0290.000.00 LEVEL II & III SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
IM-#21, February 27, 2002
Provide or arrange supportive services needed by a participant to eliminate barriers to employment preparation activities or employment. Supportive services provided through FSD include case management, child care, transportation-related expenses, and work-related expenses. Explore available resources outside FSD for other requested services. Use the on-line resource directory to provide local information when making referrals. These resources may include, but are not limited to, drug and alcohol abuse organizations, crisis centers, shelters, utility assistance programs, counseling, health care information, housing, and legal aid.
0290.005.00 Transportation - Related Expense (TRE)
Individuals participating in component activities receive $5.00 per day for transportation costs to and from their activity site. TRE may also be provided for meetings with case managers. The maximum daily TRE payment of $10.00 may be obtained by traveling more than 45 miles one way to an activity. If an individual is participating in two different components and attending them on the same day, provide transportation of $5.00 per day. Participants who walk or carpool to their component also receive a transportation payment. In counties where bus passes are issued by case managers allow participants to select a bus pass or a daily transportation payment.
TRE payments are based on the participant's scheduled hours of attendance. If an individual's component activity is scheduled to be closed because of a break or holiday, DO NOT provide TRE payments.
TRE payments may be issued for up to 90 days after employment whether receiving Temporary Assistance or Medical Assistance for Families.
TRE 90 days starts the first day of the next month when employment is discovered by the agency. Discovered by the agency may be in the form of the individual reporting change, new hire match, collateral calls, etc.
NOTE: To assist with job retention, supportive services may be allowed again if employment is lost during or after a period of 90 days. However, once 90 days TRE is issued due to employment in an active Temporary Assistance or Medical Assistance for Families case, it will NOT be allowed again when the case is closed due to the removal of the 2/3 disregard. It continues to be important to offer case management while the individual is receiving Temporary Assistance.
If another agency or organization provides a transportation payment of $5.00 or more, DO NOT provide TRE. When another agency or organization pays less than $5.00 daily in TRE, FSD may supplement the payment to equal a total of $5.00 per day. Make entry on the JSSP screen.
If the Temporary Assistance case will close due to employment, refer to Section 0290.020.05 SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WHEN TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE IS CLOSED.
0290.010.00 Work - Related Expenses (WRE)
Make WRE payments for costs incurred by an individual which are deemed necessary to :
The maximum allowable WRE payment for any participant in a twelve month period is $350. WRE may be requested by the participant up to 12 months of becoming employed whether receiving Temporary Assistance or Medical Assistance for Families (MAF).
EXAMPLE: A participant began participation in July 2001. In October 2001, a $250 car repair was provided. In January 2002, a uniform and shoes costing $100 were provided. This individual cannot obtain additional WRE until October 2002, at which time she will be eligible for $250. She will be eligible for an additional $100 in January 2003.
Discuss with the participant the necessity of the expense. Ensure that the participant has exhausted all other resources before considering WRE. Determine the participant's capability to contribute to the expense. Expenses that can be paid include, but are not limited to, uniforms, clothing, shoes, tools, supplies, medical and dental expenses not covered by Medicaid, child care registration fees, application fee for Missouri Certificate of High School Equivalence (GED), and automobile repairs.
Automobile repairs are allowable on a vehicle owned by the participant or a member of the participant's Temporary Assistance group. The repairs must be necessary for the participant to travel to his/her work activity. Staff should consider the value of the vehicle in comparison to the cost of the repair.
Participants submit a Supportive Services Payment Request (IM-317) and receive approval by their case manager for work-related expenses prior to incurring the expense. In certain situations, the case manager will require an estimate of the expense to evaluate the appropriateness of the request, for example, car repairs.
Individuals participating in paid employment components (13 and/or 99) are eligible for WRE. (Refer to Section 0290.020.05 SERVICES WHEN TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE IS CLOSED and Section 0290.020.15 SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WHEN EMPLOYED AND TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE REMAINS OPEN 0290.020.20 SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WHEN EMPLOYED AND CHOOSES MAF ONLY).
The case manager can approve all WRE requests under $100. Prior Administrative/Supervisory approval is required in the following circumstances:
If child care registration fees are provided as a work-related expense, disregard this amount when calculating the $350 maximum.
EXAMPLE: A participant has used $350 WRE. Since these expenses included $50 in child care registration fees, the total WRE remaining in this 12 month period is $50.
Child care assistance is available to eligible participants. Refer to the Child Care manual for instructions on how to process an application, eligibility, and payment.
0290.020.00 Supportive Service Guidelines And Timeframes
0290.020.05 Supportive Services When Temporary Assistance Is Closed
In certain situations when a case is closed due to excessive income as a result of employment, transportation-related expenses, work-related expenses, and case management services can be provided for up to 90 days after the closing of the Temporary Assistance case. However, once 90 days TRE is issued due to employment in an active Temporary Assistance or Medical Assistance for Families case, it will not be allowed again when the case is closed due to the removal of the 2/3 disregard.
The case manager should examine each individual's circumstances to determine the continued need for transportation and work-related expenses. Factors to consider in making this determination may include, but are not limited to:
Child care assistance generally continues as long as the individual remains eligible under income guidelines. Continue to provide child care to be certain that there is no lapse in child care assistance while completing budget adjustments and notifying individuals of any changes related to their child care. Complete child care budget adjustments within 30 days.
The beginning date for providing up to 90 days supportive services (transportation-related expenses, work-related expenses, case management) is the date an individual becomes ineligible for Temporary Assistance. If the case manager is not responsible for the budget adjustment and closing, they will use the 10-10-10 rule to determine the date of ineligibility. The 10-10-10 rule allows a participant 10 days to report employment or other income, the case manager 10 days to verify the information, and the participant 10 days to request a hearing. An individual becomes ineligible on the last day of the month in which the 30th day falls.
EXAMPLE: If a participant begins employment on February 10, he/she has until February 20 to report the change. The case manager has until March 2 to take action on the case. If action is taken on March 2, the participant has until March 14 (the first working day after the adverse action notice expires) to request a hearing. The Temporary Assistance case will be closed on March 15. Temporary Assistance eligibility ends on March 31, the last day of the month. In this scenario, the 90 days supportive services begin April 1 and last until June 29.
All individuals who become employed following participation in or application for Temporary Assistance are eligible for up to 90 days supportive services.
0290.020.10 Supportive Services When Employed And Temporary Assistance Is Rejected
IM-#114, September 17, 2002
If an applicant obtains employment during Level I and the Temporary Assistance application is rejected, he/she is eligible for the following supportive services:
Pay these supportive services through the JSSP screen through the Work First Program. Component 07 or Component 13 must be open in JCAT to pay through the JSSP screen.
0290.020.15 Supportive Services When Employed And Temporary Assistance Remains Open
Provide transportation expenses for up to 90 days to individuals whose only activity is employment and they remain eligible for Temporary Assistance. Work related expenses to employed only individuals may be allowed for up to 12 months after becoming employed. TRE and WRE are provided to support an individual who is employed at the time of enrollment in case management services or who becomes employed while participating in case management services. Child care assistance is available to eligible households.
0290.020.20 Supportive Services When Employed and Chooses MAF Only
Provide transportation expenses for up to 90 days to individuals whose only activity is employment and they remain eligible for Medical Assistance for Families (MAF) to save months of assistance. Work related expenses to employed only individuals may be allowed up to 12 months after becoming employed. TRE and WRE are provided to support an individual who is employed. Child Care assistance is available to eligible households.
EXAMPLE: Sally is receiving Temporary Assistance of $292.00. She obtains a job at Eric's Trucking earning $7.13 per hour on June 7, 2001. Her cash grant will be reduced to $13.00 per month effective July 2001. Sally decides to save her months of assistance and chooses to receive MAF. Sally will receive 90 days TRE (July, August, and September 2001). Sally may request WRE until the end of the 12 months of becoming employed, June 2002.
If Sally is also attending Vocational Education & Training classes as well as working full-time, TRE will be issued for 90 days at $5.00 per day and WRE may be requested until the end of the 12 months of employment, June 2002. WRE payments will be issued on a Warrant Request (DBF-14).
0290.020.25 Supportive Services For On-The-Job Training (OJT) Participants Ineligible For Temporary Assistance
An individual enrolled in an On-the-Job (OJT) Training component remains a participant for the duration of the OJT assignment, even if eligibility for Temporary Assistance is lost. Provide up to 90 days supportive services for an individual in an OJT component at the time eligibility for Temporary Assistance is lost if there are 90 days or less remaining in the OJT assignment.
EXAMPLE: If a case manager is notified that an individual in a six month OJT assignment has lost eligibility for Temporary Assistance at the end of the fifth month of the OJT assignment, the individual remains eligible as a participant for one more month. In addition, the individual is eligible for two months of supportive services (transportation and work-related expenses) after enrollment in the OJT assignment ends, giving them a total of 90 days supportive services.
When an individual loses eligibility for Temporary Assistance and there are more than 90 days remaining in the OJT assignment, they will continue to receive TRE for 90 days. They will not receive an additional 90 days when the OJT assignment ends.
0290.020.30 Supportive Services For On-The-Job Training (OJT) Participants Receiving Temporary Assistance
Supportive services (child care and transportation and work-related expenses) can be provided for OJT participants who continue to receive Temporary Assistance while in the OJT component. Work-related expenses and transportation can be provided only to the extent that expenses exceed the Temporary Assistance $90 work expense disregard.
EXAMPLE: An individual assigned to an OJT component must travel by car to reach the OJT assignment. The participant incurs $130 per month for transportation expenses. Provide the necessary transportation expenses that exceed $90 per month as well as necessary work-related expenses.
0290.020.35 Supportive Services For Wage Supplementation Participants
Supportive services provided to Wage Supplementation participants are limited since they receive wages from full-time employment.
Provide transportation and work-related expenses as needed during the first 90 days of employment. The case manager should examine each individual's circumstances to determine the need for transportation and work-related expenses.
Provide child care to eligible participants. When budgeting to determine need for child care, include the income from the wage supplemented employment.