44:10-72. Time limit on eligibility for benefits

2. a. Effective no later than the 30th day after the date of enactment of this act, a recipient's eligibility for benefits shall be limited to a total of 60 cumulative months, except as otherwise provided in this act, regardless of whether the recipient meets more than one assistance unit criteria during that 60-month period. Receipt of assistance from federal block grant funds for temporary assistance for needy families provided by another state or territory pursuant to the federal "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-193, shall count towards the 60-month time limit. Receipt of benefits as a dependent child or minor parent shall not count towards the 60-month time limit in the event that the dependent child or minor parent becomes a head of household in the child's or parent's own right for the purposes of receiving benefits.

b. A recipient shall be exempted from the 60-month time limit established pursuant to subsection a. of this section if the recipient is:

(1) over 60 years of age;

(2) the parent or other relative of a disabled child or other disabled dependent who must provide full-time care for the disabled child or other disabled dependent;

(3) permanently disabled, including, but not limited to, a person eligible for disability insurance benefits under Title II of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.s.401 et seq.), as defined by regulation of the commissioner; or

(4) chronically unemployable as defined by regulation of the commissioner.

c. A recipient may receive an extension of no more than 12 cumulative months beyond the 60-month time limit established pursuant to subsection a. of this section, to be granted in increments that shall not exceed six months, if the commissioner determines that the recipient meets one of the following criteria:

(1) the recipient or the recipient's dependent child would be subject to extreme hardship or incapacity, as defined by regulation of the commissioner, in the event of a termination of benefits;

(2) the recipient is engaged in full-time employment but remains eligible for benefits due to earned income disregards provided for under section 4 of P.L.1997, c.13 (C.44:10-37);

(3) the recipient has not received an opportunity to engage in work activities as specified in the individual responsibility plan pursuant to subsection f. of section 8 of P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-62); or

(4) the recipient was engaged in full-time employment and was income-ineligible for benefits but was terminated from the employment through no fault of the recipient.

d. The provisions of this section shall apply to a person who receives general public assistance pursuant to P.L.1947, c.156 (C.44:8-107 et seq.) after the effective date of this act and is subsequently transferred directly into the Work First New Jersey program.

L.1997,c.37,s.2.