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[TANF WORK PROGRAM PAYMENT Volume III | Chapter 10

and bus passes on or after the 10th of the current month for the following month. Stipend payments authorized on the 10th through the 23rd of the current calendar month for the following month, may be changed or deleted through the close of business on the 23rd day of the current calendar month. Stipend payments authorized on the 24th through the last working day of the current calendar month for the following month, may be changed or deleted through the close of business on the last calendar day of the current month. To make changes to a payment amount or delete a transportation stipend payment, the case manager must access the Maintain Transportation Stipend Record (MTSS) screen before the transportation stipend is processed by JAWS. (The DATE PAID field must be blank.) Stipend payments authorized in the current month for the following month will be processed by JAWS twice per month (after the close of business on the twenty-third and the last day of the month). Stipends processed by JAWS for a future month will be available to the participant on the first day of the benefit month. A transportation benefit for the current calendar month may be authorized through the close of business on the last working day of the benefit month. Stipends authorized during the benefit month will be available to the participant the next day. For example, the authorization period for a November stipend is October 10 to November 30. Stipends that are not authorized by the close of business on the last working day of the benefit month must be processed as an underpayment. Transportation assistance (bus passes and work stipends) will be issued in advance, when possible. The case manager will authorize bus passes and work stipends each month based on each participant’s eligibility. JAWS will not allow the case manager to authorize benefits (bus passes and work stipends) if the participant does not have an open transportation record for the benefit period. Satisfactory TWP participation is required to receive TANF supportive services. No JAWS system edits are available to prohibit the case manager from issuing a bus pass or authorizing a work stipend when the participant is not participating satisfactorily. Policy requires the case manager to review and approve the individual’s participation data each month before authorizing a stipend or issuing a bus pass. It is the case manager’s responsibility to monitor and track the individual’s participation to ensure satisfactory participation requirements are met before authorizing a work stipend or issuing a bus pass. The case manager will provide thorough explanations about the requirements for receiving transportation assistance, the maximum monthly stipend allowances, the reporting requirements (attendance and employment verification), and adverse actions that may be applied if timeliness standards are not adhered to, e.g., conciliation, sanction, termination of supportive services, etc. MISSISSIPPI PROCESS: SUPPORTIVE SERVICES]

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