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request portion of the notice within thirteen (13) days of the mailing date of the notice to expedite the process. (No penalty is imposed if the recipient does not request an extension within the thirteen (13) day period.) The request must include an explanation of why the recipient feels eligible for the extension, and any verification the recipient can provide to substantiate this claim.

An extension should be for a period sufficient to allow IMPACT staff and the recipient to determine and remove the barriers that continue to prevent the individual from achieving self- sufficiency. Extensions may be granted for up to twelve (12) months, are renewable, and go into effect in the month following approval to allow for system processing time frames.

The IMPACT case manager will have five (5) days from the receipt of the individual’s extension request to review and draft a response which will ultimately be submitted to the DFR Director for a final decision. The response should contain all documentation necessary to explain the individual’s situation with regard to attaining financial independence within 24 months. The response package for the Director is to include, at a minimum: • A copy of the Self-Sufficiency Plan with all updates. • A detailed explanation of any barriers facing the recipient and all services provided by the Local IMPACT Office to address these barriers. • A detailed explanation of the actions taken by the IMPACT case manager to help the individual overcome the barriers which were identified within the last two years, and why these efforts were unsuccessful. • A direct response for the justification provided by the recipient to support the request if different from the barriers listed above, and • A recommendation to approve or deny the request. If approval is proposed, the IMPACT case manager is also to recommend the length of time (not to exceed twelve (12) months) the recipient's benefits should be extended and provide a rationale for the recommendation.

Processing an Extension Request: • A hard copy package containing the following is forwarded to the Regional IMPACT Consultant. o the recipient’s request. o the IMPACT case manager’s response package o recommendations from other appropriate personnel to approve or deny the request. • The IMPACT Consultant will have ten (10) days to review the package and, if necessary, return it to the IMPACT case manager for additional documentation and/or corrections. The IMPACT case manager will have five (5) days to provide the required documentation and/or corrected information and return the completed package to the IMPACT Consultant. The IMPACT Consultant will forward the completed package to the TANF consultants in Central Office for their recommendation. • TANF consultants will have ten (10) days to review and include their recommendation in the package and forward the complete hard copy package to the DFR Director who is responsible for the official and final decision to either approve or deny the request. The Director's approval or denial response is returned to the appropriate Local IMPACT Office for implementation.