707.180 Full Employment Program

The Full Employment Program (FEP) component provides individuals work experience needed to obtain an unsubsidized job. Participants are paid a subsidized wage in lieu of receiving TAFDC.

(A) Activities

Activities in FEP include:

(1) full-time employment of 35 to 40 hours per week consistent with the employer’s schedule; and

(2) completion of an Employment Development Plan (EDP) as provided in 106 CMR 707.110.

(B) Participation Criteria

The following are the criteria for participation in FEP:

(1) individuals may volunteer to participate;

(2) an individual may meet his or her Work Program requirement by participating in FEP;

(3) if after six months the individual has not obtained an unsubsidized job, the EDP may be reassessed;

(4) if after nine months the individual has not obtained an unsubsidized job, the EDP shall be reassessed;

(5) if after twelve months the individual has not obtained an unsubsidized job, the EDP shall be reassessed and the individual may be reassigned to another FEP employer; and

(6) an individual or the FEP employer may terminate the FEP placement by contacting the Department.

(C) Benefits of the Full Employment Program

A participant in FEP shall:

(1) receive a per hour wage from the employer that is at least equal to the current Massachusetts minimum wage;

(2) remain eligible for MassHealth;

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(3) have an Individual Asset Account established in which $1 will be credited each hour the participant works. The money from the Individual Asset Account shall be paid to the participant when he or she leaves FEP. This amount shall be in addition to the wage paid by the employer;

(4) receive training experience on the job;

(5) be entitled to sick, holiday and vacation leave, and other benefits provided to other employees;

(6) be considered to be an employee of the FEP employer and shall be entitled to all benefits required by state and federal law;

(7) be eligible for workers’ compensation, when appropriate; and

(8) be eligible for a Transitional Child Care (TCC) referral in accordance with 106 CMR 707.210(A)(1)(f)), transitional medical assistance (TMA) through MassHealth and Transitional Support Services stipends when the TAFDC case is terminated due to earnings.

(D) Impact on TAFDC Benefits

(1) The assistance unit shall receive a supplemental payment when the FEP gross income less 20 percent and less the allowable dependent care deduction as provided in 106 CMR 704.275, is less than the TAFDC benefit that the assistance unit would have received, based on the size of the assistance unit and any other income. The amount of the supplemental payment is the result of the above calculation.

(2) The Individual Asset Account established for the participant is a noncountable asset for TAFDC until the participant receives the funds from the account after leaving FEP employment.

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