1. (a)

   1. (1) The payment amount for the family size will be reduced by fifty percent (50%) when the family’s countable monthly gross income, excluding assigned child support payments, is equal to or more than one thousand twenty-six dollars ($1,026).
   2. (2) If the reduction does not result in a whole dollar amount, then it will be rounded down if the remaining cents are forty-nine cents (49¢) or less, and up if fifty cents (50¢) or more. Example 1: Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two (2) children. Mr. Smith has a disability and receives both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits. Mrs. Smith and the two (2) children receive a total of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per month Social Security Administration benefits. Since Mr. Smith is a Supplemental Security Income recipient, he is excluded from the family size for payment and his income is not considered. Only Mrs. Smith and the two (2) children are included. They are income eligible, based on the standard of five hundred thirteen dollars ($513), so their payment is determined as follows. The monthly gross income of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) is less than one thousand twenty-six dollars ($1,026) so their payment is the maximum grant for a family size of three (3), or two hundred four dollars ($204). Example 2: Ms. Brown has received TEA benefits for one (1) month for herself and one (1) child. She has now found a job and is expected to earn one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) gross per month. After allowing the recipient earned income deductions (twenty percent (20%) of the gross and then sixty percent (60%)), she is income eligible based on the income standard of five hundred thirteen dollars ($513). The payment is then determined as follows. Gross countable income (one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200)) exceeds one thousand twenty-six dollars ($1,026) so the Browns’ payment is fifty percent (50%) of the maximum for a two-person family, or eighty-one dollars ($81.00).
2. (b) The payment determination showing the number of persons included in the grant, the family’s gross income, and the grant amount will be documented in the case record.

3. (c)

   1. (1) When a family’s payment amount reduces to the fifty percent (50%) amount, the worker should discuss possible alternatives to continuing to receive cash assistance with the casehead.
   2. (2) It should be explained that even though the payment has been reduced, the time limit count is continuing.
   3. (3) Therefore, it may benefit the family in the long-term to terminate cash assistance while the family’s gross income is at the one thousand twenty-six dollars ($1,026) or above level rather than continue to receive the reduced transitional employment assistance (TEA) payment.
   4. (4) It must be emphasized that the decision to close the cash assistance at this time is strictly the client’s, and he or she should not be made to believe that the cash assistance case must be closed.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: “01/01/2023”