PURPOSE: This rule establishes the Transitional Employment Benefit. This rule also establishes the circumstances when a family is eligible for the Transitional Employment Benefit payment and the length of time a family qualifies for the Transitional Employment Benefit payment.

1. (1) The Family Support Division shall make payable a fifty-dollar ($50) Transitional Employment Benefit payment to families with earned income who are no longer eligible for Temporary Assistance benefits as defined in 13 CSR 40-2.300 through 13 CSR 40-2.370 due to an increase in income, removal of an earnings disregard or an allowable expense deduction, or a household composition change which causes ineligibility due to income guidelines for Temporary Assistance provided—

   1. (A) The family received Temporary Assistance cash benefits for at least one (1) month;
   2. (B) There is a work-eligible individual, as defined in 45 CFR 261.10, included in the family;

   3. (C) Work-eligible individuals in the family continue to meet the minimum work participation hours as outlined in 42 USC 607.

      1. 1. Transitional Employment Benefit

work participation hours must be met through employment only. 13 CSR 40-2

1. 2. Work participation hours must be

reported and verified within ten (10) days of the Temporary Assistance case closing or change in employment;

1. (D) The family continues to meet all other eligibility requirements contained in 13 CSR 40-2.300 through 13 CSR 40-2.370 with the exception of income; and
2. (E) The family was eligible for and received Temporary Assistance in October 2008 or later.

1. (2) The family is eligible to receive the fiftydollar ($50) Transitional Employment Benefit payment for up to six (6) consecutive months as long as the family meets the requirements in subsections (1)(B) and (1)(C).

2. (3) There is no limit on the number of times a family may receive Transitional Employment Benefit payments as long as the family loses eligibility for Temporary Assistance as outlined in section (1).

   1. (A) The Transitional Employment Benefit is not included in the sixty (60)-month lifetime limit for Temporary Assistance as referenced in 42 USC 608.
3. (4) Families who receive Transitional Employment Benefits shall not assign to the Family Support Division on behalf of the state any rights to support from any other person on behalf of any member of the family.

AUTHORITY: section 207.020, RSMo 2000 and section 208.040.5, RSMo Supp. 2008.* Emergency rule filed Sept. 23, 2008, effective Oct. 3, 2008, expired March 31, 2009. Original rule filed Sept. 23, 2008, effective May 30, 2009.

*Original authority: 207.020, RSMo 1945, amended 1961, 1965, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1993 and 208.040, RSMo 1939, amended 1941, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1973, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1994, 1999, 2001.