Deprivation of parental support or care

A dependent child must be shown to be both "deprived of parental support or care" and "needy", although a causal relationship between the two need not exist. The phrase encompasses the situation of any child who is in need and otherwise eligible, and whose parent has died, is continually absent from the home, or is physically or mentally incapacitated. The requirement applies whether the parent was the chief breadwinner or devoted himself or herself primarily to the care of the child and whether or not the parents were married to each other. The determination that a child has been deprived of parental support or care is made in relation to the child's natural or adoptive parents.