ARM 37.78.420. TANF: ASSISTANCE STANDARDS; TABLES; METHODS OF COMPUTING AMOUNT OF MONTHLY BENEFIT PAYMENT

(1) Income standards as set forth in this rule are used to determine whether need exists with respect to income for any person who applies for or receives TANF cash assistance and to determine the benefit amount the assistance unit will receive if eligible. Four sets of assistance standards are used which are as follows: (a) The gross monthly income (GMI) standard sets the level of gross monthly income for each size assistance unit which cannot be exceeded if the assistance unit is to be eligible for TANF cash assistance. (b) The net monthly income (NMI) standard is used to determine the GMI. (c) The benefit standard sets the level of net countable income which cannot be exceeded if the assistance unit is to be eligible for assistance. (d) The payment standard is used to determine the amount of the monthly cash payment in the TANF cash assistance program and is based on the size of the assistance unit. This net countable income is subtracted from the payment standard to determine the amount of the payment for the TANF case assistance unit. This amount is prorated for the month of application if eligibility is for less than a full month. (2) The income standards vary depending on the number of persons in the assistance unit. (3) The assistance unit's GMI as defined in ARM 37.78.103 is compared to the applicable GMI standard, and after specified disregards, to the benefit standard. If the assistance unit's GMI exceeds the GMI standard or their countable monthly income as defined in ARM 37.78.103 exceeds the benefit standard, the assistance unit is ineligible for assistance. Monthly income is compared to the full standard even if the eligibility is being determined for only part of the month. (a) Eligibility for assistance and the amount of the monthly benefit payment which a TANF cash assistance unit will receive is determined prospectively, that is, based on the department's best estimate of income and other circumstances which will exist in the benefit month. (b) When comparing income to the income standards, income anticipated to be received in the benefit month is used. (4) The GMI standards, NMI standards, and benefits standards are as follows: (a) Gross monthly income standards are compared with the assistance unit's gross monthly income as defined in ARM 37.78.103. GROSS MONTHLY INCOME STANDARDS (GMI) Number of Persons in Household Gross Monthly Income (GMI) 1 $ 522 2 703 3 884 4 1,066 5 1,249 6 1,430 7 1,611 8 1,793 9 1,974 10 2,155 11 2,337 12 2,518 13 2,699 14 2,880 15 3,062 16 3,245 17 3,426 18 3,608 19 3,789 20 3,970 (b) Net monthly income standards are used to compute gross monthly income standards (GMI). NET MONTHLY INCOME STANDARDS (NMI) 1 $ 282 2 380 3 478 4 576 5 675 6 773 7 871 8 969 9 1,067 10 1,165 11 1,263 12 1,361 13 1,459 14 1,557 15 1,655 16 1,754 17 1,852 18 1,950 19 2,048 20 2,146 (c) Benefit standards are compared with the assistance unit's countable income as defined in ARM 37.78.103. BENEFITS STANDARDS 1 $ 221 2 298 3 375 4 452 5 530 6 607 7 684 8 761 9 838 10 915 11 991 12 1,068 13 1,145 14 1,222 15 1,299 16 1,377 17 1,454 18 1,531 19 1,608 20 1,685 (d) The payment standards are compared to the assistance unit's net countable income as defined in ARM 37.78.103. PAYMENT STANDARDS (33% of the FY 2005 Federal Poverty Level) 1 $ 263 2 353 3 442 4 532 5 622 6 711 7 801 8 891 9 980 10 1,070 11 1,160 12 1,249 13 1,339 14 1,429 15 1,518 16 1,608 17 1,698 18 1,787 19 1,877 20 1,967 (5) The adult's gross monthly earned income as defined in ARM 37.78.103 is compared to the applicable GMI limit. If the assistance unit's GMI exceeds the GMI limit, the assistance unit is ineligible for assistance. Monthly income is compared to the full limit even if the eligibility is being determined for only part of the month. When comparing income to the income limits, income anticipated to be received in the benefit month is used.