Kansas Economic and Employment Services Manual

3100 WORK REQUIREMENTS

1. TANF
   
   
   1. TANF applicants who are mandatory employment service participants are required to complete the Self-Assessment Form (E-6), complete the online Employment services orientation tutorial, actively seek employment, and meet all work related requirements during the application process, unless they are exempt or good cause as defined in KEESM 3530 is established. See Section 3330.9 for special rules regarding TANF clients that have experienced sexual harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
      
      
   2. Upon application, adult TANF applicants of the mandatory filing unit (MFU) will be initially screened to determine the appropriate work activity and will complete the Self-Assessment Form and the online Employment Services orientation tutorial. The MFU will not be eligible for TANF benefits until documentation has been provided that all employment services mandatory participants have completed both the self-assessment and the tutorial. After becoming a TANF recipient, the client(s) will continue to job search, until they meet with the career navigator to develop a self-sufficiency agreement. A transportation allowance to support job search efforts may be issued until the recipient meets with the career navigator and a new activity assignment is determined. Further assessments may be administered as determined necessary by the career navigator.
      
      
   3. Adult members residing in eligible TANF households but who are a fugitive felon, probation or parole violator, disqualified for a fraud conviction, or an ineligible non-citizen are ineligible for employment services.
      
      
   4. Mandatory disqualified members (drug felons, refused SBDT, and failed SBDT) residing in eligible TANF households will be contacted by Employment Services and given information about employment services opportunities, community support services and/or vocational rehabilitation services. TANF time limits will be explained and an opportunity to enroll in employment activities will be offered. No penalty will be assessed if the disqualified member chooses not to participate.
      
      
   5. Exempt TANF applicants/clients who volunteer may be served with employment services although mandatory clients take precedence. All TANF adults who are exempt from employment services requirements, due to being needed in the home to care for a disabled household member, will be referred to employment services and given the opportunity to volunteer. Information about employment service opportunities, community support services and/or vocational rehabilitation services will be provided. TANF time limits will be explained and an opportunity to enroll in employment activities will be offered. No penalty will be assessed if the exempt adult chooses not to participate.
      
      
   6. In addition to participating in assigned activities clients are also expected to:
       
      • Report and maintain newly acquired or current employment
         
      • Attend and participate in all classes, groups, and appointments as scheduled
         
      • Provide written verification of information requested by the career navigator
         
      • Address problems, barriers and limitations encountered during participation with career navigator and work to resolve these issues
         
      • Participate in good cause determinations at any point non-compliance occurs
         
      • Provide documentation of all activities, including job contacts if required locally.
        
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2. FOOD ASSISTANCE
   
   
   1. Each Food Assistance household member, ages 16-59, who is not exempt from work requirements is required to register for work. See work related exemptions in 3220.
      
      
   2. GOALS – GOALS is an employment service program available statewide. This is a voluntary program for those cases where the recipient is receiving food assistance only. In addition, the client cannot be receiving TANF nor be eligible for TANF funded support services. This program is available for those who meet the following criteria:
      
      
      • Responsible for a child in the home through 17, or age 18 if enrolled in high school
        
        
      • (or) Pregnant woman
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      GOALS (Intensive Case Management Program):

      
      
      • Voluntary
        
        
      • Vendor payments only; no funds paid directly to client/EBT card
        
        
      • Payments must deal with a specific crisis or need and cannot extend beyond four months. These non-recurrent short-term benefits are not intended to meet recurrent or ongoing needs.
        
        
      • Education and training related payments are not considered non-recurrent short-term benefits if the client is employed.
        
        Employment support services and special services allowance are available for recipients of Food Assistance who meet the criteria for GOALS.
        
        This allowance should be used to obtain goods and services (except transportation services) needed to participate in an approved activity. In addition, this allowance is also available for expenses or needs related to accepting or maintaining employment.
        
        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 which are in excess of the allowed Medicaid rate. 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. An example would be dentures.
        
        
      • No transportation service funds
        
        
      • Child Care - GOALS clients participating in an approved work program activity may be eligible for Child Care Assistance. Child care plan hours authorization should correspond with expected hours of work program activity. Staff are allowed discretion when authorizing hours needed for current and/or future months.
        
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   3. All Food Assistance only clients 18 and over and no longer in high school who are ABAWDS and not meeting the 30 hour per week work requirements must be referred to Food Assistance E&T.
      
      
   4. Adult members residing in food assistance households but who are a fugitive felon, probation or parole violator, disqualified for a fraud conviction, or an ineligible non-citizen are ineligible for employment services.
      
      
   5. In addition to participating in assigned activities, clients are also expected to:
      
      
      • Provide written verification of information requested by the career navigator
        
        
      • Address problems, barriers and limitations encountered during participation with Career Navigator and work to resolve these issues
        
        
      • Participate in good cause determinations at any point non-compliance occurs
        
        
      • Provide documentation of all activities
         

3100.1 Applicants

1. TANF Applicants
   
   TANF applicants who are mandatory employment service participants are required to complete and sign the Self-Assessment Form (E-6) and complete the online Employment Services orientation tutorial unless otherwise exempt.(See 2251) Applicants who are required to complete the self-assessment and the tutorial but fail to cooperate are ineligible for TANF. (See 2121).
   
   During the initial interview the EES eligibility worker will discuss: 
   
   
   • Cooperation in employment service requirements, and
     
     
   • The need for domestic violence services.
     
     Applicants who identify as domestic violence/sexual assault victims and indicate they cannot safely participate in other work activities will be referred to the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault provider unless they state they do not want DV/SA services. The eligibility worker will notify the career navigator, in collaboration with the client, if a referral is made to the domestic violence provider.
     
     

2. Food Assistance Applicants
   
   Food Assistance applicants and all adult household members who are not exempt from work requirements must register for work and be read the Consolidated Work Requirements form Appendix E-26. See KEESM 2527 for definition of Work Registrant.
   
   

3100.2 Recipients

1. TANF Recipients

2. Food Assistance Recipients
   
   
   1. Mandatory ABAWDS who are not exempt and not working 30 hours a week, must participate in the Food Assistance E&T program 30 hours a week.
      
      
   2. If a food assistance recipient reports a loss of their work requirement exemption and/or changes to the household circumstances, KEES will send the Consolidated Work Notice and the Appendix E-26 Work Registration process must be followed. See KEESM 3220.1 and 2527.
      
      
   3. In all counties, clients who receive both TANF and food assistance will meet work related/self-sufficiency requirements by participating in the TANF employment service program.