Many families need supportive services to achieve self-sufficiency. When supportive services are removed prematurely, a family may not have the necessary safety net to overcome barriers.

Effective this date, all individuals currently participating in Solutions Recovery Care Coordination service (SRCC) may qualify for an Executive Review for hardship extension. The DCF Executive Team has determined this to be an allowable hardship under KEESM 2243 (5). Households do not need to request this extension. The hardship extension may be granted to all households who are cooperating and participating in SRCC services.

This extension allows families the time needed to mitigate their barriers, hopefully providing a better long-term outcome.

Staff are also reminded hardships, as defined in KEESM 2243, are to be granted when a household member meets one of the qualifying reasons. DCF Administration staff recommend field staff remember to utilize hardships as they are identified to serve the best interest of the client.

Some examples to assist staff in identifying hardship extensions follow:

• Tom is actively participating in SRCC activities. He has received 23 months of TANF. Staff are to review the case, and if appropriate, approve a 12-month Executive extension. Tom’s TANF case may remain open until he successfully completes SRCC, receives 36 months of TANF, or until he fails to cooperate and SRCC terminates services.
  
  
• Alice has received 23 months of TANF assistance. She is actively participating in technical training for a certificate/degree which will lead to employment. Alice should be referred for a program administrator’s hardship determination. DCF Administration will review Alice’s history of cooperation and participation to determine if a hardship should be granted.
  
  
• Marie cares for her 4-year-old special needs child. She is unable to actively look for work due to the needs of the child. Marie is to be granted a caretaker hardship for 12 months, or until she is no longer needed as a caretaker of a disabled member of the home.