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[PROGRAM COMPONENTS: TANF WORK ACTIVITES

MISSISSIPPI

As a means to ensure a participant who is assigned to another allowable work activity, but the weekly scheduled participation hours are not sufficient to allow the participant to meet his/her monthly federal participation requirement. In this instance, another allowable work activity will be coupled with AWEP or community service to meet any additional hours needed to satisfy the participant’s monthly participation requirement. Before an individual can be assigned to an AWEP or community service component, the following prerequisites must be met, if applicable. 1. The employment or educational goal in the individual’s EDP is consistent with the AWEP or community service assignment. 2. The individual is actively registered with the local Mississippi Department of Employment Security. 3. The participant completed any necessary interviews and testing required by the AWEP or community service position. Determining Maximum Number of Hours to be Assigned

Placements in AWEP and community services must meet strict Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requirements. The maximum number of hours that a participant may be required to participate in an Alternative Work Experience Program (AWEP) or community service activity is based upon the family’s combined monthly benefits divided by the federal minimum wage. The value of the family’s monthly benefits will include TANF assistance payments (TANF grant and work stipend), SNAP benefits and VISTA stipend, if applicable. The value of each benefit will be based on either the benefits for the most recent paid month or benefits anticipated for the first full calendar month of placement, whichever is greater. The value of TANF assistance benefits will be based on the net amount of assistance provided after subtracting the amount of any current child support collection recovery retained by the state and federal governments to offset the cost of providing that assistance. The child support recovery amount will not include any portion of the child support collected that is passed through to TANF families through the Child Support Pass-Through process.

MISSISSIPPI DEFINED]

Revised 08-01-1210-01-21