earning $964 monthly. After deducting the initial employment deduction ($363) and a "per person" share ($144), there is a remainder of $457. Since $457 is greater than the $432 payment level, the unit would no longer be eligible for cash if the partner is excluded from the unit.
Discuss with the client the benefits of including the partner. If the partner is included, the payment level will be $474. From that payment level only $241 will be deducted because of the 3/4 earned income deduction ($964 divided by 4 = $241). The family would be eligible for a TANF payment of $233.
Example 2: A mother receiving TANF in Cook County for herself and her child marries a man who is not the father of her child. He is presently receiving $200 monthly in UI benefits. After a "per person" share, there is a remainder of $56. Excluding the spouse means that the client will receive a TANF payment of $318 - $56 = $262.
If the spouse were included in the TANF unit, the TANF payment would be $432 - $200 = $232.
In this situation it is financially beneficial for the family to have the spouse excluded from the unit.
