An official State of Texas website.
Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015
TANF
A parent is incapacitated if a medically determined mental or physical impairment results in a substantial reduction in the ability to support or care for the child. This impairment kept or will keep the parent from performing the parent’s usual work for at least 30 days.
The individual's usual work is the individual's main occupation for the last 15 years. In the case of a homemaker, the activities related to caring for a child are considered usual work.
A—1051 Determining Incapacity
Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015
TANF
Advisors must determine whether the household meets all other eligibility criteria. If the household meets all other eligibility criteria, a disability determination request should be processed as follows:
- Advisors must determine whether the household is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) based on disability. If the individual receives either of these benefits, deprivation is established. Note: Eligibility for SSI or RSDI based on age does not establish deprivation.
- If the applicant has a disability that is:
- obvious, advisors must certify the household for TANF and require a completed Form H1836-A, Medical Release/Physician's Statement, at the next redetermination.
- not obvious, the advisor must complete the disability determination. A disability determination consists of the advisor completing and sending Form H1836-A to the physician who treated the individual within the past 60 days for the incapacity being claimed. Note: The physician is not paid for completing this verification.
| If Form H1836-A is returned indicating that the individual has … | then the household should be certified for … |
|---|---|
| a temporary disability, | TANF or TANF-State Program (SP), and the individual must be informed that the disability will be reviewed at each periodic redetermination. |
| a permanent disability, | TANF or TANF-SP. |
| no disability, | TANF or TANF-SP, and the requirements for participation in the Choices program must be explained. |
A—1052 Processing Medical Reviews
Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015
TANF
Medical reviews must be processed at each periodic review following the steps in A-1051, Determining Incapacity.
| If the disability was … | then … |
|---|---|
| determined at initial certification without Form H1836-A, Medical Release/Physician's Statement, or was temporary and has ended (based on Form H1836-A) and the individual still claims to have a disability, | the advisors must require the individual to provide Form H1836-A before recertifying the case. If the individual does not provide the statement and the disability is not established, the advisor must then certify the household for TANF, if otherwise eligible. |
| permanent (based on Form H1836-A) and has not ended, | the advisor must continue to base deprivation on incapacity and not require another Form H1836-A unless the individual is working and/or the condition has improved. |