Page 515

COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 12/2021

MFIP EMPLOYED EXTENSION CATEGORY

0011.33.03

MFIP: See 0011.30 (60-Month Lifetime Limit) for an explanation of the 60-month lifetime limit and exceptions. See 0011.33 (MFIP Hardship Extensions) for general information and requirements for hardship extensions.

Also see 0011.33.03.03 (Limited Work Due to Illness/Disability), 0011.33.06 (MFIP Hard to Employ Extension Category), 0011.33.09 (MFIP Ill/Incapacitated Extension Category).

To be eligible for the “employed” extension category, the participant(s) must be in compliance 10 out of the last 12 months immediately preceding the participant’s 61st month, and meet ALL the following conditions. Only consider the months that the participant actually received MFIP (cash portion, food portion, or the housing grant):

If a participant has been in sanction for 3 or more of the 12 months immediately preceding the 61st month and is able to document that the sanction was incorrectly applied or that they had good cause for the non-compliance, consider the participant in compliance for the purpose of establishing eligibility for an employed hardship extension. Considering the participant in compliance under this item IS an adjustment of a previous sanction period. However, DO NOT recalculate benefits or issue supplements unless the participant submitted a timely appeal.

1-PARENT UNITS ● The participant must be in compliance with all program requirements in the 60th month. Being in compliance means the participant is not in sanction for non-cooperation with ANY MFIP program requirement, including non-cooperation with child support.

AND ● The participant must participate in work activities at least 30 hours per week per month, 25 of which on average must be employment.

When the participant has accepted a job that begins during the 60th or 61st month, there must be a reasonable expectation that the participant will work an average of 30 hours per week (or 25 hours of work plus 5 hours of another work activity) in the upcoming month. DHS recommends that the decision be based on the participant’s current employment situation and/or employment offer.

2-PARENT UNITS ● The participant(s) must be in compliance with all program requirements in the 60th month. If BOTH parents reach month 60 at the same time, they both MUST be in compliance in the 60th month. If 1 or both parent(s) are not in compliance in month 60, the unit is not eligible for an extension. Being in compliance means the participant(s) is not in sanction for non-cooperation with ANY MFIP program requirement, including non-cooperation with child support.

- When both parents reach month 60 at the same time, both parents must be in compliance 10 out of the last 12 months. If 1 parent does not meet this requirement, the unit has the option to remove (disqualify) that caregiver and extend the remainder of the unit under the employed category. Deem the disqualified caregiver’s income to the MFIP unit members. The remaining caregiver in the unit must participate in at least 30 hours of work activities per week, of which an average of at least 25 each week must be employment. See 0011.33.02 (MFIP Hardship Extensions Removing 1 Parent).

- When only 1 parent in a 2-parent unit has reached month 60, only that parent must be in compliance 10 out of the last 12 months. If the parent who reaches month 60 does not meet criteria for an extension they may be removed. The case then follows pre-60 month policies. Deem the disqualified caregiver’s income to the MFIP unit members. The remaining caregiver in the unit who has not reached month 60 does not need to meet extension criteria until he/she reaches month 60. See 0011.33.02 (MFIP Hardship Extensions Removing 1 Parent).

- When only 1 parent qualifies for the employed extension and the other parent is extended in another category, the employed parent must be participating in at least 30 hours of work activities per week, of which an average of at least 25 each week must be employment.

● The participants must participate in work activities at least 55 hours per week per month, 45 of which on average must be employment. Hours may be divided between the 2 parents in any way that works for that unit’s particular situation and should