Page 603

Revised 11-01-17

NOTE: A “MV-minor volunteer” who fails to attend school satisfactorily will be sanctioned under school attendance policy, not TANF Work Program policy. The minor parent’s TANF program status code should be changed back to “JI” and the appropriate penalty applied. Refer to Chapter 3, School Attendance Requirements, for additional and more detailed information.

Spouse Volunteers

TANF recipients who marry after October 1, 1999, are eligible for the marriage disregard for a period of six months. This spouse, if unemployed or underemployed, will be allowed to volunteer for participation in the TANF Work Program as a spouse volunteer. However, because this individual’s presence in the TANF household will be disregarded, there will be no TWP referral through the MAVERICS/JAWS interface. All procedures involving this individual will be handled manually.

The eligibility worker will refer the spouse volunteer to the case manager via MDHS-EA-364, TWP Communication Form. Communication between the eligibility worker and the case manager concerning this individual will be done via MDHS-EA-364, TWP Communication Form. The only distinction between the spouse volunteer and other volunteers is the fact that all procedures will be done manually. Refer to Chapters 3 and 6, Marriage Disregard, for additional and more detailed information.

Non-Compliance with the TANF Work Program

Penalties for noncompliance with the TANF Work Program do apply to volunteers. The MDES will notify the case manager when an exempt volunteer is not attending or participating satisfactorily or is no longer participating in the program using the MDHS-EA-387, TWP MDHS/MDES Communication Form. Individuals who qualify for either the JJ or JV exemption but volunteered for the TWP as an EV will be conciliated and the appropriate TWP sanction applied if they fail to cooperate or participate satisfactorily, without good cause. If good cause is substantiated and approved by the case manager supervisor, the EV code will be changed to JJ or JV which will resume the 12-month exemption counters for these individuals.

Minor parents are subject to school attendance requirements not TWP penalties. Minor volunteers (MV) who fail to attend school satisfactorily will be coded JI in MAVERICS and the worker will begin the school attendance sanctioning process.

If a TANF recipient fails to cooperate or comply with TWP requirements or the only eligible child leaves the home, all TANF supportive services will be terminated immediately. Refer to Chapter 11, Conciliation, for additional and more detailed information.