3006 TANF Employment and Training Program

Delaware's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare reform effort is based on the idea that TANF is a transitional benefit and should not become a way of life. The Division maintains that the way for persons to avoid TANF dependency is for them to find and maintain employment. 12 DE Reg. 793 (12/01/08) 3006.1Mandatory Participants (45 CFR §261. 22(c)) All adult caretakers and other adults in the assistance unit who are not exempt must participate in Employment and Training related activities. The four possible exemptions are: A. A single custodial parent caring for a child less than 12 months of age may be exempted from employment and training activities for up to 12 months in the lifetime of the parent. Single custodial parents who are caring for a child less than 12 months of age and who have not reached their 12 month limit will be exempted from employment and training activities unless they waive their employment and training exemption. Parents who waive their employment and training exemption are subject to all the conditions and rules of the employment and training program. Parents who waive their employment and training exemption cannot be exempted for caring for a child less than 12 months of age again unless a new biological, step, or adopted child less than 12 months of age is added to the TANF case. Parents who waive their employment and training exemption must meet the required employment training hours based on their family composition within 14 calendar days of waiving their exemption. Cases which fail to meet the employment and training requirement are subject to a full family sanction. B. An individual determined unemployable by a health care professional. C. On a case-by-case basis, clients who are victims of Domestic Violence. [see DSSM 3010.2.1 through DSSM 3010.2.5] D. A parent caring for a disabled family member* who lives in the home. * A parent or spouse can be excluded to care for a child or a spouse as long as the following conditions apply: 1. The parent is biological, adoptive or step. 2. The parent or spouse lives in the home with the child. 3. The need for such care is supported by medical documentation. 4. The spouse of a parent can use the caring for exemption even though the marriage is terminated by death or divorce. Children age 16 or older who are not attending school must participate in work or other alternative activities, e.g., GED. Individuals who are exempt from Employment and Training requirements can volunteer to participate in the Employment and Training Program. Individuals with disabilities will be afforded the same access, supports and opportunities including reasonable accommodations to participate in the Employment and Training programs. 3006.1.1Requiring Participating in Employment and Training for One-parent and Single Caretaker Families This policy applies to TANF families headed by an employable single non-parent caretaker who is included in the grant or an employable single parent caretaker aged 18 or older. 1. Caretakers are required participate with a TANF employment and training vendor. 2. The vendor will develop an individualized employability plan for each participant. 3. The employability plan will detail the weekly countable activities to be completed. The caretaker will receive verbal and written instructions of activity verification requirements]. 4. Verifications of activities are required to be submitted the week the activity occurred. 5. Caretakers are required to complete at least 30 hours of countable activities a week. Exception: Verification of employment by paystub or by an employer form may be submitted up to seven calendar days after they are received from the employer. Exception: Single custodial parents caring for a child under six are required to complete at least 20 hours of countable activities a week. 6. Caretakers who fail to complete the activities or to provide the required verification to the employment and training program will be subject to a sanction. A. Non-parent caretakers will be removed from the TANF grant B. Single parent households are subject to the full family sanction rules. 7. The total number of hours the caretaker may engage in work experience or community service is limited by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The maximum required monthly hours of participation in work experience and community service is determined by dividing the combined monthly TANF and food benefits by the greater of the Federal or Delaware minimum wage. 3006.1.2Requiring Participation in Employment and TRAINING FOR Two-Parent Families This policy applies to TANF families headed by two employable adults aged 18 or older and who are both included in the TANF grant. 1. Two-Parent families are required to participate with a TANF employment and training vendor. 2. The vendor will design an individualized employability plan for each family. 3. The employability plan will detail the weekly countable activities to be completed. Parents will receive verbal and written instructions of activity verification requirements. 4. A family will receive a full family sanction when: a. The family does not complete the required hours of planned activities in a week, or b. The family does not submit the required verification of activities to the employment and training program. 5. Verifications of activities are required to be submitted the week the activity occurred. 6. The two week pre-participation period is not met until both parents have attended an orientation at the Employment and Training provider. 7. One participant may complete all of the required employment and training activities for the household. 8. Two-parent families are required to complete at least 40 hours of countable employment and training activities a week. 9. The total number of hours the adults in a two parent family may engage in work experience or community service is limited by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The maximum required monthly hours of participation in work experience or community service is determined by dividing the combined monthly TANF and food benefits by the higher of the Federal or the Delaware minimum wage. 10. Two -parent families may receive child care designated for participants in the TANF Employment and Training if the following conditions are met: A. Both adults are participating in verified countable activities. B. Both adults are engaging in at least 20 hours of activities a week. The employment and training program will notify the Division of Social Services when the requirements of this policy are not met. 12 DE Reg. 793 (12/01/08) 14 DE Reg. 826 (02/01/11) 14 DE Reg. 1073 (04/01/11)