District of Columbia Code
Subchapter V - Public Assistance Programs
§ 4–205.15. Standards for inclusion in TANF assistance unit

(a) An application on behalf of a dependent child shall include in the TANF assistance unit the following individuals, if living in the same household as the dependent child and otherwise eligible:
(1) The parent or parents of a dependent child, except that a parent who marries a person with whom the parent does not have any child in common may, at the parent’s request, choose not to be included in the dependent child’s assistance unit;
(1A) The step-parent of a dependent child, if there is a parent of the dependent child in the home who chooses to be included in the dependent child’s assistance unit; and
(1B) Any dependent child of a step-parent who is included in a dependent step-child’s assistance unit; and
(2) All blood-related, half-blooded-related, and adopted brothers and sisters of the dependent child who are themselves dependent children under age 18 or under 19 years of age and are full-time students in a secondary school (or in the equivalent level of vocational or technical training); and
(3) Repealed.
(b) For the purposes of subsection (a) of this section, the Mayor shall determine the meaning of the term “full-time student” and shall determine which vocational or technical training courses are equivalent to the level of secondary school.
(c) In order to be included in an TANF assistance unit under this section, a dependent child aged 16 or 17 years must be enrolled in a program of secondary education or vocational or technical training.
(d) An application on behalf of a dependent child may include in the TANF assistance unit a caretaker relative other than a parent, provided that neither parent is living in the home and the caretaker relative requests to be included, meets each eligibility requirement, and lives in the same household as the dependent child.
(e) Individuals who are ineligible to receive TANF, and who shall be excluded from the TANF assistance unit during the period of ineligibility, shall include:
(1) An individual who receives SSI benefits;
(2) An alien who is ineligible for TANF as a result of the deeming of a sponsor’s income and resources to the alien pursuant to § 421 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, approved August 22, 1996 (110 Stat. 2105; 8 U.S.C. § 1631);
(3) An alien who is ineligible for TANF because the alien does not meet the citizenship and alienage requirements of § 4-205.24(a);
(4) An individual who is ineligible for TANF as the result of the imposition of a sanction; and
(5) An individual who is ineligible for TANF, pursuant to § 4-205.33, due to receipt of lump-sum income.
(6) Repealed.
(Apr. 6, 1982, D.C. Law 4-101, § 515, 29 DCR 1060; Mar. 14, 1985, D.C. Law 5-150, § 2(d), 31 DCR 6425; Sept. 10, 1985, D.C. Law 6-35, § 2(e), 32 DCR 3778; Sept. 26, 1995, D.C. Law 11-52, § 502(c), 42 DCR 3684; Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-241, § 2(r), 46 DCR 905; Dec. 17, 2009, D.C. Law 18-94, § 2(b), 56 DCR 8521; Dec. 24, 2013, D.C. Law 20-61, § 5052(b), 60 DCR 12472.)
1981 Ed., § 3-205.15.
This section is referenced in § 38-1207.01.
D.C. Law 18-94, in subsec. (a), substituted “may, at the parent’s request, choose not to” for “shall not” in par. (1), added pars. (1A) and (1B), and repealed par. (3); and, in subsec. (e), added “and” at the end of par. (4), substituted a period for “; and” at the end of par. (5), and repealed par. (6).
The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 20-61 substituted “or under 19 years of age and are full-time students in a secondary school (or in the equivalent level of vocational or technical training)” for “or age 18 and expected to complete high school before reaching age 19” in (a)(2); and substituted “the Mayor shall determine the meaning of the term ‘full-time student’ and shall determine which vocational or technical training courses are equivalent to the level of secondary school” for “the Mayor shall determine the meaning of the term ‘full-time student’, shall determine which vocational or technical training courses are equivalent to the level of secondary school, and shall determine which factors will be considered in deciding whether an individual may reasonably be expected to complete the program of study or training before reaching age 19” in (b).
Public postsecondary education reorganization, tuition grants, “eligible caretaker relative” and “eligible legal guardian” defined, see § 38-1207.01.
For temporary amendment of section, see § 502(c) of the Multiyear Budget Spending Reduction and Support Emergency Act of 1994 (D.C. Act 10-389, December 29, 1994, 42 DCR 197).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 502(c) of the Omnibus Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 1995 (D.C. Act 11-124, July 27, 1995, 42 DCR 4160).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 2(x) of the Public Assistance Emergency Amendment Act of 1997 (D.C. Act 12-25, February 27, 1997, 44 DCR 1778), and § 2(x) of the Public Assistance Legislative Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1997 (D.C. Act 12-77, May 27, 1997, 44 DCR 3181).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 2(x) of the Public Assistance Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12-306, March 20, 1998, 45 DCR 1900).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 2(r) of the Self-Sufficiency Promotion Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12-372, June 9, 1998, 45 DCR 4270), § 2(r) of the Self-Sufficiency Promotion Legislative Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12-425, July 31, 1998, 45 DCR 5682), § 2(r) of the Self-Sufficiency Promotion Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12-552, December 24, 1998, 46 DCR 521), and § 2(r) of the Self-Sufficiency Promotion Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1999 (D.C. Act 13-19, February 17, 1999, 46 DCR 2492).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Public Assistance Emergency Amendment Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-198, October 9, 2009, 56 DCR 8132).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 5052(b) of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-130, July 30, 2013, 60 DCR 11384, 20 DCSTAT 1827).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 5052(b) of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-204, October 17, 2013, 60 DCR 15341, 20 DCSTAT 2311).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 502(c) of Multiyear Budget Spending Reduction and Support Temporary Act of 1995 (D.C. Law 10-253, March 23, 1995, law notification 42 DCR 1652).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2(x) of Public Assistance Temporary Amendment Act of 1997 (D.C. Law 12-7, August 1, 1997, law notification 44 DCR 4639).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2(x) of Public Assistance Temporary Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Law 12-130, July 24, 1998, law notification 45 DCR 6501).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2(r) of Self-Sufficiency Promotion Temporary Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Law 12-230, April 20, 1999, law notification 46 DCR 4143).
Section 5051 of D.C. Law 20-61 provided that Subtitle F of Title V of the act may be cited as the “Department of Human Services Conforming Amendments Act of 2013”.
Applicability of D.C. Law 20-61: Section 11001 of D.C. Law 20-61 provided that, except as otherwise provided, the act shall apply as of October 1, 2013.

Structure District of Columbia Code

District of Columbia Code

Title 4 - Public Care Systems

Chapter 2 - Public Assistance

Subchapter V - Public Assistance Programs

§ 4–205.01. Eligibility for public assistance

§ 4–205.02. Residency requirement

§ 4–205.03. Determination of residency

§ 4–205.04. Relocation of recipients to another jurisdiction

§ 4–205.05. Definitions

§ 4–205.05a. General Assistance for Children program

§ 4–205.06. Old Age Assistance and Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled need determination. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.07. Aid to the Blind need determination. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.08. GPA need determination. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.09. AB and ATD self-supporting plans. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.10. TANF income eligibility standards

§ 4–205.11. TANF need determination

§ 4–205.11a. Time limit for receipt of TANF benefits

§ 4–205.11b. Reduction of benefits for long-term TANF recipients. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.11c. Human impact statement

§ 4–205.12. Food stamp coupon allotment disregarded. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.13. Enumerated income disregarded. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.13a. Treatment of payment for costs of work participation

§ 4–205.14. Determination of GPA need standard. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.15. Standards for inclusion in TANF assistance unit

§ 4–205.16. Contribution guidelines for nonassistance unit children. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.17. Definitions. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.18. Child’s eligibility

§ 4–205.19. Application; assignment of rights for child support

§ 4–205.19a. Redetermination of eligibility

§ 4–205.19b. Job search and job readiness requirements for TANF applicants

§ 4–205.19c. Failure to comply with job search and job readiness requirements for TANF applicants

§ 4–205.19d. Work participation requirements for TANF recipients

§ 4–205.19e. Failure to comply with work requirements for TANF recipients

§ 4–205.19f. Sanctions

§ 4–205.19g. Exemptions

§ 4–205.19h. Administration of job search, job readiness, work, and self-sufficiency activities

§ 4–205.19i. Nondiscrimination against TANF and POWER applicants and recipients

§ 4–205.19j. Health and safety standards for TANF and POWER recipients

§ 4–205.19k. Workers’ compensation for TANF recipients

§ 4–205.19l. Nondisplacement by TANF recipients

§ 4–205.19m. Reporting requirements

§ 4–205.19n. Family assessment plan

§ 4–205.20. Parental absence by reason of imprisonment

§ 4–205.21. Eligibility standards for children of unemployed parents

§ 4–205.22. Availability of stepparent

§ 4–205.23. Obligations of custodial relatives other than parents

§ 4–205.24. Eligibility requirements for alien children

§ 4–205.25. Eligibility determined prospectively

§ 4–205.26. Procedure for public and medical assistance application

§ 4–205.27. Failure to determine eligibility within time requirement

§ 4–205.28. Income application in determining need for family receiving more than 1 assistance payment

§ 4–205.29. Income status of loans and grants

§ 4–205.30. Definitions

§ 4–205.31. Application for benefits required

§ 4–205.32. Establishment of net payment received

§ 4–205.33. Treatment of lump-sum payments and settlements

§ 4–205.34. Treatment of accrued statutory benefits. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.35. Failure of recipients to report promptly. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.36. Work incentive allowances disregarded

§ 4–205.37. Standard for income and resource determination

§ 4–205.38. Availability of income and resources

§ 4–205.39. Earned income. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.40. Resources in kind

§ 4–205.41. Emergency applicant may retain automobile

§ 4–205.42. Definitions relating to incapacity and disability

§ 4–205.42a. Eligibility for General Public Assistance. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.43. Participation in labor dispute; pregnancy

§ 4–205.44. Amount. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.45. Standard for requirements exceptions. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.46. Meal standard. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.47. Nursing care standard

§ 4–205.48. Standards of assistance adopted and applied

§ 4–205.49. Special living arrangements

§ 4–205.50. Costs of training and employment

§ 4–205.51. Denial of monthly benefits

§ 4–205.51a. TANF Universal Service Delivery Model

§ 4–205.51b. Annual comparative review

§ 4–205.52. Determination of amount of public assistance payments for assistance unit; standards of assistance enumerated

§ 4–205.53. Reconsideration of grants; modification of amount; duty of recipient to notify Mayor of change of circumstances; grants under General Public Assistance Program for Unemployables

§ 4–205.54. TANF assistance unit monthly report

§ 4–205.55. Timely and adequate notice of action to discontinue, etc., assistance

§ 4–205.56. Information from source other than recipient

§ 4–205.57. Consequences of failure to request hearing or submit additional information to clarify eligibility

§ 4–205.58. Consideration of additional information

§ 4–205.59. Effect of pending hearing

§ 4–205.60. Benefits pending hearing. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.61. Definitions

§ 4–205.62. Establishment of a Demonstration Project. [Repealed]

§ 4–205.63. Eligibility for public assistance; home living requirement

§ 4–205.64. Failure to meet home living requirement; notice

§ 4–205.65. Eligibility for public assistance; learnfare

§ 4–205.66. Failure to meet school attendance requirements; notice

§ 4–205.67. Expansion of Jobs Opportunities and Basic Skills and Alternative Work Experience Programs

§ 4–205.68. Duties of the Mayor

§ 4–205.69. Denial of assistance for fraudulent misrepresentation of residency

§ 4–205.70. Denial of assistance for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators

§ 4–205.71. Granting cash and food assistance benefits to drug felons

§ 4–205.72. POWER — Establishment; eligibility

§ 4–205.72a. POWER — Additional eligibility

§ 4–205.73. POWER — Application

§ 4–205.74. POWER — Medical review

§ 4–205.75. POWER — Redetermination of eligibility

§ 4–205.76. POWER — Participation in activities to assist in achieving self-sufficiency

§ 4–205.77. POWER — Failure to participate in self-sufficiency activities

§ 4–205.78. POWER — Amount of assistance

§ 4–205.79. POWER — No creation of an entitlement

§ 4–205.80. POWER — Medicaid eligibility

§ 4–205.81. Diversion payments

§ 4–205.82. Provision of information concerning the Earned Income Credit