1. (a)

   1. (1) Beginning April 1, 2024, a family who meets all the eligibility requirements may receive transitional employment assistance (TEA) cash assistance benefits for a period of up to twelve (12) months.
   2. (2) The twelve (12) months do not have to be consecutive months.
   3. (3) The months counted are based on receipt by the adult recipient or head of household minor parent.

2. (b) The time limit does not apply:

   1. (1) To cases in which the only parent in the home, or both parents if both are living in the home, receives Supplemental Security Income benefits, and therefore, no adult is included in the case;
   2. (2) In the months in which an individual is deferred or exempt from work activity participation; or

   3. (3)

      1. (A) In the months in which an under the age of eighteen (18) non-head of household minor parent receives cash assistance.
      2. (B) The count will begin when the minor reaches eighteen (18) years of age.

3. (b)

   1. (1) The time limit applies to nonparent caretakers’ relatives only when such relatives choose to be included in the TEA payment with the child.
   2. (2) If a nonparent relative is a payee only, then the time limit does not apply to the case.
4. (c) The time a child receives assistance will not count toward his or her time limit when he or she becomes an adult.

5. (d)

   1. (1) Payments made by another state under a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program count toward the twelve-month limit in Arkansas if the adult has received more than forty-eight (48) such payments in another state.
   2. (2) Only the payments from another state in quantity that is in excess of forty-eight (48) will count toward Arkansas’s twelve-month limit.

6. (e)

   1. (1) Diversion Assistance payments also count toward the twelve-month limit if not repaid.
   2. (2) See 20 CAR § 502-309.
7. (f) Note. A client may request case closure at any time during receipt of assistance.

8. (g)

   1. (1) During periodic contacts, the Program Eligibility Specialist will inform the client of the number of months of TEA eligibility remaining.
   2. (2) The Program Eligibility Specialist should continue to stress to the client the importance of employment because of the time limit.

9. (h)

   1. (1) The Program Eligibility Specialist will explain to the recipient what action will be taken once the twelve-month time limit has been reached.
   2. (2) Refer to 20 CAR § 502-1302 for termination procedures.
   3. (3) The Program Eligibility Specialist will advise that the TEA case be closed unless it is determined that an extension, or exemption from the time limit, should be granted (see 20 CAR § 502-912).

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: “04/01/24”