Finding 588164 (2022-004)

45 C.F.R. Section 260.31 contains guidelines that address eligibility for TANF assistance. In general, in order to be eligible, a family must include a minor child who lives with a parent or other adult caretaker relative. The child must be less than 18 years old, or, if a full-time student in a secondary school (or the equivalent level of vocational or technical training), less than 19 years old. A family must be determined to be "needy" according to the State's applicable income and resource criteria. Ohio Administrative Code Rule 5101:14-1-05 A(2) states, "For CCMEP (Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program) participants not in receipt of OWF, the lead agency shall utilize the JFS 03000 "CCMEP TANF Eligibility Review Application" to conduct the annual review process to ensure that a program participant that is receiving temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) funded services and that is not receiving OWF meets the eligibility criteria described in paragraph (B)(2) of rule 5101:14-1-04 of the Administrative Code." We found that for one, or 4%, of the CCMEP expenditures tested, Harrison County DJFS did not timely recertify a CCMEP participant and therefore did not maintain a CCMEP TANF Eligibility Review Application within the participant's case file. The County did not have a process in place to ensure their CCMEP participant case files contained timely CCMEP TANF recertifications or income verification documents. The inability to timely recertify CCMEP participants and maintain applications and appropriate supporting documentation results in eligibility not being able to be verified. This could result in ineligible individuals receiving program funds, which could lead to possible questioned costs and jeopardize future federal funding. The Harrison County Department of Job and Family Services should ensure that all CCMEP TANF recertification applications, as well as any documents needed to verify information provided on the application, are timely completed, and properly retained in the participant's case file.