District Of Columbia § 4-201.01 - Definitions.
Full text of District Of Columbia D.C. Code § 4-201.01 — Definitions., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 4-201.01. Definitions.
4-201.01For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
Repealed.
“Adult” means a person who is not a minor.
“Assistance unit” means all individuals whose needs, income and resources are considered in determining eligibility for, and the amount of, public assistance.
“Caretaker relative” means a relative by blood, half-blood, or legal adoption caring for a dependent child, who is a child’s parent, or, if a parent is not in the home exercising responsibility for the care and control of the dependent child, the child’s sibling; aunt; uncle; first cousin; first cousin once removed; second cousin; nephew; niece; grandparent; step-parent; step-sibling; relative of a preceding generation as denoted by prefixes of grand-, great-, great-great-, or great-great-great-; or the spouse of a parent or other relative listed in this paragraph, even after the marriage is terminated by death or divorce.
Repealed.
“Council” means the Council of the District of Columbia.
“Department” means the Department of Human Services of the District of Columbia, or any successor organizational unit (in whole or in part).
“District” means the District of Columbia government.
“GAC” means the General Assistance for Children program established by .
Repealed.
“Head of assistance unit” means:
The adult parent of a minor child, if both are part of the same single-parent assistance unit;
The principal household income earner or the nonincapacitated parent in a two-parent assistance unit, if that person is an adult parent of a minor child, and the parent and child are part of the same assistance unit;
A caretaker relative residing with, and providing care for, a minor child, if the caretaker relative and child are part of the same assistance unit; or
A minor parent of a minor child, if the parent and child are part of the same assistance unit and there are no adults in the assistance unit.
“Mayor” means the Mayor of the District of Columbia or the agents, agencies, officers, and employees designated by him or her to perform any function vested in them by this chapter.
“Minor” means a person who is:
Less than 18 years of age; or
Less than 19 years of age and is a full-time student in a secondary school (or in the equivalent level of vocational or technical training).
“Parent” means a child’s natural or adoptive parent.
“Parent who is the principal household income earner” means whichever parent, in a home in which both parents of a minor child are living, earned the greater amount of income in a 24-month period, the last month of which immediately preceded the month in which a TANF application was filed.
“POWER” means the Program on Work, Employment, and Responsibility established by .
“Public assistance” means payment in or by money, medical care, remedial care, goods or services to, or for the benefit of, needy persons.
“Recipient” means a person to whom or on whose behalf public assistance is granted.
“State” means each of the states of the United States. The term “state” includes Puerto Rico, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands.
“Stepparent” means a person who is living in the home of a minor child for whom TANF or POWER is requested, and who is legally married to the natural or adoptive parent of the child.
“TANF” means the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program established by .
“IV-D agency” means the organizational unit, or any successor organizational unit (in whole or in part), that is responsible for administering or supervising the administration of the District’s State Plan under title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act, approved January 4, 1975 (88 Stat. 2351; 42 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.), pertaining to paternity establishment and the establishment, modification, and enforcement of child support orders and certain spousal support orders (those in which the spouse or former spouse is living with a child for whom the spousal support obligor also owes support).
Annotations
Applicability of : Section 11001 of provided that, except as otherwise provided, the act shall apply as of October 1, 2013.
Self-Sufficiency Promotion Amendment Act of 1998: provided that the Public Assistance Temporary Amendment Act of 1998, effective July 24, 1998 (; 45 DCR 3084), any other regulations and procedures governing existing programs in the District of Columbia Public Assistance Act of 1982, effective April 6, 1982 (; D.C. Code et seq.), and any regulations and procedures promulgated pursuant to the Self-Sufficiency Promotion Emergency Amendment Act of 1998, effective June 9, 1998 (Act 12-372; 45 DCR 4270), the Self-Sufficiency Promotion Legislative Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1998, effective July 31, 1998 (Act 12-425; 45 DCR 5682), or the Self-Sufficiency Promotion Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 shall remain in effect until superseded by regulations and procedures developed and implemented pursuant to the Self-Sufficiency Promotion Amendment Act of 1998.
Application of Law 12-60: Section 2002 of provided that the act shall apply as of October 1, 1997.
Source: official District Of Columbia text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About District Of Columbia § 4-201.01
What does D.C. Code § 4-201.01 cover?
Section 4-201.01 ("Definitions.") is part of the D.C. Code, the codified statutory law of District Of Columbia. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite District Of Columbia § 4-201.01?
A common citation format is "D.C. Code § 4-201.01" (District Of Columbia). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of District Of Columbia law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the District Of Columbia official source linked on this page or consult a licensed District Of Columbia attorney.
How does District Of Columbia § 4-201.01 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia.