20 CAR § 503-218 – Extended support services job retention

(a)
1. (1) Those participants who become ineligible for continued transitional employment assistance (TEA) cash assistance benefits due to employment may receive, during the twelve-month period following case closure, cash payments for the purpose of enabling the participant to retain his or her job.
2. (2) The participant must show that there is an immediate job-related need that, if not resolved, will result in the termination of his or her job.
3. (3) In addition, there must be no other local resources available to meet the need.
4. (4) All extended support services (ESS) job retention services must be preapproved.
(b)
1. (1) The amount of the payment will be the actual amount needed to resolve the job-related need.
2. (2) If the payment exceeds two hundred dollars ($200), the local office manager must submit written justification prior to keying to WISE.
3. (3) To do so, the local office manager must complete a written justification and email or fax to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Policy Unit of the Department of Human Services.
(c) The ESS job retention payment will not count toward the participant’s maximum twelve-month limit.
(d) The following are examples of situations in which a former participant would need assistance in retaining a job. Example 1: Ms. Smith started to work in July 1998, and her TEA case closed in December. Ms. Smith is still employed in February 1999. However, her car has broken down and is in need of repairs in order for her to continue to work. All other resources have been exhausted, and her case closed within the prior twelve (12) months. In this instance, Ms. Smith may receive an extended support service job retention payment to repair her car. Example 2: Mr. Jones has been employed since March, and his TEA case closed in September. Mr. Jones has not received any assistance for the past eleven (11) months. In order for this former participant to remain employed, he must purchase a special type of uniform. Mr. Jones states that after his expenses are met, he has very little or nothing left over for extras. All other local resources have been exhausted. In this instance, Mr. Jones may be paid an extended support services job retention payment to purchase the special uniform.
(e)
1. (1) Although more than one (1) job retention payment may be made during the twelve-month period, Program Eligibility Specialists should be alert to situations in which a participant requests multiple payments throughout the year.
2. (2) Job retention payments should not become a substitute for regular cash assistance payments or be viewed as an additional year of cash assistance.
(f) Prior to authorizing any job retention payment, it must be clearly established that:
1. (1) A job-related need exists; and
2. (2) Failure to meet that need will most likely result in the participant's job being terminated.
(g) In addition, job retention payments may not be used to provide ongoing assistance with basic needs such as rent or utilities since that type of assistance must be counted for purposes of the time limit.
(h) Job retention payments will be authorized through the WISE reimbursement system using the close override feature.