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Page | 6 7.3.2 Effective January 2005, medical evaluation services, conducted by a board of licensed physicians and psychologists, are provided to determine whether a work eligible individual's disability is temporary or permanent and interferes with their ability to engage in any substantial gainful employment of at least thirty (30) hours per week at a job for which he or she is equipped by education, training, or experience. The medical evaluation board ensures that TANF recipients between the ages of eighteen (18) and sixty-five (65) years are afforded a fair and consistent evaluation of disability and determines appropriate treatment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or work activities that the individual can be expected to perform.

7.4 Work Eligible Individuals with Good Cause from Work Requirements

A special work participation status, referred to as an “other work eligible individual” or “OWEI”, for a work eligible individual who is unable to engage in work activities or employment due to one of the following reasons:

A. The individual is unable to engage in full-time employment as defined by the work participation requirements of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. section 607, at a job for which he or she is equipped by education, training, or experience, for a period of more than thirty days from the onset of an illness, incapacity, or disability due to a physical or mental impairment or substance use disorder, as determined by a licensed physical or psychologies (see subsections 7.3 and 13.4 for more information on temporary disability); B. Domestic violence crisis situation involving the TANF household or member(s) of the TANF household (see subsection 7.2 and 13.9 for more information on the domestic violence option); or C. The individual is sixty-five years of age or older. An OWEI, who meets one of the above criteria, is granted good cause from meeting the work activity requirements described in 45 CFR Part 261, section 261.31.

7.5 Extended TANF Sixty-Month Time Limit Due to Hardship

Pursuant to 45 CFR Part 264, section 264.1(c), Hawaii provides TANF or TAONF assistance beyond the sixty-month time-limit if the household is experiencing hardship that impedes their ability to engage in work activities or obtain and maintain employment. Hardship is defined as follows:

A. The household has been confirmed to be in a domestic violence crisis by a domestic violence advocacy service provider (see subsections 7.2 and 13.9); or