Section 112.67  Restriction in Payment to Households Headed by a Minor Parent

a)         A TANF cash payment shall be paid, for no more than six months, to a minor parent (including a pregnant woman) under age 18 who has never married and the dependent child in his or her care unless that person resides in the household of his or her parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative, or in an adult-supervised supportive living arrangement.  The Department and Teen Parent Services are to help the teen parent comply with the minor-live-at-home requirement or document an exception to it during the six-month period in which the teen parent does not meet the minor-live-at-home requirement.  An exception shall be made in any of the following circumstances:

1)         The minor parent has no living parent or legal guardian whose whereabouts are known;

2)         No living parent or legal guardian of the minor parent allows the minor parent to live in his or her home;

3)         The minor parent lived apart from his or her own parent or legal guardian for a period of at least one year before either the birth of the dependent child or the minor parent's having made application for TANF;

4)         The physical or emotional health or safety of the minor parent or dependent child would be jeopardized if they resided in the same residence with the parent or legal guardian;

5)         There is otherwise good cause for the minor parent and dependent child to receive assistance while living apart from the parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative, or an adult-supervised supportive living arrangement.  These reasons are:

A)        The parent or guardian lives out-of-state;

B)        The parent or guardian is in an institution;

C)        The parent or guardian is a substance abuser;

D)        The return of the minor parent and child to the parent or guardian's home would result in a lease violation or violation of local health or safety standards;

E)        The minor parent is placed by DCFS in independent living (see 89 Ill. Adm. Code 302.40(e)); or

F)         The minor parent is in a licensed substance abuse program which would not be available if the minor returned to the parent or guardian's home.

b)         The minor shall have the right to choose among these approvable living arrangements.  The Department shall not require the minor to explain why he or she chose one arrangement over another.

c)         When a minor parent and his or her dependent child are required to live with the parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative, or in an adult-supervised supportive living arrangement, then, where possible, the TANF grant is paid to the adult who is responsible for supervising the minor.  Otherwise, the minor receives the TANF grant.

d)         Minor parents under age 20 with no child under the age of 12 weeks may receive assistance only if they have successfully completed high school, have a GED certificate, or are attending school, except 18 and 19 year olds may be assigned to work activities or training if it is determined by an individualized assessment that such educational activities are inappropriate. If these requirements are not met, they are subject to sanction (see Section 112.79).

(Source:  Amended at 28 Ill. Reg. 5655, effective March 22, 2004)