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MISSISSIPPI [NON-FINANCIAL CRITERIA: TANF WORK PROGRAM]

Volume III | Chapter 3

3917

MISSISSIPPI [NON-FINANCIAL CRITERIA: TANF WORK PROGRAM]

Revised 11-01-17

verify good cause, the eligibility worker will deny the TANF application after the 10-day period. 3. If the applicant contacts the worker and provides written documentation (verification of the doctor’s appointment date and time, etc.) to substantiate that a good faith effort has been made to comply with the 10-day request for information, and verifies that the MDHS-EA331 cannot be completed timely, the eligibility worker will refer the applicant to the TWP to complete the substance abuse screening. The application may be held up to 30 days (dependent upon case circumstances) before action is taken to deny or approve the TANF application. Example: If written documentation substantiates good cause and verifies the MDHS-EA-331 cannot be provided within the 30-day application processing period (appointment to see the doctor is beyond the 30-day limit), the worker will go ahead and approve the application with the “JL” code, if the adult complied with substance abuse screening and all other eligibility criteria are met (doctor statement or obvious exemption with supervisor’s approval.) The worker must set a tickler to change the “JL” code to “NE” (medical documentation not provided) or “VR” (medical documentation provided and Medical Review decision is pending) effective for the next month. If the TWP (JOBS) Program Status Code is “NE”, the individual will be required to participate in TWP. If the TWP (JOBS) Program Status Code is “VR”, the individual will be referred to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and required to comply with VR requirements. Example: If written documentation verifies the MDHS-EA-331 can be completed within the 30-day application processing period, the worker will hold the application up to 30 days. If the adult complied with substance abuse screening and the MDHS-EA-331 is provided within the 30-day period but there is not enough time for the applicant to complete the TWP and VR intake processes, the eligibility worker will approve the case with the “VR” code and submit a request for a Medical Review decision. Example: If the adult complied with substance abuse screening and written documentation substantiates good cause and verifies the MDHS-EA-331 cannot be completed within 30 days and the client fails to provide a medical statement or has no obvious exemption, the worker