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7.0 MAJOR STATE POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

7.1 State Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families Program

Hawaii provides assistance to eligible non-U.S. citizen households, as defined in the Welfare Reform, paid with segregated state maintenance-of-effort funds, under the Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families or TAONF program. TAONF is a parallel program that has the same payment and program eligibility requirements as TANF. TAONF households include an eligible non-U.S. citizen member, or is a minor single- or two-parent household living independently.

7.2 Domestic Violence Option

In March 2002, the State implemented its domestic violence policy. Domestic violence status is limited to six (6) months with a possible extension of an additional six (6) months. Work eligible individuals who are granted a domestic violence status are assessed by contracted service providers that specialize in domestic violence and advocacy services. The work eligible individuals are required to participate in activities that will address the domestic violence crisis and their family’s needs. Domestic violence services are provided statewide. Compliance with services is a condition of receiving TANF or TAONF assistance and the domestic violence status which grants good cause from meeting work requirements. Effective January 17, 2008, non-compliance with services will result in a full family sanction.

Please refer to subsection 13.9 for more information on the domestic violence status.

7.3 Temporary Disability

7.3.1 Hawaii recognizes that work eligible individuals, who are temporarily disabled, may not meet work activity requirements or obtain and maintain employment. Work eligible individuals, who claim a physical or mental disability, may be granted good cause from work requirements if the disability is certified by the medical evaluation board (see subsection 7.3.2 below). The temporarily disabled individual must comply with their substance use disorder treatment plan, or vocational rehabilitation or treatment services, or both, which may reasonably expect to lead them to employment and financial independence. Individuals diagnosed as temporarily disabled with a substance use disorder or with a physical and/or mental disability receive vocational rehabilitation case management services from a contracted service provider. The entire household is sanctioned if the disabled work eligible individual refuses or fails to comply with treatment (see subsection 13.5).