Types of JOBS Supportive Services 400-19-65-15

(Revised 1/1/11 ML #3246)

View Archives

 

 

  1. Care of Incapacitated Household Members - Assistance in the purchase of care for an incapacitated or disabled member of the participant's household to whom the JOBS participant owes a legal duty to provide care may be approved, provided:
  1. There is no other individual in the household who can provide the care; and
  2. The incapacitated or disabled household member cannot provide self-care.

The cost must be negotiated with the provider.  The amount paid must be the actual costs incurred but cannot exceed $480.00 per month per incapacitated or disabled household member. Payment for these expenses is made to the vendor utilizing the Vendor Payment process.

  1. Child Care Expense - Assistance with child care expenses is made available to allow referred individuals to participate in approved work activities or self-initiated educational activities. Child care expenses paid through the Child Care Assistance (CCAP) program must be processed based on the rules of that program with the exception that payment will be made at 100% of the allowable expenses. (Refer to the Child Care Assistance Manual Chapter 400-26.)

Allowable activities of the parent or caretaker include paid employment, education/training, and/or any approved JOBS or Tribal NEW activities. Child care expenses may be paid through the Child Care Assistance (CCA) Program at 100% of allowable costs for a TANF recipient who is meeting the requirements of JOBS or Tribal NEW and who incurs costs while engaged in other self initiated activities, including school/training.  

Note: A participant who is engaged in paid employment may choose to have their child care costs treated as an expense rather than reimbursed through the CCA Program. TANF households who choose to use that disregard and who also incur child care expenses for non-employment activities may have the non-employment expenses paid through the CCA Program. However, the amount paid through the CCA Program when combined with the disregard amount cannot exceed the monthly maximum allowable amount per child per provider per month.

 

Child care for required JOBS activities or self-initiated educational activities may be allowed for any child living within the household as long as the participant is responsible for the care of that child and no other legally responsible adult residing in home is available or capable to provide the care (ineligible parent or legal guardian).

Note: Child care for SSI or Benefit Cap children whose parent/caretaker is in TANF must be paid for in the Child Care Assistance Program.

 

Child care expenses for months in which a TANF case is suspended will continue to be processed as if a TANF benefit had been paid. If the child care was not allowed as an expense, it can be paid for two months prior to and the month of suspension.

Example: The TANF benefit is suspended for April due to the receipt of extra check. Child Care for February and April may be paid at 100% of the allowable maximum rate.

 

When an individual is participating in Tribal NEW and incurs child care expenses, those expenses can be paid through the State or Tribal Child Care Assistance Program. TANF Eligibility Workers need to ensure that payment of these expenses is not made by both programs.

  1. Housing/Shelter Assistance - Housing/shelter assistance may be used to pay rent or mortgage, a deposit on a rental unit, utility bills to avoid a shut-off or costs to resume service after a shut-off and must be the payer of last resort. Payment of rent can be made for two months prior to the month of application, the month of application, and one month following the month of application provided the family did not receive TANF in the month prior to the month of application. The family must be able to demonstrate that they will be able to sustain payment of these expenses for future months. (The income remaining after subtracting other expenses must be sufficient to pay the housing/shelter expenses without additional assistance.)

Note: Refer to Job Readiness Assistance (below) for assistance relating to utility shut-offs for ongoing cases.

 

All requests for assistance with housing/shelter expenses must be submitted to the State TANF/JOBS policy staff for approval.  The request must include the calculation for sustainability. Hard copy verification of the expense is required from the family before a payment may be made.

NOTE: Payment of rent or mortgage expenses through supportive services is temporary in nature and not considered subsidized housing.

 

Payments for Housing/Shelter expenses cannot exceed actual costs and are made to the vendor utilizing the Vendor Payment process. (See Section 400-19-65-35, Vendor Payment Process.)

  1. Job Readiness Assistance - Job readiness assistance is intended to reimburse participants expenses associated with their preparation for work.  Assistance may only be approved by the JOBS Employment Contractor and only when the expenses are necessary to help the individual achieve their employment goals.

Job readiness assistance may be used to reimburse:

  1. Expenses related to the participant’s purchase of employment related clothing;
  2. Expenses for obtaining a drivers license or reinstatement of a driver license;
  3. Expenses for utility bills in an ongoing case which are pre-approved by State TANF/JOBS Policy staff, when there is the threat of a utility shut-off; and
  4. Other expenses determined by the JOBS Employment Contractor to be reasonable and necessary for employment interviews including transportation, lodging, grooming and clothing.

Job readiness assistance may not be used to pay a participant’s fines.

Example: Job readiness assistance may not be used to pay an individual’s speeding tickets or a DUI fine. It could, however, be used to pay the registration fee for a DUI seminar or a defensive driver’s class that the individual is required to attend prior to re-instatement of the individual’s drivers license.

 

Job readiness assistance may be used to help cover the cost of phone installation charges but may not be used to pay delinquent phone bills. Participants should contact their local telephone company to apply for the Link Up and Lifeline telephone assistance programs.

 

The Link Up program can reduce an eligible individual’s initial charges to hookup primary telephone service by up to 50 percent. The Lifeline program can reduce an individual’s monthly phone bill for local service.

 

Persons qualified for TANF, SNAP, LIHEAP, or Medicaid are eligible for the Link Up or Lifeline programs if the service is made available by the local telephone company.

 

For additional information regarding the Link Up and Lifeline programs, please refer to:

OR

 

Job Readiness Assistance cannot exceed actual costs, up to a maximum of $250 per participant, per state fiscal year (July 1 through June 30). Payment for these expenses is made to the vendor utilizing the Vendor Payment process.

  1. License, Certification, and Examination Fees - Assistance with professional license, certification, or examinations fees may be allowed when necessary for the participant to become employed, where there is no other available source of funding (including fee waivers), and the professional license or examination is necessary to achieve an employment-related goal.  

License, certification, and examination fee assistance is limited to a maximum of $150 per participant, per state fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) and cannot exceed actual costs.  Payment for these expenses is made to the vendor utilizing the Vendor Payment process.

  1. Relocation Assistance - Relocation assistance may be provided to a JOBS participant if:
  1. The individual has a bona fide offer of employment, verified by the JOBS Employment Contractor, which will increase the individual’s potential for increased earnings, job advancement, or permanent employment; or
  2. The individual requests and receives approval from the JOBS Employment Contractor to move from an area of the state with few employment opportunities to another area of the state (or out of state) with greater employment opportunities.  

The relocation should be accomplished in the most economical manner possible taking into consideration the physical abilities of the participant and the participant’s family.  In most instances, the use of a rental truck or van would be preferred to accomplish the relocation.

 

The participant is responsible to provide the following documentation to the JOBS Employment Contractor to justify the proposed relocation expenses:

  1. Two estimates of the household moving cost, if utilizing a moving company;
  2. An estimate for the use of a non-commercial personal vehicle; and
  3. A letter from the employer confirming the individual’s employment start date and beginning wage if the relocation request is based on an offer of employment.

 

The JOBS Employment Contractor must agree that the relocation will increase the individual’s potential for becoming employed, obtaining higher wages, job advancement, or permanent employment.

 

The plan must be approved prior to any expenses being incurred.  Expense reimbursement may include but is not limited to:

  1. Transportation of household goods via the most economical source;
  2. Transportation costs including fuel and other mileage related costs;
  3. Relocation of a mobile home; and
  4. Security deposits and utility hook-up expenses such as gas, electricity, rent, water, sewer, garbage, and telephone.

Relocation assistance cannot exceed actual costs, up to a maximum of $1000 per household, per state fiscal year, (July 1 through June 30).   Payment for these expenses is made to the vendor utilizing the Vendor Payment process.

  1. Tools for Employment - Assistance for the purchase of tools and/or equipment required for a participant to accept or retain employment may be provided to participants in the JOBS program. The tools become the property of the participant. If the tools are subsequently lost or stolen, the individual is responsible for the costs of their replacement.  

Tools for Employment assistance cannot exceed actual costs, up to a maximum of $150 per participant, per state fiscal year (July 1 through June 30). Payment for these expenses is made to the vendor utilizing the Vendor Payment process.

  1. Transportation Assistance - Transportation assistance not exceeding $125.00 per month may be paid to a JOBS or Tribal NEW participant in orientation, assessment, a self-initiated educational activity, or any approved work activity including paid employment.

Transportation assistance may be utilized for monthly transportation expenses for the JOBS participant’s private vehicle, public transportation passes, cab fares, or rides provided through an informal arrangement.

 

Transportation assistance may be utilized to pay fees or fines which prevent an individual from legally operating a vehicle.  Allowable fees may include a reinstatement fee on a suspended license, registration fee for a DUI seminar, defensive driver’s class required prior to reinstatement of a driver’s license, driver’s license exam fee, and vehicle insurance, license, or titles.  

 

Traffic fines and DUI fines may be paid at the discretion of the JOBS Employment Contractor provided the individual demonstrates the ability to contribute in paying a portion of the fine.  The portion of the fine to be paid by the individual will be determined by the JOBS Employment Contractor.  

 

Once an individual's TANF case has been authorized as TANF eligible and the individual is participating in JOBS, the JOBS Employment Contractor is responsible to determine the participant’s anticipated transportation needs and to document the anticipated need on the Employability Plan. Any changes in the participant’s anticipated transportation needs should be communicated to TANF Eligibility Worker in writing.

Note: Once a transportation assistance payment has been issued to an individual, overpayments are not to be established.

 

This same process is to be followed by Tribal NEW if the Tribal NEW participant will be receiving transportation assistance through the county/state.  

 

If transportation assistance is based on mileage, a monthly stipend or flat amount is not allowed.  Instead, a mileage calculation must be identified on the Employability Plan. Transportation assistance based on mileage is calculated by multiplying the number of actual or estimated miles required to support the individual’s approved work activity and a self-initiated educational activity by $0.45, the current reimbursement rate for travel under the TANF program.

 

When public transportation or informal transportation arrangements are used, the participant must review their transportation needs and plan with the JOBS Employment Contractor. If appropriate, the JOBS Employment Contractor will approve the individual's plan.

 

Payments for Transportation Assistance are issued to the recipients via the TANF ReliaCard or are paid to the vendor utilizing the Vendor Payment process.

 

Advance Transportation Assistance Payments

The TANF Eligibility Worker shall not provide a transportation assistance payment to an individual who is being referred to JOBS/Tribal NEW until the individual’s case has been approved, unless the TANF Eligibility Worker or JOBS Employment Contractor determines that an individual would be unable to participate without receiving transportation assistance.

Note: The TANF Eligibility Worker may decide not to allow another Transportation assistance payment to the individual until the outstanding sanction is cured.

When a TANF Eligibility Worker determines the need for an advance transportation payment, the TANF Eligibility Worker is to inform the JOBS Employment Contractor or Tribal NEW Coordinator that an advance payment was made.

  1. Tuition Assistance - Reimbursement for expenses associated with approved or self-initiated training, including the cost of books, tuition and fees, provided:
  1. Other educational funding sources, including grants and scholarships, have been explored and are exhausted; and
  2. The participant is eligible for TANF benefits.

Tuition Assistance may not be allowed during periods when an individual is not eligible for financial aid as a result of their actions or inactions. Employment Contractors may contact State TANF policy for guidance in these situations.

 

The participant must submit a copy of the financial aid award and an itemized listing of costs for tuition, books, and fees.

 

Tuition assistance cannot exceed actual costs, up to a maximum of $1000 per participant, per state fiscal year (July 1 through June 30). Payment for these expenses is made to the vendor utilizing the Vendor Payment process.

  1. Vehicle Repair and Insurance - Assistance for necessary vehicle repairs and insurance for basic liability coverage may be provided to participants in the JOBS program and approved by the JOBS Employment Contractor.

Vehicle insurance for basic liability coverage not to exceed one-fourth of the annual premium may be paid to the insurance provider.

 

The purchase of tires, wheel alignments, or other repairs considered essential for the safe operation of a vehicle may be approved, though normal maintenance such as oil changes, tune-ups, or nonessential vehicle repairs are not allowed.

 

The costs for repairs must be reasonable and necessary to return a participant's vehicle to operable condition.  The JOBS Employment Contractor may request additional information to justify the need for repair, including two estimates.

 

The vehicle:

  1. Must be registered to a mandatory member of the household; and
  2. Must be covered by basic liability insurance; and
  3. Must be needed by the participant to engage in an approved work activity; and
  4. Must be in good general condition and the value of the vehicle justifies repairs.

Note: JOBS Supportive Services may not be used to purchase a vehicle.

 

Vehicle repair and insurance cannot exceed actual costs, up to a maximum of $500 for a state fiscal year (July 1 through June 30).  Payment for these expenses is paid to the vendor utilizing the Vendor Payment process.

 

Following closure of a TANF case, the individual may continue to be eligible for Post-TANF Supportive Services. (See Section 400-19-155, Post TANF Supportive Services.)

 

For information about supportive services available to Tribal NEW participants, please see Section 400-19-80-50, Tribal NEW Supportive Services.

 

For information about providing supportive services to an individual who chooses to participate in JOBS/Tribal NEW pending the outcome of a Fair Hearing, please see Section 400-19-125-15, Requesting a Fair hearing – JOBS Sanction.