Extension policies for 2-parent families differ on whether both parents reach 60 months at the same time or not.

If both parents reach 60 months in the same month, BOTH parents must meet both of the following conditions:
1. Be in compliance in the 60th month.
2. Qualify for additional time for 1 of the following reasons:

· Meeting the criteria for extension.

· Having banked months because of special medical criteria, see 18.18.15 (Special Medical Criteria).

If 1 parent reaches the 60-month time limit first, that parent must:
1. Be in compliance the 60th month.
2. Qualify for additional time for 1 of the following reasons:

· Meeting the criteria for extension.

· Having banked months because of special medical criteria, see 18.18.15 (Special Medical Criteria).

Families can choose to remove 1 parent from the MFIP grant. Families may want to remove a parent because the parent:

· Does not meet the criteria for an extension.

· Is disqualified due to a sanction in the 60th month.

· Is non-compliant with Employment Services. This option ONLY applies when the post-60 parent is extended under the Hard-to-Employ or the Employed (including Employed with Limited Hours) extension categories. See ESM 19.42 (Two-Parent Families Post-60 Months).

Removing a parent from the MFIP grant means:

· The MFIP case will not close for no extension

· The household benefits will be reduced to reflect the reduced number of people counted for the grant.

· The parent removed from the grant does not have to move out of the household.

· The removed parent can apply for SNAP and medical assistance.

· The removed parent’s income will continue to count towards the household’s MFIP benefits.

When a parent is removed from the grant due to no extension, there is no limit on how many times they can be added back to the MFIP grant.

When a parent is removed due to non-compliance, they can be added to the MFIP grant one additional time. If the same parent is removed a 2nd time, they are permanently disqualified from MFIP.

Direct participants who want to remove a parent from the MFIP grant to their eligibility worker. The option to remove a parent must occur as part of a discussion and decision-making process between the county or tribe, the Employment Services Provider, and the parents. The county or tribe must not automatically remove or add a parent.

The minimum hourly requirements for 2-parent families extended as employed:

Scenarios	Which Minimum Hourly Requirements Apply
Both parents are extended.	Two-parent family standard: 55 hours a week – at least 45 of those hours must be in employment.
The family has removed 1 parent from the MFIP benefits. See 18.18.3 (Employed).	Single-parent standard: 30 hours a week – at least 25 of those hours must be in employment.
One parent is extended but the other parent is not and only the extended parent is working.	Single-parent standard: 30 hours a week – at least 25 of those hours must be in employment.
One parent is extended, but the other parent is not and both parents are working.	Two-parent family standard: 55 hours a week – at least 45 of those hours must be in employment.