(a) A participant must meet the following requirements:

1. (1) Be employed at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the Arkansas Work Pays Program application;
2. (2) Have care and custody of a related minor child, including family cap child (20 CAR § 502-323(b)) and child receiving Supplemental Security Income;
3. (3) Be a resident of the State of Arkansas;

4. (4)

   1. (A) Meet the citizenship or alienage requirement.
   2. (B) Refer to 20 CAR § 502-407;
5. (5) Apply for the Arkansas Work Pays Program within six (6) months of transitional employment assistance (TEA) case closure;

6. (6)

   1. (A) Received TEA cash assistance for at least three (3) months, including months of deferral.
   2. (B) These months do not have to be consecutive.
   3. (C) Months from other states do not count;
7. (7) Have not received more than twelve (12) months of Arkansas Work Pays Program benefits;

8. (8) Meet work hours requirement:

   1. (A) For initial eligibility:

(i) Was engaged in paid work activities for a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours per week; and

1. (ii) Met the federal participation rate for the past month; and

   1. (B) For ongoing eligibility, must:

      1. (i) Be in paid work activities for a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours per week; and
      2. (ii) Meet the federal participation requirement for one (1) of the past three (3) months and for at least three (3) of the past six (6) months;

2. (9)

   1. (A) Have income below one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the federal poverty level for the family size, including Supplemental Security Income and family cap children.
   2. (B) Supplemental Security Income and family cap children are counted in the household size when determining federal poverty level (FPL), even if they are not part of the budget unit.

   3. (C) Note.

      1. (i) Stepparents with no child in common are not part of the Arkansas Work Pays Program budget unit.
      2. (ii) Therefore, the income of the stepparent is disregarded;
3. (10) Comply with the Arkansas Work Pays Personal Responsibility Agreement;
4. (11) Comply with Office of Child Support Enforcement of the Revenue Division of the Department of Finance and Administration requirements, including assignment of support and cooperation in establishing paternity and/or support unless good cause exists; and
5. (12) Comply with drug screening and testing requirements.