Away from Home

Some circumstances may require the temporary absence of either a child or parent (or eligible caretaker) from the home. Temporary separations do not affect an individual’s eligibility for Temporary Assistance benefits as long as the individual retains responsibility for the child’s welfare and the child, parent, or eligible caretaker is expected to return home.

 

Circumstances that may result in a temporary absence from the home include:

  • EVA In a diagnostic center for evaluation, 90 days—may be extended
  • FTP Families Together Program, 60 days
  • HOS Hospitalized, expected to return, None
  • JCP Job Corps participant attending school, None
  • JTC Joint Custody, None
  • OST Temporary visits out of state, 90 days
  • SCH Attendance at school, None

 

In joint custody situations the parent may be absent from the home on more than a temporary basis, but his/her needs and income are still considered for Temporary Assistance eligibility, as long as both parents are exercising care and control of the child. In joint custody situations, individuals residing with the parent living outside the Supercase may also be included in the eligibility determination process for the dependent child.

 

Guide: Child in the Home of Payee

 

Entries on AWAYHOME (FM8F):

  1. From AWAYHOME (FM8F):
    1. Ensure the DCN displayed is the individual who is away from home
    2. Type A in the Command line
    3. Prompt out (=F4) on the Away from Home Reason field.

    1. Select the away from home reason
    2. Press CTRL

  1. When an individual is away from home, complete the following fields:
    1. Start Date: enter the date (MMDDYYYY) the individual left
    2. Expected Return Date: enter the date (MMDDYYYY) the individual is expected to return.
      1. Leave blank if the reason is joint custody.

    1. Away From Home Address: Enter the temporary address for the individual who is away from home.
      1. The address must be CD1P compliant. Only enter “Y” in the override field if address is correct but not CD1P compliant.
    2. Residence County: Prompt out (=F4) for Missouri county of residence.
      1. Enter 0116 for all out of state addresses
    3. Press CTRL

      1. Press F18=COMMENT
        1. Make a clear comment recording the participant’s statement about the situation and how it was/needs to be verified
        2. Explain why the individual is away (joint custody, attending school, stays at a regional center diagnostic center, Families Together, etc.)
        3. Record specifics, such as the name of the joint parent and address
        4. Press CTRL
  1. When an individual returns home, complete the following fields:
    1. From AWAYHOME (FM8F):
      1. Ensure the DCN displayed is the individual who is away from home
      2. Type U in the Command line
      3. End Date: enter the date of return (MMDDYYYY)

    1. Press CTRL
    2. Press F18=COMMENT
      1. Make a clear comment recording the participant’s statement about the situation and when the individual returned
      2. Press CTRL

01/2021