Tenn. Code Ann. § 71-3-903: Self-employment profits not counted against public assistance benefits

Low-income entrepreneurs will be allowed to escrow profits from their business enterprise that are not reinvested into their business into an account, which will be placed in a micro-lending intermediary program and not be counted against their public assistance benefits until they accumulate five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the period they are eligible for the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) or successor program. Under this provision, participating entrepreneurs, who are otherwise eligible for TANF, or successor program, will not have their benefits reduced and will not lose the supplemental benefits extended to them as TANF, or successor program, recipients for the life of the escrow account as defined in this section. Participants must notify the department of human services in advance of their decision to elect this option.