Page 12

TANF STATE PLAN STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Page 12 Effective Date: January 1, 2020

Clients are given an overview of work requirements and self-sufficiency/barrier removal requirements. At a minimum, MDHHS staff explains:

• The availability of direct support services, including transportation, child care and domestic violence assistance

• The penalties for non-compliance

• Good cause reasons for non-compliance

• FIP time limits

Clients must complete and sign a form acknowledging their understanding of the Work and Self-Sufficiency Rules and both the 48-month and 60-month time limits.

Prior to the end of the first three months of assistance, both the MDHHS and the client complete the Family Self-Sufficiency Plan (FSSP). The purpose of the FSSP is to specify the responsibilities and actions for meeting the goal of self-sufficiency for the family. B. WORK REQUIREMENTS Michigan’s employment and training program is administered by local Michigan one- stop service centers under agreement with the Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), State of Michigan. Prior to FIP approval, clients who are not deferred from work participation are automatically referred to their local one-stop service center for orientation/application eligibility period (AEP) and assigned to employment-related and barrier removal activities. Since orientation/AEP and engagement in work participation activities are a pre-condition of assistance for work eligible individuals, Michigan does not include verbiage to specify that engagement is required once a parent has received 24 months of assistance.

If any member of the applicant group who is required to participate in orientation, AEP, employment-related/barrier removal activities, and/or family self-sufficiency activities fails to participate without good cause, the family’s FIP application is denied.

1. Temporary Deferrals

Some clients may be deferred from the work participation program for a time, but will be required to participate in the work participation program if their circumstances change so that they are no longer deferred.

Deferred clients may be one of the following:

• Under age 16