3009.1 Imposing Sanctions for Non-Compliance with CMR Requirements

DSS imposes sanctions on TANF cases when clients fail to comply with their CMR requirements. If DSS determines a client has good cause for non-compliance with the CMR, DSS will not sanction the TANF case. 1. DSS applies sanctions to a TANF case based on a penalty hierarchy for the three broad categories of CMR requirements: self-sufficiency, enhanced family functioning, and teen responsibility. 2. DSS case workers must follow the CMR sanctions penalty hierarchy as outlined in this policy. Case workers must apply sanctions that reduce benefits before applying sanctions that close the TANF case. Case workers must impose all CMR sanctions. A. DSS applies teen responsibility sanctions first. The teen responsibility sanction removes a teen, age 16 and older, from the TANF case when the teen does not maintain satisfactory school or employment and training attendance. B. DSS applies family functioning sanctions second. The family functioning sanction reduces the TANF benefit amount by $50 initially, with an additional reduction of $50 in the benefit amount each month the client is non-compliant with the CMR requirements for: • CMR development, • Satisfactory school attendance for children under 16 years old, • Immunizations, • Family planning information, • Parenting education, • Bridge Program participation, • Transitional Work Program (TWP) participation, • Financial coaching orientation, and • Other requirements specified in the CMR. C. DSS applies self-sufficiency sanctions last. The self-sufficiency sanction closes the TANF case when the client is non-compliant with the CMR requirements for: • Employment and training (E&T) participation, and • Cooperation with the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS). 3. DSS removes sanctions from TANF cases when clients comply with their CMR requirements. A. DSS case workers must verify that clients are compliant with their CMR requirements before the sanctions can end. B. A sanction is removed from the TANF case on the date proof of compliance is provided to DSS. 10 DE Reg. 706 (10/01/06) 23 DE Reg. 63 (07/01/19)