Administrative Requirements 400-19-15

 

TANF Eligibility Worker Role and Responsibilities 400-19-15-05

 

Role and Responsibilities 400-19-15-05-05

(Revised 6/1/10 ML #3225)

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IM 5408

 

 

The Role and Responsibility of the TANF Eligibility Worker is to:

  1. Engage the family in developing a trusting working relationship;
  2. Interview applicants and recipients to obtain information in order to determine initial and ongoing eligibility for benefits based on the rules and regulations of the TANF program;
  3. Assist the households to identify and address areas of need, and complete referrals to services in the community;
  4. Determine whether each applicant or recipient is required to participate in the JOBS program or has good cause to postpone participation;
  5. Refer non-exempt individuals to the JOBS or Tribal NEW program;

Note: Referrals to the Tribal NEW Program are based on referral criteria established by a Tribal NEW Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

  1. Provide child care payments to authorized State JOBS or Tribal NEW program participants for activities which may be approved; and
  2. Describe the 60-month Lifetime Limit and inform the individual about the household’s remaining TANF months and its effect on the family.

 

The TANF Eligibility Worker must stress that TANF is temporary assistance available to needy families and that there are strict work requirements for all non-exempt recipients. It is essential that the TANF Eligibility Worker make certain that all referred individuals clearly understand their responsibilities for participation in the JOBS program.

 

With regards to the JOBS Program, the TANF Eligibility Worker is responsible to:

  1. Present a brief orientation to JOBS during the interview by:
  1. Providing the individual with a copy of the "JOBS Work Requirements for Recipients of the TANF Program" DN 1990 brochure and answer any questions they have about the requirements.
  2. Explaining the referral process and the relationship between the TANF Eligibility Worker and the JOBS Employment Contractor.   Inform referred individuals of their responsibility to comply with the requirements of the referral.
  3. Explaining and emphasizing that participation in federally mandated work activities is required. JOBS must move participants into employment quickly, and short-term training is allowed only for those who meet certain criteria. The need for training will be determined as part of the JOBS assessment process.  
  4. Explaining the sanction process and penalties that may result from noncompliance.
  5. Explaining that good cause to excuse an individual from participation in the JOBS Program is temporary. The good cause reason or condition must be serious enough to totally prevent any type of participation and requires approval based upon adequate documentation.
  1. Process transportation supplements promptly.
  2. Share information with the JOBS Employment Contractor that is pertinent to the individual’s ability to participate or may be helpful in monitoring the individual’s work activities.
  3. Schedule a good cause determination meeting (if required) when an individual does not follow through with the referral requirements or participate in good cause determination meetings with the JOBS Employment Contractor.
  4. Process all sanction requests from the JOBS Employment Contractor. Prior to imposing a sanction, review the documentation provided by the JOBS Employment Contractor to ensure that the proper good cause determination procedure was followed and that the individual failed to demonstrate good cause for noncompliance with JOBS requirements.
  5. Upon request from the JOBS Employment Contractor, provide the amount of the TANF and SNAP benefits. This enables the JOBS Employment Contractor to assist the JOBS Participant by:
  1. Determining the number of hours an individual must participate in the Community Service Activity;
  2. Providing Budgeting Counseling; and
  3. Determining eligibility for JOBS Supportive Services.