1. (1) Eligibility for a person residing in a maternity home is determined as though the person was currently living in her own home. A period of time spent in a maternity home is defined as a temporary absence from one’s usual home and eligibility is established based on the circumstances which exist in that usual home.

2. (2) Applications from Maternity Home Residents.

   1. (a) Applications from women who are entering (or plan to enter) a maternity home are accepted and processed in the county of usual residence, i.e., the person’s “home county.”
   2. (b) Applications from women who are in a maternity home are accepted and processed in the county where the maternity home is located.

3. (3) Eligibility for Applicants in a Maternity Home.

   1. (a) A maternity home resident must meet all technical and financial Families First eligibility requirements as any other Families First applicant.

   2. (b) A pregnant woman with no other children may request Families First for herself only (as a pregnant woman), or a pregnant woman with children living with her may request assistance for herself and her dependent children in the home.

      1. 1. As a pregnant woman with no other children in the home:
   3. (i) She must have reached her 6th month of pregnancy;
   4. (ii) She must meet all eligibility requirements as though the unborn child were born and living with her; and
   5. (iii) The income of a spouse in the home must be considered and/or the income of a parent of a minor must be deemed to the minor pregnant woman. (See exception for SSI recipients.); and

   6. (iv) The applicant must not be receiving Families First as a dependent child with her siblings in the home.

      1. 2. As the applicant relative of dependent children in the home:
   7. (i) Pregnancy does not have to be verified (when an applicant relative has children for whom Families First is requested, her pregnancy is not an issue);
   8. (ii) The dependent child(ren) in the home must meet all eligibility requirements and she must meet all requirements as caretaker relative;
   9. (iii) The income of a spouse in the home will be considered and the income of a parent of a minor will be deemed to the minor applicant. (See exception for SSI recipients.);
   10. (iv) The applicant must not be receiving Families First as a dependent child with her siblings in the home.
   11. (c) If the home situation is being dissolved, the current home situation of the maternity home resident is considered in determining her eligibility.

4. (4) Eligibility for Recipients Residing in or Entering a Maternity Home.

   1. (a) No change in a Families First grant or filing unit is made when a recipient is residing in or entering a maternity home.
   2. (b) An alternate payee will be named to receive the grant if necessary.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201 et seq., 71-1-105, Public Acts of 1996, Chapter 950, and 45 C.F.R. 233.90. Administrative History: Original rule filed December 2, 1996; effective February 15, 1997.