3110 Participation -

3110.1 TANF Participation Rate Requirements -  Although participation is a major consideration, in some instances an activity that does not count as participation may be utilized because it best addresses the client's barriers or strengths. Clients with disabilities must be assigned to and engage in work related activities to the maximum extent consistent with their abilities.

States are required to meet annual participation rates with respect to all TANF families that include a work-eligible individual. Each DCF service region must work toward achieving the 50% all families work participation rate and a 90% two-parent work participation rate. These participation requirements are specific to TANF and do not apply to Food Assistance E&T.

1. A work eligible individual is anyone whose participation in work activities contributes to the calculation of the work participation rate.
    

   1. A client is not a work-eligible individual if they are:
       

      • an adult providing care for a disabled family member who is in the home;
        

      • an adult participating in tribal work programs;
        

      • a minor parent and not head of household;
        

      • a minor parent and not the spouse of the head-of-household;
        

      • an illegal non-citizen; or
        

      • a recipient of SSI or SSDI (by state option).
         

   2. A work-eligible individual is a client who does not meet any of the categories listed in 1.a. and is:
      

   • an adult receiving TANF;
     

   • a minor parent head of household receiving TANF;
     

   • the spouse of a minor parent head of household receiving TANF; or
     

   • a non-recipient parent living with a child receiving TANF.

Kansas expects participation in assignments that best address individual family needs. To meet the federal work participation rules, minimum weekly assignments are 30 hours in one parent households where the youngest child is 6 years of age or older or 55 hours in two parent households (35 hours per week if federally funded child care subsidies are not used) and the maximum assignment is 40 hours per week per individual.

NOTE: Single parent families with a child under age 6 meet the federal participation requirement if the parent is engaged in work or primary work activities for at least 20 hours per week.

Up to 30% of the total TANF clients meeting the work participation requirement may be in the Vocational Education activity.

Allowable activities that count toward the participation rate are divided into "primary" and "secondary" activities. TANF clients must be assigned to 20 hours per week in primary activities and an additional 10 hours per week of either primary or secondary activities to meet Federal participation requirements. The ES career navigator will meet with each applicant/client to develop a Self-Sufficiency Agreement based on the client's individual strengths and goals. The agreement will define the number of weekly hours of participation to best help the client achieve employment and the maximum level of self-sufficiency.

2. Definition and Special Rules for Two-Parent Families - The two-parent work participation requirement applies to TANF households with two work-eligible individuals who together must participate in work activities.
    

1. The following situations are considered two-parent households:
    

   • one or both parents are age 60 or over;
      

   • one parent is a minor and has been emancipated; or
      

   • other non-mutual children are in the family group.
      

2. The following situations do not meet the two parent definition and will not be required to meet the two parent family participation criteria:
    

   • one or both parents are ineligible (e.g., ineligible immigrant) or are verified disabled by a third party (e.g. medical or mental health provider, Social Security, Vocational Rehabilitation, Veteran's Administration) and unable to participate in Employment Services.
      

   • both parents are minors;
      

   • boyfriend/girlfriend situations where one parent is under age 18 and not emancipated;
     
     

   • one of the adults is a cohabiting partner which is a boyfriend/ girlfriend and there are no mutual children between the two adults; or
     
     
   • both parents are in the home, but the only mutual child is unborn.

    

3. To meet the Federal work participation rate:
    

   • both parents must participate in a combined total of 55 hours per week, 50 hours of which must be in primary activities if the family receives federally funded child care subsidies, or
      

   • one or both parents could be assigned a combined total of 35 hours per week (30 hours of which must be primary activities) if the family does not receive federally funded child care subsidies.
     
     Example of an appropriate 35 hour  assignment: The father is employed 35 hours per week, the family has one vehicle and the mother stays home to provide care for four children.
     
     The career navigator should advise the client about the different work participation possibilities for addressing the family's specific situation and meeting the federal work participation requirement. The client and the career navigator will develop the plan that best addresses the needs of the family.
      

   • Importance of System Coding: The following coding is critical in assuring the State correctly reports the number of two-parent families:
     
     

   • If one or both parents is disabled, the career navigator will update the Medical Condition page.
     
     

   • If two adult TANF recipients on a case are both coded as parent for one or more children , the system will regard this case as a two-parent family for federal reporting purposes.
      

NOTE: Some two-adult households do not meet the two-parent definition. For instance, there may not be a mutual child or the only mutual child is unborn. These two-adult households are required to participate 30 hours per week. If there is a child under the age of 6, at least 20 of those hours are to be completed by one adult. If there is no child under the age of 6, all 30 hours must be completed by one adult to meet the federal participation requirement.

3. Special Rules for Households with Teen Parents - A teen parent is defined as a pregnant or parenting person under age 20 who does not have a high school diploma or GED. For work program participation requirements, a teen parent continues to be considered a teen parent during the month he or she turns 20.
   
   All TANF teen parents under age 20 without a high school diploma or GED meet the participation requirement if the teen is satisfactorily participating in high school or a GED program. The hours for satisfactory attendance in a GED program are the equivalent of the hours offered by the local GED program unless the client has other limiting factors that hinder participation. In addition, TANF teen parents who are 18 or 19 without a high school diploma or GED, will meet the participation requirement if the teen is participating in the Education Directly Related to Employment activity for ABE, ESL, or REM for a minimum of 20 hours per week.
   
   Teen parents are provided with case management services and assigned to activities based upon their individual needs.
   
   NOTE: Teen parents in a two-parent family are subject to two-parent participation requirements. Teen-parent status takes precedence in determining what is considered as a primary activity for that individual.

 

3110.2 Food Assistance Employment Service Participation Limitations - The total hours of participation in an employment service program will be determined by dividing the household’s food assistance allotment for the month by the federal minimum wage. These hours may be divided between household members. Participation hours in activities and/or employment for any food assistance household member cannot exceed 120 hours per month. The career navigator cannot require the client to volunteer to work beyond the 120 hour maximum.

3110.3 Food Assistance Mandatory E&T Participation Rate Requirements-Mandatory ABAWDs who are not exempt or meeting work requirements of 30 hours a week are required to participate in the Food Assistance E&T program. ABAWDS must meet 30 hours a week of participation through employment (including in-kind employment or volunteering) and E&T approved activities. At least 11 hours per week of participation must come from education or employment activities. Participation hours in activities and/or employment for any food assistance household member cannot exceed 120 hours per month. The career navigator cannot require the client to volunteer to work beyond the 120-hour maximum.