An individual who is exempt may volunteer to participate (work requirement code of “W” and an exemption code). The volunteer has the same requirements as mandatory participants. If at any time the volunteer is unable to fulfill the work requirements, s/he may stop participating and resume an exempt status without a sanction of Temporary Assistance benefits.
Participants who are determined to have no condition or barrier that would allow an exemption or exclusion are mandatory to participate in work requirements activities (work requirement indicator of “D”) and are referred to Missouri Work Assistance (MWA) program for employment and training services.
NOTE: Teen parents who are not the head-of- household are NOT referred to MWA.
Once an individual is referred to MWA as a mandatory participant, refer to Appendix N - REFERRAL PROCESS TO MISSOURI WORK ASSISTANCE (MWA) PROGRAM for information on MWA referral process and participant changes in circumstances while they are participating in the MWA program.