(b)

1. (1) Prior to approving assistance for the repair of a vehicle, it must be determined that the vehicle is worth repairing.

2. (2) To ensure this, the local office will:

   1. (A) Require two (2) quotes of the cost of the repair;
   2. (B) Determine the value of the vehicle; and
   3. (C)

(i) Determine that the repair costs do not exceed the vehicle's value by fifty percent (50%) or a total of one thousand dollars ($1,000) maximum.

1. (ii) Exception. If the quoted cost of repairs exceed the vehicle’s value by fifty percent (50%) or one thousand dollars ($1,000), the participant may receive assistance with the repair cost up to the maximum amounts if the participant pays for the difference and provides a receipt to the Program Eligibility Specialist verifying the additional cost has been paid by the participant prior to approval of the assistance.

   1. (c) In addition, the participant and the provider must meet the requirements in the following subsections.

      1. (d) Participant requirements.
2. (1) Assistance for the repair of a TEA participant’s or former participant’s vehicle may be approved provided all of the following requirements are met.

3. (2) The participant must:

   1. (A) Be a current TEA participant who is a mandatory work participant who is unable to begin or continue to participate in a specific work activity due to transportation problems or an employed former participant whose TEA cash assistance case was closed due to employment within the past twelve (12) months;
   2. (B) Provide proof of a valid driver license;
   3. (C) Provide proof of liability insurance; and
   4. (D) Pay the first twenty-five dollars ($25.00) of the repair cost.

(e) Vendor requirements.

1. (1)

   1. (A) The participant should be allowed to choose where he or she wishes to have the vehicle repaired.
   2. (B) However, the provider selected must be willing to meet the following requirements.

2. (2) The vendor must:

   1. (A) Warrant the repairs in writing for thirty (30) days;
   2. (B) Provide a written quote in advance of authorization;
   3. (C) Not begin repair work on the vehicle until written authorization is provided by the Program Eligibility Specialist; and
   4. (D) Agree to Department of Human Services billing procedures.

3. (3)

   1. (A) Once the TEA-1400 has been approved, the Program Eligibility Specialist can approve repairs to the vehicle.
   2. (B) The Program Eligibility Specialist will send a TEA-1427, Provider Service Authorization, to the provider showing approval has been given for repairs.
   3. (C) The provider will at this time submit the TEA-187, Billing/Routing Sheet, and company invoice for payment approval.