us-nc/manual/dhhs/work-first

loading…

us-nc/manual/dhhs/work-first — Axiom

Based on the interview with the household and/or information gathered from the Online Verification System (OVS), a participant may be potentially eligible for other government benefits. If a participant is potentially eligible for other government benefits such as Social Security Benefits, Veterans Benefits, or Supplemental Security Income, they are required to apply for these benefits. A. Applying for UIB A participant is required to apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB) as a condition of eligibility. If the individual meets the monetary eligibility criteria, the individual must file a claim. The case manager must review the current wage data in OVS for the last 12 months (four quarters). Refer to the Job Aid Unemployment Information: Claim Status Codes Defined for additional guidance. The monetary determination criteria for potential UIB eligibility are: 3 1. The individual must meet the minimum 12-month base period (four quarters) requirement. 2. The minimum base period wage requirement is currently $6,455.38 and is revised August 1st of each year. The individual must file a claim by using one of the following methods: 1. Register online at des.nc.gov; or 2. Register by calling the DES Customer Call Center at 888-737- 0259; or 3. Register in person at the local NC Works Career Center. Once the claim is filed, the claimant will receive the NC CLM 550, Wage Transcript and Monetary Determination form. This form may be used to verify the filed claim. A participant is not required to apply for UIB if the participant meets one of the following conditions: 1. Employed full-time as defined by the employer; 2. Registered for and attending school or on vacation during or between successive quarters or semesters; 3. Receiving or applying for benefits under any state or federal law based on temporary or permanent total disability; 4. Receiving a government or other pension, retirement, annuity, or other similar periodic payment that is more than the potential monthly UIB benefit; 5. Placed on disciplinary suspension by the employer. The participant is considered dismissed from the employment if there is a single disciplinary suspension that lasts more than 10 consecutive calendar days. The participant must then apply for UIB; or 6. Unavailable for work due to a medical condition, including childbirth, as verified by a health care provider’s statement. Refer to the Unemployment Information: Claim Status Codes defined Job Aid for guidance on how to read the OVS ESC claim status codes. B. Procedures for Applications and Ongoing Cases When the case manager determines a participant is required to apply for UIB or other government benefits, take the following actions. 4 1. Notify the participant via the DSS-8146A, Notice of Information Needed to Determine Your Eligibility for Work First Family Assistance, of the requirement to apply for UIB or other government benefits. Give the participant 12 calendar days to apply. 2. Inform the participant that if a disability makes it difficult to apply for these benefits, the agency will assist the participant in applying for those benefits as a reasonable accommodation. 3. Ask the family if they need help and document the response and the type of help/reasonable accommodation requested, offered and/or provided, if any, in the case record. 4. The participant must provide verification they have applied for UIB. Verify the application for other government benefits by contacting the source. If unable to obtain verification from the source, accept the family’s statement of application. 5. If the participant does not apply for UIB or other government benefits by the deadline date on the DSS-8146A, determine if there is good cause for the failure to do so. 6. If a participant is unable to complete the application for reasons related to a disability (such as difficulty with mobility, caring for a household member with a disability, or having a cognitive or learning disability that makes it difficult to read and complete the application), provide additional time to complete the application and provide agency assistance in doing so as a reasonable accommodation. 7. If there is not a determination of good cause for completing the requirement by the established deadline, deny the application. Refer to Section 119 for good cause clarification. 8. If the family member applies for UIB or other benefits by the deadline set, but has not begun receiving benefits, do not consider as income until the family member receives the benefits. 9. Do not delay application processing or applying other changes for an ongoing case if the only outstanding verification is the amount of the UIB or other benefit. Set a task in NC FAST to review the case for receipt of the benefit(s). Please see Job Aid titled: Creating Tasks. 5 10. If the participant has applied for and has already begun receiving the UIB or other government benefit, process the application or apply changes to the ongoing case.

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-iv)section-iv WHAT INCOME IS COUNTED#

All income available to the family is counted in determining their eligibility for Work First Cash Assistance, unless otherwise noted. However, income is counted in various ways. The first chart lists possible sources of income, whether they are counted, how they are counted, and possible sources of verification. The second chart lists possible sources of educational assistance and whether the income is counted. Refer to XV below for additional information on educational assistance that is countable. Since it is not possible to list all types of income in these charts, the case manager may encounter income that is not listed here. If so, use prudent judgement and document the decision on how to count the income. The sources of verification 6 listed are possible sources. There may be other acceptable means to verify the income, including the family’s statement in some instances. The type of income must be verified to determine if it is countable. Source of Income Counted? Income Type Verifications - A - Active Corps Executives (ACE) No Adoption Assistance No Adult Developmental Activities Program (ADAP) Payments No Agent Orange Payments No Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Payments No Alien's sponsor's income No Alimony/spousal support Yes Unearned 1. 230-EOM Report 2. Contribution Form DSS-8176 3. Contact the Clerk of Court 4. Contact the spouse AmeriCorps stipend (living allowance) No AmeriCorps childcare assistance No Annuities Yes Unearned 1. Current check or stub 2. Contact the source - B - Baby-sitting Yes Earned If self-employed, see Self-employment verification If wages, see wages verification 7 Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ [military]) Yes Earned 1. Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) 2. Wage stubs 3. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS [military]) Yes Earned 1. Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) 2. Wage stubs 3. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 Bingo winnings Yes Unearned 1. Copy of check 2. Copy of award letter 3. Tax forms 4. Contact the source Black Lung Benefits Yes Unearned 1. Current check 2. Award letter 3. Contact the Social Security District Office 4. Contact the U.S. Dept. Of Labor, Black Lung District Office Boarders Yes Earned 1. Tax records 2. Business records 3. Bills/receipts 4. Records from banks, suppliers, or other knowledgeable sources Bonus pay (regularly or paid once a year) Yes Earned 1. Wage check or stub 2. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 Contact the employer Brown Lung Benefits Yes Unearned 1. Current check 2. Current award letter 3. Contact the Industrial Commission Campaign contributions No 8 Capital gains from business Yes Earned 1. Tax records 2. Business records 3. Bills/receipts 4. Records from banks, suppliers, or other knowledgeable sources Career Sea Pay (military) Yes Earned 1. Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) Census Worker (Permanent) Yes Earned 1. Wage stub or check 2. Wage Verification Form 3. Contact the employer Census Worker (Temporary) No Child support (all types) (For additional information on how to count child support, see XIII. below.) Yes Unearned 1. Contribution Form DSS-8176 2. Contact the Clerk of Court 3. Contact the absent parent 4. ACTS Inquiry Clothing Maintenance Allowance (CMA [military]) Yes Earned 1. Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) 2. Wage stubs 3. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 College Work Study Program administered under Title IV of the Higher Education Act or the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) No College Work Study Program not administered under Title IV of the Higher Education Act or the Bureau of Indian Affairs Yes Earned (Deduct expenses. See XV. below.) 1. Award letter 2. Contact the educational institution Commissions Yes Earned If self-employed, see Self-employment verification If wages, see wage verification form Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds No Contributions (For additional information on how to count contributions, see XIII.) Yes Unearned 1. Contribution Form DSS-8176 from contributor 2. Contact the contributor 9 Cosmetology Yes Earned If self-employed, see Self-employment verification If wages, see wage verification Court ordered restitution Yes Unearned 1. Current check or stub 2. Contact the Clerk of Court 3. Legal documents 4. Contact attorney CP&L (Project Share) Payments No Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) Payments No - D - Disability payments that are provided through a private insurer and the individual is no longer employed Yes Unearned 1. Award letter 2. Check 3. Contact the insurance company Disability payments that are totally employer funded and the individual remains employed Yes Earned 1. Wage stubs 2. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113) 3. Contact the employer Disaster Assistance No Dividends Yes Unearned 1. Current dividend check 2. Dividend statement 3. Contact the stockbroker or brokerage firm 4. Contact the company paying the dividends - E - Earned Income Tax Credit (federal and/or state) No 10 Educational assistance (All Types) (See the chart on types of educational assistance that begins immediately after this chart.) Depends On the Source If counted, Unearned 1. Award letter 2. Campus based budget form 3. Student Income Verification Form 4. Contact the school 5. Contact the provider 6. Bills/receipts Energy Assistance No Experimental Housing Allowance Program (EHAP) Payments No - F - Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA [military]) Yes Earned 1. Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) 2. Wage stubs 3. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 Farm income (If self-employment, see VIII. Below for additional information on how to count self-employment income.) Yes Earned 1. Tax records 2. Business records 3. Bills/receipts 4. Records from banks, suppliers, or other knowledgeable sources Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) Payments No Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) Benefits Yes Unearned 1. Copy of check or stub 2. Award letter 3. Tax forms Food and clothing contributions No Food assistance No Food Stamps No Foster Care No Foster Care supplements over the State maximum payment No Foster-Grandparents No - G - 11 Gambling Yes Unearned 1. Copy of check 2. Copy of award letter 3. Tax forms 4. Contact the source Gaming Proceeds, per capita proceeds to members of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation semi-annually, usually in June and December (prorate over the six-month period between payments) Yes (Payments to minors go into a trust and are not counted.) Unearned 1. Obtain a copy of the check. 2. Obtain a copy of the award letter. 3. Contact the source at: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians P. O. Box 455 Cherokee, NC 28719 (704) 497-3705 General Assistance (GA) Payments No Gifts (monetary) that are for specific verifiable special occasions. No - H - Houlton Band of Macisett Indian Payments No Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Payments No Housing Improvement Grants No - I - In-kind income or contributions No Income Tax Refund (Federal and State) No Independent Living Initiatives of Title IV-E of the Social Security Act (payments or services provided) No Indian Tribe Payments under P. L. 97.458 & 98.64 No 12 Inheritance Yes Unearned 1. Copy of the will 2. Contact the executor or administrator of the estate 3. Contact the Clerk of Court 4. Contact the probate lawyer Insurance settlements (except for lump sums) Yes Unearned 1. Settlement check 2. Contact the lawyer who handled the settlement 3. Contact the insurance company Interest income (if paid to the family) Yes Unearned 1. Current account statement 2. Request for Financial Information Form (DSS-3431) - J - Job Corps (See WIOA) Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) See Workforce Investment Act, below. No Jump Pay (Military) Yes Earned 1. Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) 2. Wage stubs 3. Wage Verification DSS-8113 Jury Duty payments Yes Earned 1. Check or stub 2. Contact the Clerk of Court - L - Leave Rations (military) Yes Earned 1. Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) 2. Wage stubs 3. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 Loans (if repayment plan shows when the loan will be repaid) No 13 Longevity Pay Yes Earned 1. Check or stub 2. Contact the employer Lottery winnings – if paid other than as a lump sum Yes Unearned 1. Check 2. Award letter 3. Tax forms 4. Contact the source Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) Payments No Lump-sum payments (For additional information on how to count lump-sum payments, see XV. below.) Yes, for Apps., count in month of receipt Unearned 1. Check 2. Letter from provider 3. Signed statements 4. Bill of sale - M - Migrant income Yes Earned 1. Check stub or DSS-8113 2. Contact the Employment Service; Farm Labor Bureau; Rural Manpower Development; Farmer's Cooperative Service; Grower's Association; Migrant Service Organizations; county agent; or the individual growers and crew chiefs. 3. Use records that show: each day's income and hours worked, and signature of the grower or crew chief. Military Allotments Yes Unearned 1. Current check or stub 2. Award letter 3. Contact commanding officers of military payment information centers (Attach a letter authorizing the release of the information.) Military Allotments received as child support. (For additional information on how to count military allotments received as child support, see XII. below.) Yes Unearned 1. Current check or stub 2. Award letter 3. Contact commanding officers of military payment information centers (Attach a letter authorizing the release of the information.) 14 Military Pay Yes Earned 1. Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) 2. Wage stubs 3. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 Monthly disbursements from a trust fund Yes Unearned 1. Contact the administrator/executor of the fund 2. Contact the lawyer - N - National School Lunch Act No Notary Public fees received Yes Earned 1. Tax records 2. Business records 3. Bills/receipts 4. Records from banks, suppliers, or other knowledgeable sources Nutrition Program for the Elderly, Of the Older Americans Act Of 1965 No - O - On-the-Job-Training (OJT) Payments Yes Earned 1. Wage stub or check 2. Contact the source - P - Paid Work Experience (Generally through Welfare-to-Work) Yes Earned 1. Wage stub or check 2. Contact the source Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe Payments No Pay advances Yes Earned 1. Wage stub or check 2. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 3. Contact the employer Pell Grants No 1. Award letter 2. Contact educational institution Penobscot Nation Indian Payments No 15 Pensions Yes Unearned 1. Pension check or stub 2. Award letter 3. Contact the organization providing the benefits 4. Tax records Private unemployment benefits Yes Unearned 1. Check or stub 2. Award letter 3. Contact the company paying the benefits Public Service Employment (PSE) Yes Earned 1. Wage stubs 2. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 Contact the employer - R - Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Payments No Railroad Retirement Yes Unearned 1. Railroad Retirement check 2. Award letter 3. Contact a representative of the Railroad Retirement Board (See listing in RMDS.) Reimbursements (for out-of- pocket expenses other than normal living expenses such as rent, mortgage, personal clothing, or food eaten at home.) No Relocation payments No Rental income (treat as self- employment income, see IX. below) Yes Earned 1. Tax records 2. Business records 3. Bills/receipts 4. Records from banks, suppliers, or other knowledgeable sources 16 Representative payment (payment received by one individual on behalf of another individual) – Income is available for the family. Yes See specific income type See specific type of income for verifications Representative payment (payment received by one individual on behalf of another individual) – Income is not available for the family. No Restitution under the Civil Liberties Act Of 1988 No Retirement benefits Yes Unearned 1. Retirement check 2. Award letter 3. Contact the company or business paying the benefits Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) No Reverse mortgages No Roomers Yes Earned 1. Tax records 2. Business records 3. Bills/receipts 4. Records from banks, suppliers, or other knowledgeable sources - S - Sale of blood or plasma (Considered self-employment) Yes Earned 1. Tax records 2. Business records 3. Bills/receipts 4. Records from banks, suppliers, or other knowledgeable sources Scholarships (For additional information on how to count scholarships, see XIV. below.) Yes Unearned 1. Award letter 2. Contact the source 17 Sea Duty Pay (military) Yes Earned 1. Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) 2. Wage stubs 3. Completed Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 Seasonal employment Yes Earned If self-employed, see Self-employment verification. If wages, see wage verification Section 8 (HUD) No Self-employment (For additional information on counting self-employment, see IX. below.) Yes Earned 1. Tax records 2. Business records 3. Bills/receipts 4. Records from banks, suppliers, or other knowledgeable sources Selling recyclables Yes Earned 1. Tax records 2. Business records 3. Bills/receipts 4. Records from banks, suppliers, or other knowledgeable sources Senior Companions Payment Program (Title II) No Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), Title V Separate Rations (military) No Yes Earned 1. Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) 2. Wage stubs 3. Completed wage verification Form DSS-8113 Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) Payments No 18 Severance Pay Yes Unearned 1. Wage stub or check 2. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 3. Contact the employer Shared expenses No Shelter, utilities, and household furnishings made available at no cost No Sick pay Yes Earned 1. Wage stub or check 2. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 3. Contact the employer Social Security Benefits - Count the net social security benefit amount that appears on the BENDEX record. NOTE: When the payment is being reduced due to federal offset to repay a federal debt, offset information will not appear on BENDEX, but may appear on an individual’s award letter. Use the BENDEX record as verification of the correct net benefit amount. (If a Medicare premium is being deducted, add the premium amount to the net benefit amount. Count this total as unearned income.) Yes Unearned 1. BENDEX Inquiry 2. Third Party Query (TPQY) 3. BENDEX Data Exchange Report 4. Current Social Security check 5. Current award letter Spousal support Yes Unearned 1. 230-EOM Report 2. Contribution Form DSS-8176 3. Contact the Clerk of Court 4. Contact the spouse Sponsor Income No 19 State Earned Income Tax Credit (SEITC) No SSI (Supplemental Security Income) No Stipends for students Yes Unearned 1. Check or stub 2. Award letter 3. Contact the educational institution Surplus Commodities No - T - Tax intercept payments (support) (For more information on child support, see XII. below.) Yes Unearned 1. ACTS Inquiry 2. Contribution Form DSS-8176 3. Contact the Clerk of Court 4. Contact the spouse Telamon Payments Yes Earned 1. Check or stub 2. Contact the Telamon Office 3. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 Tips Yes Earned 1. Wage stubs 2. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 Work First Family Assistance Report 4. Contact the employer 5. Client's records Trade Readjustment Benefits Yes Unearned 1. Current check 2. Current award letter 3. Contact the local Employment Security Commission (ESC) Office Travel reimbursement paid from an employer to an employee for travel expenses while working for the employer No - U - 20 Uber/Lyft/Door dash or any similar ride share business. (Self- Employment) Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB) Unlicensed Kinship Placements Payments for Caretakers in Child Only Cases. (This payment is considered unearned income to the case head.) Unlicensed Kinship Placement Payments in Adult included/Work First Benefit cases. (For example: Case including biological children and relative placement) Yes Yes No Yes Earned Unearned Unearned 1099 MISC Form 1. ESC/UIB Inquiry 2. Current UIB check 3. Current award letter 1. Letter from Children's Services staff outlining amount received. Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act Of 1970 No - V - Vacation Pay Yes Earned 1. Wage check or stub 2. Completed Wage Verification Form (DSS-8113) 3. Contact the employer Variable Housing Allowance (VHA) [military] Yes Earned 1. Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) 2. Wage stubs 3. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 Vendor payments No Veteran's Administration Educational Assistance Program/ G.I. Bill (only what is used for educational purposes) No 21 Veterans Administration (VA) Benefits Yes Unearned 1. Contact the VA Regional Office Claims Division at 1-800-827-1000 2. Current VA benefit check 3. Current award letter 4. Contact the local VA service office Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Incentive Payments (if a training program is in effect. No Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) No - W - Wages Yes Earned 1. Wage stubs 2. Wage Verification Form DSS-8113 3. Work First Family Assistance Report 4. Contact the employer Witness pay Yes Unearned 1. Check or stub 2. Contact the Clerk of Court Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (Formerly, JTPA) paid to an adult Yes Earned 1. Check, or stub, or DSS-8113 2. Contact WIOA Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Formerly, JTPA and WIA) paid to a child, No Work First Employment Services payments made to someone other than the participant but made on the participant’s behalf (Example, childcare payments made to the participant's sister who is also receiving Work First Cash Assistance – Count the childcare as income for the sister.) Yes Earned If self-employed, see Self-employment verification. If wages, see wage verification 22 Work Release (For additional information on how to count Work Release, see XIV. below.) Yes Unearned 1. Check or stub 2. DC-190 from the Dept. of Correction 3. Work Release Check List 4. Contact the Dept. of Correction Worker's Compensation provided through a private insurer, or the individual is no longer employed Yes Unearned 1. Award letter 2. Current check 3. Contact the provider or insurance company Worker's Compensation that is totally employer funded and the individual remains employed Yes Earned 1. Check or wage stub 2. Award letter 3. Contact the company where the person is employed or its insurance company 4. Contact the lawyer The following is a list of potential sources of educational assistance and whether they are counted in Work First Cash Assistance. Possible sources of verification for the educational assistance listed below include award letters, contacts with the agency that administers the assistance, and contacts with the educational institution. See XVI. below for additional information regarding countable educational assistance. - B - Basic Educational Opportunity Grants (BEOG and PELL Grants) No Bilingual Materials, Methods, and Techniques Program No Bilingual Vocational Instructor Training Program No Bilingual Vocational Training Program No Blue Ribbon Vocational Education Program No Business and Education Standards Program No - C - Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act No College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) for students whose families are engaged in migrant and seasonal farm work No Community Education Employment Center Program No Cooperative Demonstration Programs No - D - Demonstration Centers for the Training of Dislocated Workers Program No 23 - E - Education Lottery Scholarship (ELS) (Grant) No Educational Programs for Federal Correctional Institutions No - F - Federal Family Education Loan Program (formerly GSL) No - G - Grants Administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs No - H - High School Equivalency Program (HEP) No - I - Income Contingent Loan (Eff. 7/1/87) (Title IV) No Indian Vocational Education Program No Internships for Gifted and Talented Vocational Education Students Program No - M - Materials Development in Telecommunications Program No Model Programs of Regional Training for Skilled Trades (Carl Perkins) No - N - National Center or Center For Research in Vocational Education No National Early Intervention Scholarship and Partnership Program No National Network for Curriculum Coordination in Vocational and Technical Education No National Tech-Prep Education Program No Native Hawaiian Vocational Education Program No - P - PELL Grants No PLUS Loans for Parents No Presidential Access Scholarships (Super PELL Grants) No - R - Source of Income Counted Robert E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement No Robert T. Stafford Student Loans No - S - Scholarships Offered by Civic Groups Yes Scholarships Offered by Institution Yes Sports Scholarships Yes State Student Incentive Grants No 24 State Vocational and Applied Technology Education Program which contains the: • State Program and State Leadership Activities; • Program for Single Parents, Displaced Homemakers, and Single Pregnant Women; Sex Equity Program; • Programs for Criminal Offenders; Secondary School Vocational Education Program; Post secondary and Adult Vocational Education Program; • State Assistance for Vocational Education Support Programs by Community-Based Organizations; Consumer and Homemaking Education Program; Comprehensive Career Guidance and Counseling Program; and • Business-Labor-Education Partnership for Training Program No State-Administered Tech-Prep Education Program No Student Support Services (Title IV) No Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) No Supplemental Loans for Students (Title IV) No Supplementary State Grants for Facilities and Equipment and Other Program Improvements Activities (Carl Perkins) No - T - Tribally Controlled Post-Secondary Vocational Institutions Program No TRIO Grants (Go to organizations or institutions for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.) No - U - Upward Bound (some stipends go to students) No - V - Vocational Education Dropout Prevention Program No Vocational Education Leadership Development Awards Program No Vocational Education Lighthouse Schools Program No Vocational Education Research Program No Vocational Education Training and Study Grants Program No Vocational Educator Training Fellowships Program No

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-ix)section-ix ANNUALIZED SELF-EMPLOYMENT INCOME#

Annualized self-employment is defined as self-employment where the income is received less often than monthly and is intended to be the annual support for the family. Examples include farming and certain fishermen. A. To project this income: 1. Obtain income verification for the previous 12 months or, if the business has been in operation less than 12 months, the number of months the business has been in operation. 2. Obtain verification of business expenses for the previous 12 months or, if the business has been in operation less than 12 months, the number of months the business has been in operation. 36 3. Enter the income and expenses for each month in NC FAST. 4. Continue counting this income until the next review unless there is a change. If there is a change, follow instructions in B. below. NOTE: For Work First Cash Assistance reporting cases with annualized self-employment do not recalculate the gross countable income at each Work First Family Assistance Report. As Work First Family Assistance Reports (DSS-8127) are received, review for completeness and timeliness and act on them at the next review. B. Changes to Annualized Self-Employment Change in annualized self-employment is defined as beginning or terminating employment or a substantial increase or decrease in income. 1. Beginning Employment or Substantial Increase or Decrease a. Verify the amount the family is expected to receive each pay period. b. If actual income and expenses are available for any month, budget the actual income and expenses for that month. c. If the family will not receive a full month's income, use actual (if available) plus projected income in that month. d. Use projected income and expenses for ongoing months of eligibility until the next review. 2. Terminated Employment a. Verify the family member's terminated income. b. If the income has terminated and the last pay or benefit was received prior to the date of application, do not count. c. If actual income is available for any month, budget the actual income for that month. 37 d. If a full month's income is not expected to be received, use actual (if available) plus projected income for the last month the terminated income is expected to be received. e. Budget as ongoing income if a full month's income is expected to be received. f. Do not count terminated income in any month after the last income is received. NOTE: For self-employment that is not annualized, follow budgeting procedures in V., VI., and VII. above. Examples of nonannualized self-employment include baby-sitting, selling Avon, or doing carpentry.

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-v)section-v BUDGETING INCOME#

When a family reports income, verify and document the income and determine the payment amount by projecting income following the instructions below. When projecting income, the case manager will use income that represents the client’s anticipated income. Representative income means that there are no anticipated changes, and the verification represents the budget unit’s expected income during the certification period. A. Prospective Budgeting Budget all prospective income when determining the Work First Cash Assistance payment. The payment for a month is based on 25 the income projected to be received in that month and, therefore, reflects as accurately as possible the family's need for that month. For example, July's Work First cash assistance payment is based on the income projected to be received in July. B. Base Periods Base periods are the periods of time that are the basis for determining income eligibility. The base period: • establishes a set time period for case managers to create a “snapshot” of a budget unit’s income. • should be an accurate representation of the income the household is expected to have available during the certification period. Budget ongoing income using information from the base period to estimate the projected income for future months. Use the following base periods: 1. One Month: The base period for most income is the month prior to the month of application or recertification. 2. Three Months: The base period for the following types of income is three months prior to the month of application, recertification, or the quarterly report: • child support, • spousal support and alimony For Work First Cash Assistance, add the months together and divide by 3. 3. Twelve Months: If the income is received annually or from self-employment, the base period is 12 months. Exception: If client has been self-employed for less than 12 months, use months in business, if representative. NOTE: If a full month of actual income is available for any month, budget the actual income for that month. (This may happen at application or administrative reopen.) Enter this income as actual income in the budget. NC FAST does not convert this income. For guidance on entering income evidence refer to the FAST Help Income & Expense Evidence Wizards-Income Support Job Aid. 26 Base Periods for Nonrepresentative Income When determining a base period for nonrepresentative income: 1. Explore alternative budgeting methods for projecting or averaging income. 2. Determine which budgeting method is the most representative estimate of the budget unit’s income over the certification period. 3. Project income using the best available information about the number of hours, rate of pay, and frequency of pay expected to be received over the certification period. 4. If you use an alternate budgeting method, you must document why the base period is not representative and how you determined what is. All income shall be counted in the calendar month the household receives the income unless otherwise stated. C. Evaluating Base Period Income Income received in the base period must be verified. Once income information from the base period has been identified and verified, the case manager must determine whether this income is representative of the income expected to be received during the month(s) for which eligibility is being determined. Examples of determining Base Periods: 1. Application is received on March 5. Applicant is receiving ongoing income from earned wages. What is the base period? ▪ February 1- February 28 if the income is representative and anticipated. 2. Application is received on June 29. Applicant is receiving ongoing child support. What is the base period? ▪ The base period is the full three months prior: March, April, and May if the income is representative and anticipated. 3. Application is received on October 8. Applicant is receiving SSA each month. What is the base period? ▪ September 1 – September 30 if the income is representative and anticipated. 4. Application is received on December 12. Applicant is receiving ongoing earned income wages; they are paid monthly. What is the base period? ▪ November 1- November 30 if the income is representative and anticipated. 5. Application is received on July 16. Applicant has been self-employed for 18 months. What is the base period? 27 • June - July (12 months prior to application) if the income is representative and anticipated. If the base period income is not representative, do not use it to project income. If there is new, terminated or changed income during or after the base period, the base period income may not be representative, and the case manager must move the base period forward and adjust the income. See VI. below. If a pay period in the base period is uncharacteristically high or low, determine how often such occurrences can be expected and document the decision whether to count the nonrepresentative pay period in budgeting. Example: A Work First applicant is paid weekly and has pay stubs for July, the base period, as follows: Pay: Date: $ 80.00 July 5 $ 0.00 July 12 $ 75.00 July 19 $ 100.00 July 26 The applicant states she received no income the week of July 12 due to the annual closure of the company which is not expected to occur again until next July. The applicant also states that the variation between the $75.00 and $100.00 amounts is typical of the variation that normally occurs from week to week. Document the reason for the zero-pay period in the case record and use the other three payment amounts to project ongoing income beginning in August. $ 80.00 + 75.00 + 100.00 = $255.00 Actual July Income $255.00 ÷ 3 = $85.00 Weekly Average $85.00 x 4.3 = $365.50 Projected Monthly Income NOTE: To determine when income that is mailed is received, direct deposit transmissions generally require a processing time of two (2) business days once the payment is disbursed from the Custodial Parents (CP) participant account. EXAMPLE: If a child support payment is disbursed from the CP's participant account on Monday, the payment is deposited into the CP's account on Wednesday. However, the processing time can be longer than two (2) business days for smaller banks, and it also can be affected by the holidays, give three mailing days. To determine when income that is paid by electronic fund transfer 28 (EFT) is received, give two business days from the date of authorization by the payer. However, for income that is mailed or transferred by EFT; accept the family’s statement of when they received the income if they state they received the income earlier. D. Computation of Income Enter the income received in NC FAST to calculate a family’s projected income. NC FAST averages the income from each pay or benefit period and converts it to a monthly amount. The income is converted to a monthly amount according to the frequency of receipt. The automated budget multiplies the averaged amount by: • 4.3 if the income is received weekly. • 2.15 if the income is received biweekly (every two weeks). • 2 if the income is received twice a month. • 1 if the income is received monthly. For guidance on how to enter income in NC FAST refer to Income & Expense Evidence Wizards-Income Support Job Aid. To compute a monthly income amount, enter the base period amounts and the correct indicator for the frequency of receipt into NC FAST. Enter this income in NC FAST until the next Work First Family Assistance Report or change in income, whichever occurs first. EXAMPLE 1: Ongoing Case - The following earned income is reported on the Work First Family Assistance Report. Pay: Date: $ 125.00 April 2 130.00 April 9 110.00 April 16 150.00 April 23 100.00 April 30 Enter each amount in NC FAST and the indicator for weekly income. The automated budget averages the income and multiplies it by 4.3 to get a monthly amount. Continue to count this income until the next Work First Cash Assistance Report or change in income, whichever occurs first. EXAMPLE 2: 29 The family is receiving ongoing Work First Cash Assistance. The family has ongoing UIB. The family reports on the Work First Family Assistance Report returned in May that they received $150 on April 12 and $150 on April 26. This is verified by viewing OVS. Enter both amounts in NC FAST along with the indicator reflecting payment is received weekly. Continue to count this income until the next Work First Family Assistance Report or change in income, whichever occurs first.

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-vi)section-vi BUDGETING NEW OR CHANGED INCOME#

When a family has new or changed income during or after the base period, the base period income is not representative of expected income. Do not use base period income to determine eligibility or payment amounts. A. Changed versus Fluctuating Income Income is fluctuating when it changes slightly but the fluctuation does not represent an ongoing change and is not representative of a change in income anticipated during the period for which eligibility is being determined. For example, if an employee’s weekly income fluctuates due to variations in the number of hours scheduled and the scheduled hours are as likely to go up as to go down, the income is fluctuating. Do not re-budget income based on normal fluctuations in income. B. Changed Income A change in income is: 1. A change in the rate of pay. 2. An increase or a decrease in the award, court ordered, or agreed upon amount for unearned income (child support, contributions, SSA, VA, etc.) or a change in the actual amount received for contributions or child support). NOTE: When there is a change in the award, court ordered, or agreed-upon amount of child support, the case manager must evaluate whether it is reasonable to expect the actual amount received to change. 3. An ongoing change in the number of work hours for earned income. 4. A new source of earned or unearned income. 5. A terminated source of earned or unearned income. 30 6. SSI Termination – Counties must monitor the SSI Termination/Alert Detail Report (located in NC FAST under Reports), to ensure any required family members that are terminating SSI are included in the Work First Assistance Unit. If appropriate, immediately add the individual to the Work First Assistance payment. When a family experiences a change in income, they must report the change within 10 calendar days of when they know about the change. The change should be verified and documented on the Verification of Change in Situation form (DSS-1662). Make the change in the benefits as early as the month following the month of change, but no later than the second month following the month of change. Changes are effective the month after the month in which the 10- day notice expires unless the family waives their right to the 10- day notice. This requires a written statement from the participant. Example: The case manager is notified on March 10 that a participant began working. The case manager must verify the new wages, send a timely notice, and enter the change into NC Fast to be effective no later than May 1. If a family fails to report a change within 10 days of knowing of the change, without good cause, the family is not complying with their MRA-A and will make the entire family ineligible for a Work First Cash Assistance payment for one month or until compliance, whichever is later. For non-compliance with the MRA, a sanction is applied to the Work First payment. See Work First Policy Section 120 for applying the sanction procedures. and the Creating or Disregarding an Active Sanction Job Aid. C. Special Instructions Regarding Temporary Agency Employment Individuals employed by temporary agencies may begin, end, and change assignments on a sporadic basis. Although they may work at different locations and perform different duties, they remain employed by the same employer—the temporary agency. The case manager will have to decide on a case-by-case basis whether to treat the situation as a change in income, terminated income, or new income. The case manager must outline in the case documentation the decision made and steps the case manager took to arrive at the decision. Temporary workers may experience a period between assignments when they have no income. If they begin a new assignment within a few days of an assignment ending, the case 31 manager might consider the days without pay as a fluctuation that does not require action. However, if an assignment ends and a new assignment appears unlikely, or cannot be expected within a short period, then the income that is projected in the ongoing budget is not representative of what the family can expect in the upcoming month(s). In this situation, adjust the Work First income budget to reflect a reduction in anticipated income. Factors to consider are the employee’s history with the temporary agency, overall work history, and marketable skills and experience. The case manager may want to contact the agency and ask about the number of placements they expect to have soon that might match the employee’s skills. When a temporary worker reports a new assignment that reflects a change in the ongoing number of hours or rate of pay, treat this as a change in income as described in B. above. D. What to do when a family reports New or Changed Income? If the family reports new or changed income, verify, and document the new income. To determine and document the new income, follow the instructions below. NOTE: The family is required to report all changes within 10 calendar days of knowing of the change. 1. Verify the amount the family expects to receive each pay or benefit period. a. The family is responsible for providing verification of income. If the family needs assistance in obtaining verification, this must be provided by the case manager. To be entitled to reasonable accommodation for a disability, a caretaker need not be receiving or be eligible for SSI or other disability benefits. b. Set a deadline for families to return verification of earned and unearned income. See the chart in III. above for possible sources of verification. c. For ongoing cases, if the family does not provide verification of earned or unearned income by the deadline set, send a timely notice to terminate assistance. It is ultimately the responsibility of the 32 family to provide verification; however, the case manager must expend all options to obtain and assist with obtaining the information prior to termination. An example would be the case manager calls the employer directly to obtain wage information. d. For applications, if the family does not provide verification of earned or unearned income by the deadline, see Cash Assistance Application Process and Procedures (Manual Section 104) for instructions. 2. Project the new income. a. To project earned income, take the following steps. (1) Determine the: • Hourly rate of pay; • Number of hours per pay period; • Frequency of pay, i.e., weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or monthly; and • Expected date of pay. (2) Multiply the hourly rate by the number of hours in the pay period. Use this total to project the income. b. To project unearned income, take the following steps. (1) Determine: • The benefit amount; • Frequency of the benefit; and • Expected date of receipt. (2) Use the expected benefit amount to project the income. 3. Enter the projected income into the automated budget in NC FAST. 33 a. If a full month of income will not be received, enter the projected amount in the automated budget the number of times it is expected to be received. Enter the actual monthly income in NC FAST. NC FAST does not convert this to a monthly amount. b. If a full month’s income is going to be received, enter the projected amount and the frequency of receipt in the automated budget. NC FAST converts this to a monthly amount. EXAMPLE: Ongoing Work First Cash Assistance case with a family member who goes to work in March. The employer verifies the family member is paid $8.00 an hour and is expected to work 25 hours in the first pay period. The family member will receive his first pay April 5. The family member will normally work 40 hours a week. The family member is paid weekly and will be paid four times in April. 1. $8.00 2. 8.00 X 25 x 40 ______ ______ $200 (projected 1st pay) $320 (projected ongoing weekly pay) 3 $320 4. $200 X3 +960 $960 $ 1160 (projected remaining April pay) (projected April total pay) Use $1160 for April's budget. Enter this amount as actual income in the NC FAST. NC FAST does not convert this income. Enter $320 for May’s budget and ongoing months until a Work First Family Assistance Report is received, or the family reports a change. Enter the indicator for wages received weekly. NC FAST converts this income to a monthly amount.

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-x)section-x WORK FIRST FAMILY ASSISTANCE QUARTERLY REPORT#

The purpose of the Work First Family Assistance Report, DSS-8127, (Quarterly Report/QR) is to ensure correct benefit issuance and compliance with certain provisions of the Mutual Responsibility Agreement. Certain households are required to complete this report and submit it quarterly to continue to receive cash assistance. A. Selection Criteria 1. The following households are required to complete a Work First Family Assistance Report, DSS-8127, to continue to receive cash assistance. a. Child Only cases with earned and unearned income. If the only household income is Social Security, which is relatively stable, the household will not receive a Work First Family Assistance Report. b. Families that contain a minor parent or a child 16 years old or older. 2. When a household is newly approved for Cash Assistance, the DSS-8127 is automatically generated and mailed to the household at the end of their second benefit month. If the household's cash assistance application is approved after the system selection date, the DSS-8127 will auto-generate for the next reporting cycle. 3. A Work First Family Assistance Report is then sent to the household once every three months. The household must return 38 their completed report by the deadline indicated on the quarterly report. The household remains responsible for reporting changes within 10 calendar days of the date the household knows of the change. The case manager must inform all households required to submit a Work First Family Assistance Report that they have a right to receive help with completing the report. The case manager should ask families if they need help, document the response and the type of help requested, offered and/or provided, if any, in the case record. The Household also has the option to complete a telephone interview and provide a telephonic signature. Case managers must document the telephonic signature in the income support case details. The adult case head must speak directly with a case manager to complete a telephonic signature. The case manager will summarize the information to which the household attests and allows a verbal signature. The documentation must be included in a case note in NC FAST to demonstrate that the client has signed the form. Document “Telephone Signature” in the Income Support Application Case Details Notes. The documentation in NC FAST should include the client’s name, date, time telephone interview and the client’s response to indicating agreement to this verbal attestation of signature over the phone. The household must be mailed a copy of the telephonically signed forms and the case manager must document this in the case notes Please see Work First Policy Section 104 on telephone interviews and telephonic signatures. If there is a household member that has as a disability that makes it difficult to read, comprehend, or complete the Work First Family Assistance Report timely, the household has a right to receive help from the agency in doing so as a reasonable accommodation. To receive a reasonable accommodation, an individual does not need to be receiving or be eligible for SSI or other disability benefits. Reasonable accommodations also apply to individuals who are caring for a household member with a disability. The case manager should ask families if they need such help, document the response and the type of accommodation requested, offered and/or provided, if any, in the case record. B. Returned Work First Family Assistance Reports The case manager must determine whether the Work First Family Assistance Report is complete. The report is complete when and all information needed to determine eligibility is recorded and it is signed by 39 the participant or a telephonic signature has been accepted. In two- parent cases, one or both parents may sign the report. 1. Complete Work First Family Assistance Report a. Date stamp the Work First Family Assistance Report. b. Maintain the envelope if the report is received after the deadline, and the envelope is postmarked prior to the return deadline. If the report is received digitally, the email communication must be uploaded to NC FAST. c. Review the report for changes and compliance with the Mutual Responsibility Agreement. If there are no changes, the report must be maintained in the case record by uploading to NC FAST. d. If there are changes, take appropriate case action. Notify other internal program areas, if applicable, of the change via the Income Maintenance Transmittal form, DSS-8194, or other agency approved method. For additional guidance see Fast Help Job Aid: Processing Completed Quarterly Reports for additional guidance. 2. Incomplete Work First Family Assistance Report a. Date stamp the Report and maintain the postmarked envelope for the case record. b. Document the receipt of the Work First Family Assistance Report in the case notes. c. Upload the documentation into NC FAST. d. Circle the incomplete items in red on the DSS-8127 and attach a Notice of Incomplete Work First Family Assistance Report Form, DSS-8137 e. Review the case record to determine whether the household indicated a need for help in completing and returning the report, and if so, whether this help was provided. If such help is needed and it was not provided, the case manager should provide the help. f. If the record contains no indication that the household sought help with completing and submitting the report, or such help was already provided, return the Work First Family Assistance Report along with the DSS-8137 to the household no later than the required deadline. 40 g. The household must have 10 calendar days to return the incomplete report prior to the NC FAST termination date for failure to comply with the reporting requirement. For additional guidance see Fast Help Job Aid: Processing Incomplete Quarterly Reports C. Failure to Return the Work First Family Assistance (WFFA) Report 1. If the Work First Family Assistance Report is not received by the first deadline, review the case record to determine whether the household indicated a need for help completing and/or returning the report, and if so, whether this help was provided. If such help is needed and it was not provided, the case manager must provide the help. 2. If the case record contains no indication that the household sought help with completing and/or submitting the report, or if such help was already provided, no action is necessary. A second Work First Family Assistance Report is system generated along with a Notice of Failure to Return Work First Family Assistance Report and a return envelope stamped "Work First Family Assistance." If the Work First Family Assistance Report is not returned by the second deadline or is received incomplete, the case manager should review the case record to determine whether the household indicated a need for help in completing and returning the report, and if help was provided. If there is no documentation of a request for assistance with completing and submitting the report or assistance was provided, the household will receive a system generated notice of termination for failure to comply with the reporting requirement.

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-xi)section-xi JOB BONUS#

The Work First Job Bonus is a fixed payment that assists families as they transition from cash assistance to employment. Job Bonus is limited to once per lifetime for each cash assistance household and individual. It is a $100.00 payment per month, for three consecutive months. It replaces the Work First Cash Assistance payment. Each Work First household whose new earned income results in their monetary ineligibility to receive a cash assistance payment may be eligible to receive Job Bonus. The new earnings may be a result of full or part time employment if it is new earned income, or the employment is considered permanent. If there are increased earnings from existing employment and the household becomes monetarily ineligible; the household may be eligible for Job Bonus. 41 There is not an established definition for what is considered permanent employment. For example, there are some jobs with temporary agencies that are long term assignments and, therefore, may be considered permanent for purposes of the Job Bonus. It is important that the case manager carefully evaluates the type of employment with temporary agencies as well as other employment situations. Failure to accurately evaluate these criteria may negatively impact the household. Also, it is important to ensure fair and equitable standards are applied to all households who are evaluated for Job Bonus. If the participant’s new earnings change before the expiration of the three-month Job Bonus period, the participant may reapply for Work First cash assistance. Once a Job Bonus is applied, even if received for less than three months, the household has met their lifetime limit for Job Bonus. Note: For Work First Benefit (WFB) cases, the Job Bonus payment is not issued until after compliance with the Mutual Responsibility Agreement/Outcome Plan, unless the case manager determines good cause for the non-compliance. A. Eligible Households 1. Job Bonus is only offered to households that receive ongoing cash assistance; Job Bonus is not available at application. 2. Participants are not eligible to receive Job Bonus during a Job Quit penalty period or if the cash assistance case is closed. 3. Job Bonus is offered to the adult members that are included in the budget unit. The budget unit may include financially responsible individuals who are excluded from the assistance unit for failure to meet other eligibility requirements. Because their income is counted in determining eligibility, these individuals may qualify for the Job Bonus. 4. Job Bonus can be received once in the lifetime of a cash assistance case. 5. If the household composition changes, a different household member may be eligible to receive an additional Job Bonus. EXAMPLE 1 Parent A, of a two-parent household, becomes employed and the increased earnings terminates the household from cash assistance. The household receives the Job Bonus. 42 If Parent B becomes employed, the household is ineligible for an additional Job Bonus because Parent A previously received Job Bonus. EXAMPLE 2 Parent B from Example #1 moves into the household of Parent C and their child. Parent C obtains employment, and the new earned income terminates the household from cash assistance. Parent C never received Job Bonus; the household is eligible to receive the Job Bonus. EXAMPLE 3 Parent B becomes employed while living in the household of Parent C from Example #2. The household is ineligible for Job Bonus. Although Parent B has never received Job Bonus, Parent C previously received Job Bonus. B. Evaluating for Job Bonus When the household reports increased earnings or the case manager becomes aware of increased earnings from either a task received in NC FAST or another internal communication, the case manager must discuss with the household their potential eligibility for Job Bonus. The Work First Family Assistance Job Bonus form, DSS-8222/8222sp is used to notify the household of their potential eligibility for Job Bonus. If the increase in earnings is reported by the household, the case manager should create a task in NC FAST using Job Aid “Creating a Task” and send a DSS-8194 to communicate this change with other programs. 1. Increased Earnings Reported Timely a. Determine the impact of the increased earnings on the household’s cash assistance payment. The case manager may accept the household’s statement of the increased earnings pending third party verification. b. If the increased earnings do not terminate the household from cash assistance, follow the defined procedures for processing changes in income. c. Evaluate the household’s eligibility for Job Bonus if the increased earnings will terminate the household from cash assistance. 43 d. If the household is eligible for Job Bonus, send the DSS- 8222/8222sp to notify them of their potential eligibility for Job Bonus. The DSS-8222/8222sp also serves as the Timely notice of termination for the household and includes Hearing Rights. The participant must sign and return the form acknowledging they accept or decline the Job Bonus. Maintain a copy of the form for the case file. The case head must speak with a case manager to complete a telephonic signature. The case manager will summarize the information to which the household attests and allows a verbal signature. The documentation must be included in a case note in NC FAST to demonstrate that the client has signed the form. Document “Telephone Signature” in the Income Support Case Details Notes. The documentation in NC FAST should include the client’s name, date, time telephone interview and the client’s response to indicating agreement to this verbal attestation of signature over the phone. The household must be mailed a copy of the telephonically signed forms and the case manager must document this in the case notes Please see Work First Policy Section 104 on telephone interviews and telephonic signatures. e. The form must be returned within 10 calendar days for the household to be eligible for Job Bonus. The case manager must include the return by date on the form. f. If the change is reported during an office visit and the eligibility for Job Bonus can be determined, provide the DSS-8222/8222sp to the household at that time. g. If the form is not returned by the tenth (10th) calendar day, follow Work First policy to terminate the cash assistance case. The DSS-8222 serves as the Timely notice, therefore the household may be terminated without further notice. Once the case terminates, a Notice of Termination, DSS-8110 Adequate notice must be sent to the participant to inform them of the action taken on their case. See Work First Manual Section 264.If the form is returned by the tenth (10th) calendar day and the household has chosen to accept the Job Bonus, refer to the FAST Help Job Aid: Job Bonus for Cash Assistance for processing instructions. Once the case terminates at the end of the Job Bonus period, a Notice of Termination (DSS-8110 Adequate) must be sent to the participant to inform them of the 44 action taken on their case. See Work First Manual Section 264. h. If the DSS-8222/8222sp is returned by the tenth (10th) calendar day and the household declines the Job Bonus, follow Work First policy to terminate the cash assistance case. The DSS-8222 serves as the Timely notice, therefore the household may be terminated without further notice. Once the case terminates, a Notice of Termination (DSS-8110 Adequate) must be sent to the participant to inform them of the action taken on their cash assistance case. See Work First Manual Section 264. i. Families that decline the Job Bonus may be eligible in the future for Job Bonus. 2. Increased Earnings Not Reported Timely a. If the household fails to report the increased earnings timely, it is considered non-compliance with the Mutual Responsibility Agreement (MRA). The household is ineligible for Job Bonus and the case manager must follow policies related to MRA noncompliance. b. Review the case to determine if there is a potential overpayment. If so, refer the case to the Program Integrity Unit. 3. Evaluating for Job Bonus at the End of a Certification Period A household may report increased earnings at their Cash Assistance Review or at a time nearing the end of their certification period. Job Bonus is applied to the cash assistance case once in a lifetime for a concurrent period of three (3) months. a. The Job Bonus months must occur within the same certification period. It cannot be applied over multiple certification periods. If determined eligible for Job Bonus, and there are less than three months remaining in the current certification period, the household will receive Job Bonus only for the remaining months in the current certification period. 45 b. If eligible for Job Bonus, determine how many months are remaining in the household’s current certification period. Provide the household with the DSS-8222/8222sp and explain to the household the abbreviated Job Bonus period. c. The household must be informed that any months used for Job Bonus will meet the definition of the lifetime limit. Document that this information was shared with the household.

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-xv)section-xv WORK RELEASE FUNDS#

A household may be potentially eligible for Work Release funds if a child in the household is deprived of parental support and care due to the absence of a parent who is in prison. A household member may receive these funds from an inmate who is employed under the Department of Public Safety's Work Release Program. Budget Work Release funds received by the household as child support income. If the Department of Public Safety sends a Work Release Action Form, DC-190, to the agency, the county director must designate who is responsible for contacting the inmate’s dependents, whether known to the agency or not, to determine their needs. A. Contact Dependents 1. For this purpose, a dependent is defined as a spouse, child, parents of the inmate, or other relatives for whom the inmate has assumed responsibility in the past. The case manager must also consider any other legal dependents whom the inmate has not acknowledged. 2. Do not consider as dependents a remarried spouse or the parent of the dependent children if the parents were never married. B. Determine Dependent Needs 1. To accomplish this, add the monthly needs for the number of dependents in the household using the table in E. below plus the dependents' monthly payments on health and life insurance, medical expenses not covered by Medicaid, school lunches, and expenses for college and vocational training courses not met by loans, grants, or scholarships. 2. Disregard all the dependents' income. 47 C. Report to the Department of Public Safety 1. Within two weeks of receiving the DC-190, report the dependent information to the Department of Public Safety using the Report on Aid Needed by Inmate's Dependents (DSS-1664). Attach a copy of any court order concerning the inmate's dependents. 2. If there is no court order for support or if the court order indicates support will be paid through the county, return only the DSS-1664 listing all dependents. 3. If there is a valid court order that indicates a specific amount to be paid for some of the dependents, complete and return two copies of the DSS1664. (Complete item 4 on the DSS-1664 and attach a copy of the court order.) The Department of Public Safety will pay the specified amount directly to the Clerk of Court. Any remaining monies will be sent to the county for other dependents. D. Notification to Child Support Enforcement Office Notify the Child Support Enforcement Office that the household unit is receiving Work Release funds. Any court order for support must be amended due to Work Release funds. If there is no order for support, the Child Support Enforcement Office may find it appropriate to pursue court action. E. Needs Chart for Dependents Use this chart to determine the monthly needs based on the number of dependents. NEEDS OF DEPENDENTS Number of Dependents 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Monthly Needs $362 $472 $544 $594 $648 $698 $746 Number of Dependents 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Monthly Needs $772 $812 $860 $896 $946 $992 $1,042 For each additional dependent, add $50. 48

(114-income-and-budgeting)North Carolina Work First Manual Section 114 - Income and Budgeting#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-i)section-i COUNTABLE INCOME OF HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS#

(114-income-and-budgeting)North Carolina Work First Manual Section 114 - Income and Budgeting#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-i)section-i COUNTABLE INCOME OF HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-ii)section-ii APPLYING FOR OTHER GOVERNMENT BENEFITS#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-iii)section-iii THE WORK FIRST PAYMENT CALCULATION#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-iv)section-iv WHAT INCOME IS COUNTED#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-ix)section-ix ANNUALIZED SELF-EMPLOYMENT INCOME#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-v)section-v BUDGETING INCOME#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-vi)section-vi BUDGETING NEW OR CHANGED INCOME#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-vii)section-vii BUDGETING TERMINATED INCOME#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-viii)section-viii BUDGETING CONTRACT INCOME#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-x)section-x WORK FIRST FAMILY ASSISTANCE QUARTERLY REPORT#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-xi)section-xi JOB BONUS#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-xii)section-xii CHILD SUPPORT#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-xiii)section-xiii CONTRIBUTIONS#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-xiv)section-xiv SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-xv)section-xv WORK RELEASE FUNDS#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-xvi)section-xvi LUMP-SUM PAYMENTS#

(114-income-and-budgeting)(section-xvii)section-xvii SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR BANK ACCOUNTS#