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Massachusetts TANF State Plan
collaboratively as a team with the program and the young parent to monitor progress, celebrate success and address any concerns or barriers that have come up for the program or the young parent.
Work Requirements and Hours
The rules for the TAFDC Work Program are found at 106 CMR 703.150. Parents and caretakers are allowed a 60 day work search period in which to find a job of 20 hours for those with children under 6 and 30 hours for those with children 6 and older. If a parent or caretaker who does not have an exemption from the work requirement or good cause (as defined below) is not employed for the required number of hours by the end of the 60 day work search period, the parent or caretaker must participate in an education or training activity or work at a community service site. In two parent families, each parent or caretaker must meet the work requirement. FEWs work with families from the time their case is opened to connect them to employment opportunities and connect them to programs that will help them meet their goals and find employment on a career track. At case approval, FEWs connect with families to let them know about all the resources available to them and explain the expectations of the program. FEWs then complete a series of activities including Orientation, Assessment, goal setting, facilitating referrals and providing supportive services. Once a family is employed or enrolled in a program, FEWs maintain regular contact with the family and the program to monitor progress and address any concerns before they become a barrier to employment or participation.
Work Activities
A parent or caregiver can meet their work program requirements by: • Working a job for pay • Working full time in the Full Employment Program (FEP) which provides individuals work experience needed to obtain an unsubsidized job. Participants are paid a subsidized wage in lieu of receiving TAFDC. • Participating in an approved supported work program • Participating in community service (hours limited by the federal Fair Labor Standards Acts) • Participating in a DTA approved activity that is expected to result in employment • Combining hours of work and an approved activity or community service • Participating in a substance abuse treatment program while living in a substance abuse shelter • Participating in an unpaid work study or internship program • Providing child care to a teen parent’s dependent child if both the teen parent and their child are living in their home so that the teen parent can meet their school attendance requirements