2021 Tennessee Code
Part 1 - Temporary Assistance
§ 71-3-104. Eligibility for Temporary Assistance

The children in the family receive immunizations and health checks; and
The parent or caretaker relative cooperate in the establishment and enforcement of child support, including, but not limited to, the naming of the father of a child for purposes of paternity establishment, unless good cause not to cooperate exists, as defined by the department.
The personal responsibility plan shall include requirements, if the need is identified relative to the child, that:
The parent or a suitable adult or guardian shall attend two (2) or more conferences within a year with the child's teacher to review the child's status in school;
Attend at least eight (8) hours of parenting classes; or
The parent shall participate in such support services that the child may need as determined by the department to overcome any school, family, or other barriers that may interfere with the child's and the family's ability to be successful.
(i) Unless exempt, refusal or failure to engage in full-time employment, part-time employment or other training or other work preparation activities as set forth in subsection (g), without good cause, or the failure to cooperate in the establishment or enforcement of child support without good cause, shall result in denial of eligibility for, or termination of, temporary assistance for the entire family unit.
Failure to comply with the personal responsibility plan as required under subdivisions (h)(2)(B)(i) and (ii), without good cause, shall result in a percentage reduction with regard to the temporary assistance payment in the amount of twenty percent (20%) until such time as compliance occurs.
The personal responsibility plan may provide transportation assistance, if needed to participate in required activities; provided, that the department shall first utilize available community transportation resources before providing such assistance from department funds. The department shall provide childcare services for those individuals who are receiving benefits, participating in work activities delineated in subsection (g), and not exempt from work activities pursuant to this part.
The work requirements shall be excused for:
A parent or caretaker relative who proves to the satisfaction of the department the existence of the person's temporary incapacity or permanent disability;
A parent or caretaker relative who proves to the satisfaction of the department that the person must provide personal care for a disabled relative child or adult relative living in the home;
A single parent with a child under sixteen (16) weeks of age;
A person who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older;
A nonparental caretaker relative who chooses not to be included in the assistance group; and
Other exemptions that may be required by federal law or regulation, as well as other exemptions that may be established by rule of the department in order to promote the purposes of this part.
If, without good cause, a recipient of temporary assistance fails to comply with a child support or work plan requirement imposed by this part or prescribed within the personal responsibility plan, then the family shall be subject to appropriate sanction by the department, which may include termination of assistance for a period to be determined by the department.
The maximum payment standard for a family shall not be increased for a child who is born to a caretaker relative of a temporary assistance unit who, as determined by the statement of a physician, becomes pregnant while receiving temporary assistance, or as otherwise defined by regulation of the department; provided, that if the family loses eligibility for any reason other than a failure to cooperate with the department or a failure to comply with the personal responsibility plan and if the family subsequently becomes eligible again for temporary assistance, then the department shall base the maximum payment standard on the actual size of the family unit including such child.