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Welfare Reform Database

State Time Limits

Definitions

Lifetime Limit:

60 Months

Exemptions:

No provision

Conditional Limit:

24 Months

Extensions:	Extensions for pregnant women, victims of domestic violence, disabled caretaker, disability, lack of required support services, or recipients who are unable to find work that provides income greater than what is received as assistance.
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

No provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

24 Months

Exemptions:

Temporary exemption for inability to secure employment, victims of domestic violence, teen parents who meet residency and attendance requirements, and other individuals as determined by the department. Exempt individuals include child only cases or caretaker relative--department to establish criteria

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

24 out of 60 months

Extensions:	Two 4-month extensions may be granted for good faith effort to find employment or to complete an education or training program.
Exemptions:	Over 62, disabled or incapacitated, disabled caretaker

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

24 Months

Extensions:	Extension allowed if recipient participates in a work activity.
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 Months

Exemptions:

Counties may apply to state for hardship exemptions to time limit

Conditional Limit:

24 Months

Extensions:	Must participate in a work activity within 24 months
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

21 months

Extensions:	Six month extensions for good faith effort made but income below payment standard plus $90; victims of domestic violence or child abuse; or other circumstances beyond family's control.
Exemptions:	Recipients who are incapacitated, elderly, parent of child under 1, pregnant, unemployable as determined by the commissioner, or victims of domestic violence.

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

24 months

Extensions:	Statute requires time limits; Dept. sets time limits. 2-year extension if recipient participates in work activities.
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

48 Months

Exemptions:

Hardship exemptions limited to 10% of participants in the first year of implementation, 15% in the second year, and 20% in all subsequent years. Criteria include inability to obtain employment, extraordinary barriers to employment, a need for additional time, teen parents who need an exemption to have 24 months after receiving their diploma or equivalent, and minor children, upon recommendation of the department.

Conditional Limit:

24 Months of 60

Extensions:	Assistance may be received for up to 36 months in a 72 month period if recipient previously received benefits. Custodial parents under 24 who have not completed high school or have minimal work experience are also eligible.
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

48 Months

Exemptions:

Department to determine; Must develop procedures to waive time limit for victims of domestic violence

Conditional Limit:

24 months

Extensions:	Recipient must be participating in a work activity
Exemptions:	Department has authority to determine procedures based on hardship

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

Individualized

Exemptions:

Extensions available for good cause.

Conditional Limit:

N/A

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

N/A

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Statutory Provision

Exemptions:

Statute gives department authority to determine time limits.

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months; 24 months for adults with child over 13

Exemptions:

Department can determine exemptions according to individual assessment

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

24 months

Exemptions:

No basis for extensions

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

30 months

Extensions:	Six month extension available for recipients who cannot find work.
Exemptions:	Department will determine

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

24 months

Extensions:	Hardship cases determined by Department
Exemptions:	Incapacitated or disabled individuals

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

Extensions:	A recipient cannot receive assistance for more than 24 consecutive months in a 60 month period followed by an ineligibility for 36 months. Extension if recipients cooperate in job search and work activity.
Exemptions:	Caretaker relative, disabled persons, parent of child under 2 or other child under 3 months

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Allows voucher payments after 60 months; Secretary can adopt regulations.

Conditional Limit:

24 months

Extensions:	Must be participating in a work activity
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No statutory provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Lifetime Limit

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

No provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Disabled caretaker, disability, family crisis or domestic violence.

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

24 months

Extensions:	Must participate in work activity
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Exemptions for victims of domestic violence, or hardship

Conditional Limit:

24 months

Extensions:	Must participate in community service, can receive an additional 36 months
Exemptions:	Parent of child under one, necessary state paid child care, disability or disabled caretaker, and others as defined by department

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Up to 20% of caseload for disability

Conditional Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

24 months of aid, followed by 24 months without

Extensions:	Up to 2 year extensions if state fails to provide services, no job is available, or cases of extreme hardship.
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No statutory provision

Exemptions:

Department has broad rule-making authority.

Conditional Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Extensions of 12 months, in six month increments for individuals who have complied with employment efforts, or who have not been given the chance to participate in a work activity

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Disability, disabled caretaker; Hardship exemptions available as long as hardship exists

Conditional Limit:

24 months

Extensions:	Extensions for up to 12 months based on hardship
Exemptions:	Parent of child under 1, disabled caretaker, disability, over 60

Periodic Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

36 montsh

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Department can determine exceptions.

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

24 of 48 months

Extensions:	Must participate in a work activity; Department to determine extension.
Exemptions:	If employed full time or attending school and working at least twenty hours per week

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

24 months

Extensions:
Exemptions:	Disabled, caretaker of child under 6, or under 18

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Minor parents, hardship cases (not to exceed 20% of caseload)

Conditional Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Disability, disabled caretaker, and cooperation with job search. Extension may be granted by commissioner.

Conditional Limit:

24 out of 120

Extensions:	Conditional extension 6 months to complete education and training--longer if approved by department; 12 month extensions if recipient is complying with program requirements but unable to find job; commissioner can extend beyond 12 months.
Exemptions:	Disability, disabled caretaker

Periodic Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

Department to determine time limit provisions

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Adult over 60, disabled or disabled caretaker, department can determine other exemptions or extensions based on good cause

Conditional Limit:

18 out of 60

Extensions:	6 month extensions for economic hardship or good cause as determined by department; can include lack of child care or transportation
Exemptions:	Adult over 60, disabled or disabled caretaker, department can determine other exemptions

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

12 months if recipient has high school diploma or recent work experience; 24 months if no high school diploma and recent work experience; 36 months if no high school diploma and no recent work experience

Extensions:	Department can establish extensions based on hardship, or lack of support services.
Exemptions:	Department can establish

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

24 months

Extensions:	Must participate in a work activity if completed high school or GED
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

36 months

Extensions:	Extensions up to 24 months for individuals who have been employed at least 80 hours per month for six months; extensions for 20% of individuals who have hardship, or subjected to domestic violence
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No Provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

24 months of eligibility followed by 24 months of ineligibility

Extensions:	Conditional extensions if unable to find job; One year extensions to complete employment related education or training; Department to determine hardship
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

No provision

Exemptions:

Conditional Limit:

15 months for 2-parent family: 30 months for single parent family--all months are cumulative

Extensions:	Must participate in work activity to receive extension; other extensions if no job available or support services not available. For recipients who do not reach cumulative limit, a six month credit is granted if they are off of assistance for one year and then return to assistance.
Exemptions:	Pregnant, disabled, disabled caretaker, parent of child under 18 months; other temporary exemptions determined by department including enrollment in post-secondary education.

Periodic Limit:

No provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Exemptions to hardship based on hardship or domestic violence; limited to 20 percent of caseload. Recipients not eligible until they have received assistance for more than 52 months

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Department can provide extension; Department to determine criteria

Conditional Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Extensions established by legislative rule

Conditional Limit:

Individual time limits according to responsibility contract

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Lifetime Limit:

60 months

Exemptions:

Extensions for 12 months if recipient is completing an associate or a baccalaureate degree, or is fleeing for personal safety

Conditional Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Periodic Limit:

No Provision

Extensions:
Exemptions:

Definitions

States have adopted a variety of time limits that have very different effects. Some of these time limits establish a limit to the number of months that a family can receive benefits unless they meet a definition of hardship. Others do not terminate benefits so much as they impose additional obligations on recipients, such as work activity or cooperation with agency efforts to get them a job. In our summaries of state legislation, we are using three types of time limits:

Lifetime Limits specify a finite period for the receipt of benefits and provide no general basis for extensions beyond a limited definition of hardship.
Conditional Time Limits specify a finite period for the receipt of benefits, but then provide that recipients can continue to receive benefits if they meet certain conditions. The two most common conditions involve work activity—recipients must be engaged in specified work activities for a certain number of hours per week—and cooperation—recipients must cooperate in specified activities, such as job search or job training.
Periodic Time Limits specify a finite period of eligibility within a longer period, such as 24 months out of 48 months. Some periodic time limits provide general bases of exemption such as cooperation or work activity. Others provide extensions only in cases that meet a limited definition of hardship. In this classification, the first type of limits are considered conditional time limits. Only periodic time limits with no general basis of extension beyond hardship are classified here.

In addition to the different types of time limits, state statutes specify certain exemptions from application of the limits and certain bases for extending benefits after the time limit expires. We have summarized the exemptions and extensions in this report on time limits.