3410 Provisions Specific to TANF - Total payments for support services and Education/Job Skills Training/Vocational Education activity costs are calculated per TANF client per 12-month period. The 12-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.
Support services are available for mandatory and exempt TANF applicants and recipients. In addition to support services for participation in ES activities, transportation and Special Services Allowances may also be available to mandatory/voluntary cash eligible clients who lose cash eligibility. See 3410.7 for specific requirements when authorizing a support service payment for clients receiving transitional services.
TANF applicants who obtain employment while in applicant status may be eligible for transportation and Special Services Allowance if there is an identified need for employment related services (i.e., purchase of uniforms, transportation, car repair, etc.).
TANF applicants participating in Job Search/Job Readiness may be given a transportation allowance payment using the Job Search/Job Readiness activity. The payment will be based on the applicant’s need.
Support Services are intended for the client’s immediate needs and if not used will age off the client’s Kansas Benefits card after three months. If the client requests that the aged-off payment be reissued, the career navigator will determine if an immediate need exists and whether it is appropriate to reissue a support payment to the Kansas Benefits card.
3410.1 Case Management Services for TANF - Case Management Services and Contracted Employment Services may be made available up to 12 months following the loss of cash assistance due to employment. See 3410.7 for specific requirements when authorizing a support service for clients receiving transitional services.
3410.2 Transportation for TANF - Since transportation is cited by many clients as a major barrier to finding and keeping employment, ongoing communication with the client regarding transportation issues and resources is essential. Designated DCF staff are encouraged to establish and maintain communication with the Coordinated Transit District in their Region. This will ensure that the public transportation providers who receive federal and state funding are made aware of the transportation needs of individuals looking for and maintaining employment. Transportation allowances for TANF clients are available to support activities, including employment. Transportation for any activity shall be based on need.
More than one transportation allowance may be approved as needed when a TANF client is involved in more than one approved activity (including employment). For TANF clients who lose cash eligibility, the transportation allowance is available during the 12 months following the loss of cash assistance if the client is employed in the month for which the payment is issued.
Transportation allowance is available for employment related needs of TANF applicants who obtain employment while in applicant status and the application for cash assistance is denied. Payment of transportation for employment related needs of these denied TANF applicants is limited to authorization in the month of TANF application and the month following the month of application.
3410.3 Special Services for TANF - This allowance should be used to obtain goods and services (except transportation) needed to participate in an approved activity. This allowance is also available for expenses or needs related to accepting or maintaining employment for employed individuals. For TANF clients who lose cash eligibility, the Special Services Allowance is available to cover expenses during the first twelve months following the loss of cash assistance. See 3410.7 for specific requirements when authorizing a support service payment for clients receiving transitional services.
NOTE: This allowance should not be used to pay fines resulting from civil and legal judgments. The Special Services Allowance shall not be used to pay for work site injury costs that exceed the allowed Medicaid rate.
NOTE: Examples of services and/or items that may be purchased with this allowance include: uniforms, eyeglasses, vehicle repairs, and the billed rate for cosmetic procedures not covered by Medicaid.
3410.4 Child Care Services for TANF - TANF clients participating in an Employment Services activity may be eligible for Child Care Services. Child care plan hours authorization should correspond with expected hours of work program activity.
See 2831 for child care needed to support former TANF clients who are not employed but will be receiving Transitional Services.
3410.5 Education/Job Skills Training/Vocational Education Activity Costs for TANF - Activity costs which are related to an approved Education/Job Skills Training/Vocational Education activity (such as tuition, books/fees, related costs, necessary supplies and uniforms), may be paid for Employment Service participants. Payment of these costs is also available to TANF recipients who have lost cash eligibility for up to 12 months following the loss of cash assistance.
See 3410.7 for specific requirements when authorizing a support service payment for clients receiving transitional services. Payment for these activity costs should be made to the vendor.
Funding for tuition, books, fees, mandatory supplies (required for specific course), and uniforms should be used only when other funding is not available or is not adequate to meet the total Education/ Job Skills/ Vocational Education Training costs. Clients should not be encouraged to obtain student loans.
NOTE: Costs for a class from an accredited or non-accredited facility or individual may be established in a provider agreement and be paid with Contracted Employment funding.
In order to promote job advancement, education/job skills training/ vocational education activity costs should be available for TANF clients for 12 months following the loss of cash assistance. Support services should also be available to support these activities.
3410.6 Contracted Employment Services for TANF - The Fiscal Services Unit may establish local provider agreements to provide additional or more intensive employment services to ES participants. Payment for these services shall be made according to the amount authorized in the agreement between the agency and the provider. Refer to the EES Contracted Employment Services Handbook for details on services available and procedures.
Contracted employment services may be provided for Employment Service participants. Contracted Employment education, training, and Job Retention Services may be available up to 12 months following the loss of cash assistance. Also, contracted employment services may be provided to TANF applicants on a case-by-case basis.
3410.7 Transitional Services for TANF - There is eligibility for ES 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 service payments may be issued to vendors during the 12-month period. Support services may only be issued directly to the client during this 12-month period 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 is limited to cases that are discontinued for any reason other than:
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 except for the closure reasons noted above.
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.
The decision to approve payments following the loss of cash eligibility should be made on a case-by-case basis 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.