Page 28

Iowa’s TANF State Plan

28 Based on the PROMISE JOBS assessment, individuals will include appropriate work activities (as defined by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and described in Iowa’s Work Verification Plan) in their Family Investment Agreements (FIA). In some cases, Iowa may include activities in addition to those in Section 407, which will enable the adult to succeed. Policies and procedures are in place to protect workers from displacement (see Attachment G).

FIP applicants required to participate in PROMISE JOBS who do not sign an FIA are denied eligibility for program benefits.

FIP participants, required to participate in PROMISE JOBS and who fail to sign an FIA, or who sign an FIA but fail to carry out the terms of the agreement, enter a limited benefit plan (LBP). If the FIA-responsible person is a parent, the limited benefit plan applies to the entire family. However, if someone other than the parent is the FIA-responsible person, then the LBP applies to only that individual.

The Iowa HHS last redesigned the limited benefit plan effective June 1999, to implement state law changes. A first-time limited benefit plan results in ineligibility indefinitely until the FIA-responsible person signs an FIA. A second or subsequent LBP will result in a minimum of six months of ineligibility. The ineligibility will continue after the six-month period is over until the FIA-responsible person reapplies for FIP, signs an FIA and completes significant action with the PROMISE JOBS program.

An LBP will not be imposed if the individual is a single custodial parent caring for a child who has not attained thirteen years of age, and the individual has demonstrated an inability (as determined by the State) to obtain needed child care due to one or more of the following reasons: (A) Appropriate child care within a reasonable distance from the home or work site is unavailable; (B) Informal child care by a relative or under other arrangements is unavailable or unsuitable; or (C) Appropriate and affordable formal child care arrangements are unavailable.

Iowa has extended the criteria found at 45 CFR 261.56 to include children 6-13 years of age, as quality child care is necessary for all children.

An LBP may be imposed if the individual refuses to participate in PROMISE JOBS when an acceptable form of child care is available.

Pursuant to 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 261.56, the Iowa HHS, as the State TANF agency, has adopted the following definitions and criteria to be used in determining if a single custodial parent with a child under age six (in Iowa, up to age 13) demonstrates an inability to obtain needed child care and is exempt from an LBP for failure to meet work requirements:

Appropriate Child Care means that the child care provider is a licensed center, a registered child care home, an exempt facility, or someone who can pass child abuse and criminal record checks and can meet the minimum health and safety requirements for nonregistered child care home providers.

Reasonable Distance means that the required travel time from home to the work-related activity does not exceed one hour each way including the travel time necessary to take a child to a child care provider.