Transportation Assistance for Tribal NEW Participants 400-19-80-55

(Revised 8/1/11 ML #3272)

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Transportation Assistance of up to $150.00 per month may be paid to a Tribal NEW participant when approved by the Tribal NEW Coordinator and authorized by the TANF Eligibility Worker.

 

Transportation assistance may be utilized for monthly transportation expenses for the Tribal NEW 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 obtaining or 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 Tribal NEW Coordinator 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 Tribal NEW Coordinator.  

 

Once an individual's TANF case has been authorized as TANF eligible and the individual is participating in Tribal NEW, the Tribal NEW Coordinator is responsible to determine the participant’s anticipated transportation needs and to document the anticipated need on the Tribal NEW service plan. Any changes in the participant’s anticipated transportation needs should be communicated to the TANF Eligibility Worker in writing.

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

 

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 Service 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 Tribal NEW Coordinator. If appropriate, the Tribal NEW Coordinator 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 Tribal NEW until the individual’s case has been approved, unless the TANF Eligibility Worker or Tribal NEW Coordinator determines that an individual would be unable to participate without receiving transportation assistance.

• When an advance transportation assistance payment is provided to a sanctioned individual who needs to complete a POP, the payment should be sufficient to cover the individual’s transportation expenses from the time of the referral until the payment can be included in the regular TANF grant (or is provided through Tribal NEW as appropriate).

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

• When an advance transportation assistance payment is provided to a non-sanctioned individual, the advance payment should be sufficient to cover the individual’s transportation expenses to attend the Orientation and develop the Tribal New service plan.

 

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