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payment history to determine if they have reached 42 of the 48-month lifetime limit. If the individual has received 42 months of time-limited TCA, DCF notifies the LWDB. The LWDB or provider staff then schedules an interview with the participant to assess employment prospects and employment barriers, evaluate the individual’s participation in the WT program, and determine if a hardship extension is needed. If staff determines that an extension is needed, they recommend that DCF extend TCA payments beyond the 48- month time limit. Upon this recommendation, DCF extends the TCA payments for the number of months recommended by the LWDB. If staff determines that an extension is not needed, the individual will only receive the allowable 48 months. Participants may also request a hardship extension later by completing the hardship extension review process. Hardship extension eligibility criteria include: 1. Diligent participation in work activities combined with an inability to obtain employment. 2. Diligent participation in work activities combined with extraordinary barriers to employment, including conditions that may result in an exemption to work requirements. 3. Significant barriers to employment combined with a need for additional time. 4. Diligent participation and a need by teen parents for an exemption to have 24 months of eligibility beyond receipt of the high school diploma or equivalent. 5. A recommendation of extension for a minor child of a participating family at the end of the eligibility period for TCA based on a review that determines the termination of a child’s TCA would likely result in the child being placed into emergency shelter or foster care. 6. The participant is a victim of domestic violence, if the effects of such violence delays or otherwise interrupts or adversely affects the individual's participation.

Failure to comply with program requirements during the extension period results in pre- penalty counseling and may ultimately result in a penalty that terminates TCA benefits and voids any remaining months of an extension.

025 Welfare Transition Hardship Extensions for Cash Assistance

2.12 INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY PLAN AND ALTERNATIVE REQUIREMENT PLAN

1. Assessment: The goal of the assessment is to gather information about the program participant. The assessment is designed to: a. Identify barriers to employment and/or full participation in countable work activities, b. Identify the participant’s skills that will translate into employment and training c. opportunities, d. Review the participant’s work history, and e. Identify other employability issues that could help or hinder the participant’s f. move toward employment.