Post on 01-Apr-2015
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Support Services
Agency for Workforce Innovation
August 2007
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Support Services The RWB may offer support services to the
following eligible Welfare Transition populations
Applicants of Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)
Mandatory work program participants
Recipients of TCA
Transitional participants
Those that leave TCA and are qualified
Services may also be provided to divert an applicant from assistance, which are different than the “typical” applicant support services
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Support Services-General Support services may only be offered to
eligible individuals/families
The Welfare Transition program is funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) dollars
Individuals/families receiving support services funded by TANF through the Welfare Transition program must be TANF eligible
The Individual/family must also have a need for the support service
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Applicant Support Services Individuals must first apply for cash
assistance through the Department of Children and Families
Applicants must complete required paperwork
If the applicants are determined “work eligible,” they must also go to the local One-Stop Career Center and work register
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Applicant Support Services Work registration includes
Learning about employment services through the One-Stop Career Center
Learning about the Welfare Transition program
Program opportunities
Program obligations to continue receiving assistance or support services
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Applicant Support Services Applicant support services are designed to assist
the individual while applying for cash assistance
The application process may include
Complying to lift a sanction
Completing the work registration process
Complying with work requirements
Applicant support services may be provided for up-to 30 days during the application process
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Because the individual is applying for cash assistance
The data entry system may not have a case already built
Or, the case may be closed in a different area
The One-Stop Service Tracking (OSST) system has a mechanism to create an applicant case or “grab” a closed case from another area
This is called “work registration” in OSST
Applicant Support Services
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Case managers may work register
New customers who do not have an open case in OSST
Customers with a closed case in another area
This action “grabs” the case and pulls it to the case manager’s closed caseload
Upon taking the appropriate action (registering a new case or “grabbing” a case), the user must
Change the case status to applicant (if the status is “mandatory” or “transitional”)
Enter the appropriate support service
Enter the appropriate applicant activity
Enter case notes
Applicant Support Services
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Support Services-Data Entry
Register new customers by clicking on “Register new customers” on the OSST Desktop
You may also grab a case by clicking on “Register new customers”
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Diversion Services Diversion from cash assistance is a part of the
work registration process
Not all individuals applying for cash assistance need on-going payments
Work registration provides the RWB or provider the opportunity to assess the applicant’s needs and determine if the participant
Requires assistance to help resolve an emergency need
Or needs on-going cash assistance
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Diversion Services
Eligibility requirements
The individual must be an applicant of TANF funded cash assistance
Filed an application for assistance with DCF
The application is active
The individual must be
Potentially eligible for cash assistance
TANF eligible
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Diversion Services
Eligibility requirements
The individual must demonstrate an emergency need
The individual must demonstrate that meeting the emergency need will lead to on-going income
Getting a job
Keeping a job
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Diversion Services
Documentation requirements
The emergency need must be documented
The applicant must sign the Up-Front Diversion Agreement
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Diversion Services Data Entry requirements
Enter the Diversion begin date
The begin date is the date you meet with the applicant for an appointment for diversion consideration
Enter the outcome and end date
The outcome can be
Approval or denial by RWB or
Withdrawal of the application by the applicant
The end date is the date outcome took place
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Mandatory Services
Work eligible individuals receiving temporary cash assistance (TCA)
Are required to participate in the work program
May receive support services to assist participants with complying with work activity requirements and other program requirements
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Mandatory Services
Participants receiving support services
Must be TANF eligible
Must demonstrate a need for a support services
Must demonstrate participation in program requirements
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Mandatory Services
Documentation requirements
Authorization must be documented
Receipt of services must be documented
Gas Cards
Bus vouchers
Gift cards
Data entry
Services must be recorded on the Skill Development screen
Participation must be in the system
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Transitional Services Participants leaving cash
assistance with earnings may receive transitional support services
Employment started (begin date) prior to closure alert received from DCF
Cash did not close due to work program sanction
Transitional services are not dependent on a FLORIDA code
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Transitional Services
Individual must be TANF eligible to receive transitional services
Income must be under 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level
Must meet the definition of family
Must remain employed
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Transitional Services
The RWB can provide the following transitional services
Transitional transportation
Must be employed
Must be job or education related
Transitional child care
Those that leave cash with a job or have left with diversion and secured a job in the required time period
Are employed or are completing the 30-day job search activity
Must be job or education related
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Transitional Services
Transitional education and training
Must be employed
Must be job related
May include training to improve job skills in participants existing area of employment or
To prepare for employment in another career
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Transitional Services
Are limited to “up to” two years from the last month of receipt of cash assistance
The start of transitional services is based on the first month cash assistance is not received
Must be reviewed for continued eligibility at least every three months
Ensure the participant has retained employment
Ensure the family definition is met
Ensure the family’s income is less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (TANF eligibility)
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Transitional Services Documentation
Secure employment documentation, at minimum, every three months
Ask for your region’s Local Operating Procedure regarding job retention follow-up
The RWB may opt to meet with participants more frequently than every three months
To encourage continued employment
To assist participants with career planning
To provide participants with more intense accountability and assistance
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Transitional Services
The provision of support services must be accompanied by
Proof of continued employment
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Transitional Services
Data entry requirements
Enter JPRs through the last month of cash assistance, then change the case status to transitional
Desktop screen
Select “Edit” under the Demographic section
Enter job follow-ups
Enter all services provided on the Skill Development screen
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Frequently Asked Question
If the customer loses his job, can they continue to get childcare?
Transitional customers can get “job search” childcare for 30 days only
If a job is not secured, a childcare termination letter must be sent to
The local early learning coalition
The participant
A copy must also be retained in the case file
If the customer secures a job prior to the two year period ending, childcare may be issued again
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Frequently Asked Question
What is the process for customers who fail to provide proof of continued employment?
Send termination letter to local coalition
Send termination letter to customer
Retain a copy of the letter in the customer’s case file
Offer the customer the opportunity to return employment documentation to secure services
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Transitional Services
Florida Statutes requires participants to be notified of the ability and process to receive transitional services
Participants must be notified of the ability and the process to receive transitional services before the case closes on the workforce side
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Support Services-General Documentation requirements
The provision of support services must be documented
Vouchers/referrals should be included in the file
Signatures of receipt should be included appropriately
The date the support service was provided should also be included
RWBs should also account for all support services with monetary value
Bus passes
Gas cards
Books/tools/tuition
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Support Services-General
Be sure to include case notes for actions taken on a participant’s case
Case notes should include
The reason the participant is receiving support services
The support services being received
Any additional engagement information
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If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact the Welfare
Transition Team through the Agency for Workforce Innovation’s Call Center at 1-866-
352-2345
An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this document may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.