IMA POLICY MANUAL
PART VIII: CASE MAINTENANCE
CHAPTER 3: TANF REFERRAL PROCESSES
The Office of Work Opportunity (OWO) operates Job Clubs which assist TANF applicants and recipients in job search activities.
The Job Club is a six-week job readiness program which offers intensive and interactive instructional experiences and activities related to employment. Once an applicant, who is not exempt from work requirements, has been determined eligible to receive TANF benefits, his/her failure to cooperate in Job Club activities will result in the imposition of a sanction that will remove the individual's needs from the group (see Chapter 1: Work Requirements in Part V).
At the intake interview, the SSR should explain to TANF applicants Job Club goals and inform them of the services provided:
- Assessment to identify educational and employability skill levels
- Assistance in developing or modifying career goals
- Planning job search activities and schedules
- Classroom activities, such as discussion of case studies on work habits and drafting household budgets
- Assistance in the preparation of employment applications and resumes and interview practice, and
- Access to the Internet and other resources to facilitate the search for available employment opportunities.
Additionally, the SSR should inform the applicant of the requirement to contact the appropriate Job Club between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday through Friday within three business days of receipt of the referral. However, applicants who are exempt from work requirements or who have reported medical problems that may indicate eligibility for POWER should not be referred to a Job Club.
The chart below identifies which IMA Job Club sites are assigned to serve applicants by service center.
|
51 N Street, NE |
(202) 724-5220 |
Eckington Center
Northeast Center |
| 1207 Taylor Street, NW |
(202) 576-9422 |
Taylor Street Center |
|
645 H Street, NE |
(202) 698-3966 |
H Street Center |
| 2100 MLK Jr Avenue, SE |
(202) 645-5102 |
Anacostia Center
Fort Davis Center |
| 4001 South Capitol Street, SE |
(202) 645-3963 |
Congress Heights Center |
NEGOTIATED SUITABILITY TRAINING (NST) 3.10
OWO operates the NST program, formerly known at Self-Initiated Training. NST provides assistance to TANF recipients who have independently enrolled or who wish to enroll independently in a training program. Customers who participate in NST must meet TANF work activity requirements (see Chapter 1: Work Requirements in Part V.) NST staff persons are responsible for monitoring the required activity hours. They alos hold periodic advisory conferences with participants to check on their progress. They authorize stipends, and make referrals for other support services such as child care.
Prior to selecting a training program, the customer should work with NST staff to identify the training program most appropriate to his/her interests, potential and abilities. This would also help to ensure that the selected program is accredited, cost effective, and appropriate for the customer's particular work goals as set out in their Individual Responsibility Plan (IRP) or an addendum to the IRP.
NST staff can be reached at (202) 698-1860.
PROGRAM ON WORK, EMPLOYMENT, AND RESPONSIBILITY (POWER) 3.11
POWER is funded entirely by District funds. It will provide locally-funded cash assistance to families whose head of household (or caretaker whose needs are included in the grant) is unlikely to meet TANF work requirements due to short-term incapacity related to physical or mental health problems or substance abuse. POWER will also be available for TANF applicants/recipients needing additional support to achieve work requirements.
Screening and Referrals to the Medical Review Team (MRT) 3.11.1
At application for TANF benefits, the Preliminary Assessment form should be used to identify heads of households who face physical/mental incapacities that interfere with their ability to participate in countable work activities. Similarly, at recertification, the SSR should screen heads of households for incapacities.
Neither TANF applicants nor recipients can apply directly for the POWER program. Eligibility is determined by the SSR?s identification of a possible incapacity and subsequent referral of an individual for a medical evaluation. The medical evaluation will be used as the basis for a determination of incapacitation.
In order for a case to qualify for POWER, the head of a single-parent assistance unit must be designated as incapacitated. In the case of a two-parent assistance unit, both parents must be incapacitated in order for the unit to qualify for POWER. If only one parent of a two-parent assistance unit is incapacitated, the assistance unit will be treated as a TANF single-parent assistance unit and the non-incapacitated parent will be subject to TANF work requirements.
Recipients of POWER are not subject to the TANF 60-month lifetime limit. Individuals are expected to return to the TANF program following successful completion of POWER activities.
Initial Evaluation of Incapacity 3.11.2
Individuals referred to POWER must have a medical evaluation form completed by a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or licensed registered nurse (RN). The medical evaluation form is then submitted to the MRT which determines whether the individual meets the 'incapacitated' standard. If the MRT determines the individual incapacitated due to a substance abuse problem, the individual is referred to APRA. If the individual is determined incapacitated due to physical or mental health problems, the individual is referred to the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). Either APRA or RSA designs a service and treatment plan with which the POWER recipient must comply.
Decisions of incapacity cannot exceed 12 months at any one time. There is no limit, however, on the total number of months a case can be covered under the POWER program.
If the MRT does not determine the individual incapacitated, notice of the decision must be sent to the customer using a general communication notice. The notice must explain the decision and explain that ongoing TANF benefits will continue. The notice must also inform the customer of the right to appeal the MRT decision through the administrative review/fair hearing process (see Chapter 7: Grievances and Fair Hearings in this Part).
Re-evaluation of Incapacity 3.11.3
The medical incapacity is subject to reevaluation at intervals which are specific to each recipient's circumstances. The reevaluation of incapacity/disability for purposes of POWER eligibility will be handled by the MRT. No less than 60 days prior to the end of the incapacity period, the POWER recipient must be sent a medical review packet for a redetermination of eligibility. When the applicant returns the completed medical report and social data directly to the MRT, the packet will be considered for reevaluation. S/he will remain a recipient of POWER pending the MRT reevaluation. If the recipient fails to provide the requested information, the MRT will inform the SSR who will initiate action to convert the case to TANF (see Section 3.10.4: Conversion from POWER to TANF in this Chapter).
Conversion from POWER to TANF 3.11.4
There are a number of circumstances which will prompt a conversion from a POWER grant to a TANF grant. They include:
- a determination by the MRT that the individual is no longer incapacitated;
- a failure to return the medical examination and/or social information forms for reevaluation;
- a failure to comply with POWER treatment and training plans without good cause (see Section 3.11.5: Failure to Comply and Section 3.11.6: Sanctions and Good Cause in this Chapter); and
- recipient becoming employed.
The SSR and the MRT must share information regarding changes in circumstances that may impact the individual's POWER status. If any of these circumstances exist, the SSR must convert the POWER benefits to TANF without loss or delay of benefits. Adequate and timely notice of the decision to convert a POWER case to TANF must be given. The agency decision to convert a case from POWER to TANF can be appealed through the administrative review/fair hearing process (see Chapter 7: Grievances and Fair Hearings in this Part).
If a recipient requests a fair hearing (see Chapter 7: Grievances and Fair Hearings in this Part) prior to the effective date of conversion from POWER to TANF, the individual must be reinstated in the POWER program beginning with the first unissued benefit month. If the recipient requests a fair hearing decision on or after the effective date of conversion, TANF eligibility continues pending a hearing decision. Following receipt of the fair hearing decision, TANF or POWER eligibility is reinstated based on the hearing determination.
