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12 North Carolina

Mutual Responsibility Agreement (MRA-B)/Outcome Plan. The MRA-B/Outcome plan describes steps the family will take to become self-sufficient and the supportive services the county will provide.

Standard counties maintain required protocols and policies for services on file at the local county department of social services/agencies for State Fiscal Year (SFY) monitoring. All counties (Standard and Electing) are monitored to ensure compliance with program requirements.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services has a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS), Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS), and the Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities. These agreements outline the services that will be provided by each agency to ensure that the needs of Work First participants are met.

The Division of Social Services requires the local county departments of social services/agencies to collaborate and coordinate services with the local NC Works Career Centers, the Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities, area mental health providers, the Department of Public Instruction and the Head Start State Collaboration Office to provide services to assist Work First participants in obtaining employment and moving towards self-sufficiency. The Department encourages counties to partner with local resources and community agencies to assist Work First participants.

WORK FIRST ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

Receipt of Work First is based on both non-financial and financial criteria. Electing Counties will follow Standard Counties’ Work First Policy, except as indicated in the county specific plan.

NON-FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY RULES

In addition to signing the MRA/Outcome Plan and work requirements, families must meet certain eligibility rules to receive Work First Cash Assistance. The basic eligibility rules are described below.

1. Children must be age 17 or younger at application. Children may receive through the month that they turn 18. Children aged 18 if in high school and expected to graduate by the month of their 19th birthday, can receive through the month they graduate from high school. Emancipated minor parents are considered adults and treated as such for Work First.

2. Children and adults who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are not included as recipients in the Work First Cash Assistance case. If a parent is applying for Work First Cash Assistance, they only have one child, and that child receives SSI or adoption assistance, the parent may receive assistance with a payment for one person.