Some of this seems intentional to discourage participation. Some of it shows how elaborate the behavior modification regime can become. Once we think modifying behavior is the goal, then it can get very complex in trying to specify all the conditions under which people can or can not be seen as doing the right thing. A child born in such a family on the first day after the family received assistance for five years can not receive assistance as long as he or she is a member of that family. They will never receive assistance as long as they are a member of a family that has exhausted its five year time limit.
States can set a stricter lifetime limit if they so choose.
States can exempt up to 20 percent of all cases from the time limit but these exemptions must be for a limited amount of time and are subject to review. Pennsylvania has a small number of these cases. This prohibition applies to the entire household and to all forms of assistance under the grant. For families currently receiving assistance, the five-year clock will start on the date the state begins implementation of the block grant. There are very few such cases.