(a) The commission may provide financial assistance under this chapter only in accordance with the time limits specified by this section. The executive commissioner by rule may provide for exceptions to these time limits if severe personal hardship or community economic factors prevent the recipient from obtaining employment or if the state is unable to provide support services.
(b) The commission shall limit financial assistance and transitional benefits in accordance with the following schedule:
(1) financial assistance is limited to a cumulative total of 12 months and transitional benefits are limited to 12 months if the person receiving financial assistance on behalf of a dependent child has:
(A) a high school diploma, a high school equivalency certificate, or a certificate or degree from a two-year or four-year institution of higher education or technical or vocational school; or
(B) recent work experience of 18 months or more;
(2) financial assistance is limited to a cumulative total of 24 months and transitional benefits are limited to 12 months if the person receiving financial assistance on behalf of a dependent child has:
(A) completed three years of high school; or
(B) recent work experience of not less than six or more than 18 months; and
(3) financial assistance is limited to a cumulative total of 36 months and transitional benefits of 12 months if the person receiving financial assistance on behalf of a dependent child has:
(A) completed less than three years of high school; and
(B) less than six months of work experience.

(c) If the recipient has completed less than three years of high school and has less than six months work experience, the commission shall perform an in-depth assessment of the needs of that person and that person’s family. If the recipient cooperates with the commission’s assessment, the time period prescribed by Subsection (b)(3) begins on the first anniversary of the date on which the commission completes the assessment, as determined by the commission.
(d) The computation of time limits under Subsection (b) begins when the adult or teen parent recipient receives notification in accordance with the procedures under § 31.012(b) of the availability of an opening in and eligibility for a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families employment program established under Part A, Subchapter IV, Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.).
(e) In implementing the time-limited benefits program, the commission:
(1) shall provide that a participant in the program may reapply with the commission for financial assistance on or after the fifth anniversary of the date on which the participant is totally disqualified from receiving assistance because of the application of Subsection (b); and
(2) shall establish the criteria for determining what constitutes severe personal hardship under Subsection (a).
(f) If the commission is imposing time-limited benefits on an individual, the commission shall consider:
(1) the assessment of the individual’s need that was conducted by the commission, provided that if the needs assessment indicates discrepancies between a client’s self-reported educational level and the client’s functional abilities, the time limits shall be based upon the functional educational level; and
(2) the prevailing economic and employment conditions in the area of the state where the individual resides.