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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 04/2022

SANCTIONS FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY - CASH

0028.30

DWP: Disqualify any family unit that includes a participant who fails to comply with DWP Employment Services or Child Support Enforcement requirements, without good cause. See 0028.18 (Good Cause for Non-Compliance--MFIP/DWP). Provide written notice and appeal provisions to the participant prior to disqualifying the family unit. See 0026 (Notices). The disqualification does not apply to SNAP or health care benefits.

A participant who has been disqualified from DWP due to non-compliance with Employment Services may regain eligibility by complying with program requirements. A participant who has been disqualified from DWP due to noncooperation with Child Support may regain eligibility by complying with Child Support requirements. Once a participant has been reinstated, issue prorated benefits for the remaining portion of the month. In a 2-parent family, both parents must be in compliance before the family unit can regain eligibility for benefits.

A family unit that has been disqualified from DWP due to non-compliance is not eligible for MFIP or any other TANF cash program during the period of time the participant remains non-compliant for up to the remainder of the 4-month DWP period. The disqualification for a DWP unit closed due to non-cooperation does not carry over to MFIP.

For child care program eligibility policy during a DWP disqualification, see the Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual.

NOTE: DWP does NOT include a minimum length of time a case must be closed due to non-compliance.

To regain DWP eligibility after an initial disqualification, a participant must comply with the terms of her or his EP. Since DWP is a short-term program, it is important that participants do not remain disqualified for an extended period of time. The county and ES provider should work to re-engage the disqualified participant in Employment Services as soon as possible.

If a participant fails to comply with his or her EP a 2nd time and becomes disqualified again, the county should again review the EP and redetermine what it will take for the participant to regain eligibility. This 2nd determination may differ from the previous determination, which was driven by the desire to have the participant re-engage in DWP Employment Services as quickly as possible. For example, with the 1st disqualification, a county may simply require the participant to start attending job search again to regain eligibility for DWP. However, when the participant is disqualified a 2nd time for failing to attend job search sessions, the county may decide that the participant must make up all of the missed days or job search workshops before regaining eligibility.

Compliance expectations should be reasonable and support the program goal of engaging people in work and improving family stability within the 4-month program. Counties should develop guidance for Employment Services providers to ensure that all participants are treated equitably but must not require closure for a set period of time.

A participant remains disqualified from DWP until the participant complies with all program requirements. There is no minimum or maximum amount of time the case must be closed. If the participant complies during the 4 consecutive months of DWP eligibility, issue DWP benefits to the family unit. Prorate the benefits from the date of cooperation. Have the family complete a new CAF only if they have been off assistance for more than 30 days.

SNAP: For information on work rules for SNAP, see 0011.24 (Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents), 0028.07 (General Work Rules for SNAP). For information on sanctions for not meeting work rules for SNAP, see 0028.21 (Good Cause Non-Compliance- SNAP/MSA/GA/GRH), 0028.30.06 (Sanctions for Not Meeting SNAP Work Rules).

MSA, GA, GRH: No provisions.