0242.000.00 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE DIVERSION REQUIREMENTS

0242.005.00 Legal Basis

The Strengthening Missouri Families Act (Senate Bill 24, 2015) created the Temporary Assistance Diversion (TA Diversion) program.

RSMo 208.040.5(6) established the eligibility guidelines for the TA Diversion program.

0242.010.00 TA Diversion Eligibility

To qualify for a TA Diversion payment, a participant must be determined eligible for TA cash benefits. A TA Diversion payment is defined as a single lump sum payment equal to the maximum benefit based on the household size for a two or three month period.

Example: Lynn Allen applies for TA for herself and her two children. During the phone interview, the eligibility specialist explains the TA Diversion program. Lynn determines that she only needs assistance to get her car fixed so she can return to work. The estimate by the mechanic is $575. Lynn can accomplish this with two months' worth of TA benefits. The TA Diversion payment for her family household size is: $584 ($292 for a 3 person household x 2 months)

A participant is not eligible for TA Diversion if an adult in the participant's household has reached his or her TA cash benefit lifetime limit.

0242.010.05 Good Cause Reasons for TA Diversion

A participant requesting a diversion payment is eligible to receive a payment only if the participant establishes good cause for one of the following reasons:

• An involuntary loss of employment, as demonstrated by a written notice from the TA participant's previous employer, unless the division determines that the participant:
  • Voluntarily quit a job; or
  • Was terminated for poor job performance, or for failure to meet a condition of employment; or
• A catastrophic illness or accident that leaves the participant unable to work temporarily or permanently, as demonstrated by a statement from a licensed medical professional. The participant shall produce a copy of medical records and a written report from a licensed medical professional, on letterhead, providing the medical diagnosis, along with any supporting medical tests and examinations that establish the medical condition and the expected duration of the medical condition. If the participant has been determined disabled by a state or federal disability determination process, a written notice from such agency shall be acceptable documentation; or
• The participant is a victim of an incident of domestic violence, as defined by section 455.010(5), RSMo., or of human trafficking, as defined by section 566.200(16), RSMo., that is documented by either a written self-attestation, police reports, ex parte order, or other orders or judgments issued by a court; or
• An employed participant is unable to care for the basic needs of his or her family due to an emergency or other event, including but not limited to:
  • An involuntary reduction in wages, as documented through pay stubs or an employer statement, to the extent that the participant qualifies for TA even though he or she is still employed; or
  • The participant temporarily loses access to adequate transportation to work or school beyond the control of the participant with no readily accessible alternate means of transportation. The participant shall produce documentation of the loss of transportation by documents such as police reports, insurance claims, repair estimates, documentation of bus route changes, towing bills, or other evidence supporting this claim; or
  • The participant temporarily loses access to child care as documented through a statement from the childcare provider, or other evidence supporting this claim; or
  • The participant has temporarily been deprived of shelter, electricity, water, heating and/or cooling, or food due to circumstances beyond the control of the participant caused by intentional or negligent acts or due to a man-made or natural disaster. The participant shall produce documentation of the event such as police reports, insurance claims, repair estimates, or other evidence supporting this claim; or
  • A temporary financial hardship caused by natural or accidental death or the catastrophic illness of a household member, or a parent or sibling of a household member, including half or step-siblings; or
  • Any other event that a Program Administrator or their designee determines warrants good cause, and that is supported by documentation establishing the occurrence of the event.

2042.015.00 TA Diversion Lifetime Limit

Months in which a participant receives a payment under the TA Diversion program do not count toward the TA cash benefit lifetime limit.

A participant can only receive a total of five (5) TA Diversion program payments in his or her lifetime as a parent, guardian, or caretaker relative in a TA Diversion household. This limit includes payments from diversion programs in other states or U.S. jurisdictions. It is important to inquire if a participant has received a diversion payment in another state.

2042.020.00 Frequency of TA Diversion Payments

An eligible participant cannot receive more than one diversion program payment during a twelve (12)-month period. The first month in determining the twelve (12)-month period is the month in which the TA Diversion payment was issued.

2042.025.00 Ineligibility for TA Cash Benefits Due to TA Diversion Payment

A participant who has received a TA Diversion payment cannot receive regular Temporary Assistance for the equivalent number of months the TA Diversion payment covered.

EXAMPLE: Joan Smith applied for and received a three month lump sum TA Diversion payment. Joan applied at the beginning of January and received a lump sum that spans January, February and March. The first month Joan is eligible for regular TA is April.

2042.030.00 Work Requirements

A participant applying for this program is not required to comply with the TA recipient work activity requirements.

A participant who is sanctioned for non-cooperation with the TA work activity requirements whose TA case was closed due to non-cooperation with the work activity requirements does not qualify for a Diversion payment until that sanction has ended. Refer to manual section 0210.015.55 for sanction policy.

2042.035.00 Method of Payment

The division shall issue a Diversion payment directly to the participant by electronic benefits transfer (EBT) only.

All rules and regulations that restrict use of TA cash benefits in certain locations and purchase of specific items also apply to TA Diversion benefit payments.