For purposes of this Chapter:
(1) "Adverse Action Notice" is a computer
generated notice sent to a Families First/TANF recipient when a negative action
is taken on a Families First/TANF case.
(2) "Assistance Unit (AU)" means the "aid
group (AG)" or group of people applying for or receiving Families First/TANF
cash assistance benefits.
(3)
"Caretaker" is a relative within a specified degree of relationship to the
child who:
(a) provides a home for the child;
and
(b) exercises primary
responsibility for care and control of child.
(4) "Child Care" means the provision of
supervision and protection, and at a minimum, meeting the basic needs of a
child or children for less than twenty-four (24) hours a day. Child care is
provided when necessary for the participant to take part in work or training
activities while the AU is receiving Families First/TANF cash
assistance.
(5) "Child Only
caretaker" is a caretaker who is either a non-parental relative who is not
included in the AU or a caretaker receiving SSI benefits.
(6) "Conciliation" means a ten (10) calendar
day period of time given to a Families First/TANF recipient to establish good
cause for failure to comply with their work activities requirements following
the issuance of a notice of adverse action, unless the tenth (10th) day falls
on a weekend or holiday.
(7)
"Department" means the Department of Human Services.
(8) "Employee" means the Families First/TANF
recipient and/or caretaker, who works in the service of another person, private
entity, or governmental entity.
(9)
"Employment" means the relationship between an employee and his/her employer
consisting of the employee's work responsibilities for the employer.
(10) "Families First" refers to the temporary
public assistance program provided under Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families ("TANF"), administered by the Department pursuant to Title IV-A of the
Social Security Act and title 71, chapter 5, part 3 of the Tennessee Code
Annotated.
(11) "Family Focused
Solutions ("FFS")" refers to a Families First/TANF support service whose
purpose is to provide supportive assistance to Families First/TANF recipients
who may have barriers to employment.
(12) "Incapacity" is deemed to exist when one
parent has a physical or mental defect, illness, or impairment. The incapacity
shall be supported by competent medical testimony and must be of such a
debilitating nature as to reduce substantially, or eliminate the parent's
ability to support or care for the otherwise eligible child and be expected to
last for a period of at least thirty (30) days. Incapacity may be a reason for
deprivation or may be a reason for a temporary exemption from a work activities
requirement.
(13) "Sanction" means
the period of time during which a Families First/TANF case is closed due to
lack of adequate participation in required work and/or educational
activities.
(14) "Support Services"
means the transportation, optical, dental, and other services which are
provided by the Families First/TANF work activity contractor when necessary for
participation in work and/or educational activities.
(15) "Work activities" means the work and/or
educational activities performed in return for cash assistance benefits that
provide a Families First/TANF recipient with an opportunity to acquire the
general skills, training, knowledge, and work habits necessary to obtain
employment.