New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 10 - HUMAN SERVICES › Chapter 90 - WORK FIRST NEW JERSEY PROGRAM › Subchapter 2 - NON-FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS › Section 10:90-2.3 - Time limits on eligibility for WFNJ TANF/GA benefits

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) Effective April
				2, 1997, eligibility for cash assistance benefits shall be limited to a
				lifetime total of 60 cumulative months for an adult individual recipient,
				except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whether the assistance was
				received in the WFNJ/TANF component, the WFNJ/GA component or a combination of
				both the WFNJ TANF/GA components of the program. The calculation of the
				lifetime limit will be based upon the number of days the recipient received
				benefits up to the 60-cumulative-month lifetime limit.
1. At the end of an individual adult
				recipient's 60 cumulative months of receipt of cash assistance, the assistance
				unit shall no longer be eligible to receive WFNJ/TANF or WFNJ/GA
				assistance.
2. In the event that a
				recipient who has received cash assistance as a dependent child or minor parent
				and later becomes a head of household or other adult assistance unit member,
				the time during which such dependent child or minor parent had previously
				received benefits shall not count toward the 60-cumulative-month lifetime
				limit.
3. For eligible aliens
				identified at
				10:90-2.10, who are single adults
				or couples without dependent children, the benefit period is further limited by
				the alien's eligibility and application for citizenship status.
i. Eligible aliens who are single adults or
				couples without dependent children may receive benefits until they meet the
				minimum residency requirements to apply for citizenship in accordance with INS
				rules, which include, but are not limited to: continuous residence within the
				United States, after being lawfully admitted for permanent residence, for at
				least three years immediately preceding the date of filing a petition for
				naturalization if married to a United States citizen or, if not, continuous
				residence within the United States, after being lawfully admitted for permanent
				residence, for at least five years immediately preceding the date of filing a
				petition for naturalization. Because only individuals with legal permanent
				residence status are eligible to apply for citizenship, this provision applies
				only to aliens with legal permanent resident status.
ii. After residency requirements for
				citizenship are met, aliens who have applied for citizenship shall not receive
				benefits for more than six months unless they attain citizenship, or pass the
				language and civics component (prior to or at the time of the alien's interview
				with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, unless exempt),
				and are awaiting a final determination delayed through no fault of their own.
				The six-month time limit shall not apply if an individual is unable to meet
				with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or if an individual
				is delayed or unable to complete the language and civics component due to
				scheduling delays with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
				In this situation, individuals shall continue to receive benefits while
				cooperating with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to
				attain citizenship. The agency shall monitor and document the individual's
				efforts to attain citizenship to ensure compliance.
iii. An alien who attains citizenship may
				continue to receive benefits for a lifetime total of 60 cumulative months from
				April 2, 1997 forward or the effective date of eligibility for WFNJ/GA, if
				later than April 2, 1997. The total months of eligibility include any time the
				individual was receiving WFNJ benefits prior to becoming a citizen.
iv. An alien who meets the requirements for
				residency and citizenship on or after August 22, 1996, but does not initiate
				the naturalization process shall not be eligible to receive benefits.