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6022 Volume III | Chapter 6

MISSISSIPPI [ BUDGETARY PROCESS: GENERAL PRINCIPLES ]

Revised 12 - 01 - 17 s work hours are reduced below 25 but not less than 20 per week by the employer after the total disregard period begins and this is verified by the employer as solely the decision of management and not at the request or voluntary choice of the employee, the total disregard may continue through the 3-month period. If the individual loses employment before the 3-month disregard ends and reports it to the worker, the total earned income disregard ends and cannot be resumed when new employment is found. Exception: If the individual finds new employment of 25 hours per week within 7 days of losing employment, the disregard may continue. He/she will not be allowed a new 3-month disregard period unless the case closes for at least 12 consecutive months. NOTE: Once it has been determined that an individual is eligible for the disregard, he/she must be contacted via notice A506 and given the option of taking the disregard. This is important since the 60-month time limit will be counting during the disregard period. Mandatory TWP cases and Exempt TWP cases have different timely reporting requirements to qualify for the 3-D total earned income disregard under simplified reporting rules. Timely Reporting for Mandatory/Exempt Volunteer TWP Cases: When the TWP participant has increased earnings working a minimum of 25 hours a week at federal minimum wage that will result in case closure, the increase must be reported by the 10th of the month following the month in which the increase occurred to be considered a timely report. This reporting requirement applies to Mandatory TWP cases without regard to meeting or exceeding 185% of the need standard for the household size. (See Chapter 7, Change Reporting.) If the client fails to report the change timely, the individual will lose part or all of the 3- month disregard. Once the worker determines when the disregard should have started, only the remaining months, if any, will be eligible for 3D. EXAMPLE: A mandatory TWP individual turns in her October check stubs to the Case Manager on November 9th to verify her time and attendance for October. The income has increased because her work hours have changed from 3 days per week to 4 days (32 hours per week). The increased income will close the case for December. The individual did not receive the 6- month disregard so she is eligible for the 3-month disregard. If the client elects to receive the 3D, the worker uses the TANF total income disregard type code 3D on EAIN for December. The 3month disregard period will be October-December.

MISSISSIPPI [BUDGETARY PROCESS: GENERAL PRINCIPLES]

Revised 12-01-17