3410 Provisions Specific to TANF Support Services/Activity Costs/Contracted Employment Services/Employment Services - Total payments for support services and Education/Job Skills Training/Vocational Education activity costs may not exceed $5,000 per TANF client per twelve month period without approval of the Employment Services Manager on a case-by-case basis. The twelve month period starts the month in which the first payment is authorized and is not affected by breaks in eligibility. Payments for Contracted Employment Services are not included within the $5,000 limit.

There is eligibility for work program support services (transportation and Special Services Allowance), Education/Job Skills Training/Vocational Education activity costs and contracted employment services for up to 12 months following the loss of TANF cash eligibility for the individual or the case. Support services issued to the client during this 12 month period should only be authorized if the client is employed in the month for which the support service is issued. Payments to the client are not to be authorized prior to the month for which they are intended during this period. Payments to the client will not be authorized after the month for which they are intended as this would be considered a reimbursement.

Eligibility for support services are limited to cases that are discontinued for any reason other than:

• the client moving out of state;
   
• death of the only adult on the case;
   
• no longer a TANF eligible child in the home;
  
  
• the only adult on the case begins to receive SSI;
   
• the only adult is incarcerated/institutionalized;
   
• loss of contact;
  
  
• the adult loses eligibility due to a TANF fraud conviction;
  
  
• the case is discontinued due to failure to cooperate with a fraud investigation;
  
  
• adults and MFU which lose TANF eligibility for 10 years for a fourth or subsequent non-cooperation penalty with work programs only; if fourth or subsequent non-cooperation penalty is with CSS , they may still be eligible for services;
  
  
• or the adult is a Cohabiting Partner who loses cohabiting partner status and does not have an eligible child they are responsible for in their home.

Note: A transportation allowance may be issued prior to TANF approval when the client requires such assistance to cure a penalty.

The decision to approve payments following the loss of cash eligibility should be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the EES Supervisor and documented in the case file.

NOTE: The 12-month period of extended services is not available in situations where the TANF client is exempt from work related requirements, is not a volunteer for work programs, and continues to be eligible for cash assistance. In these situations, the work program block should be discontinued. This includes caretaker relatives who voluntarily remove themselves from the TANF case but remain eligible to receive TANF for the child.

The client should be placed in transitional status for the work programs block when the TANF cash case or the client's TANF cash eligibility is discontinued for any reason with the exception of the closure reasons noted above.

If the TANF cash case was discontinued due to earnings and the client is eligible for transitional services, an Unsubsidized Employment activity should be opened. If TANF was discontinued due to a penalty and the client is eligible for transitional services, a Work Program Penalty activity should be opened (KEESM 3330.12). A client should be opened in the Mentoring activity if the TANF case has been discontinued and the client has been referred to the Transitional Retention Services worker. The Mentoring activity would remain open for the clients with an ongoing Transitional Retention case while the work program case is in transitional status. (KEESM 3330.8). The 12-month period of available extended services will be tracked by the system. The Scheduled End Date of the activity is the last day of the 12th month.

The TANF Work Program block may be discontinued if the client requests case closure anytime during the 12 months of extended services.

NOTE: See 2831 for child care needed to support former TANF clients who are not employed but will be receiving services available in this section.