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22 North Carolina

require a face-to-face interview. This face-to-face interaction may be in person or through a virtual platform which allows for video capability. Counties must evaluate and determine whether additional contact is needed for individual families. In child-only cases there are several provisions that make a family non-compliant. Some of these provisions include but are not limited to:

1) Child support non-cooperation, 2) Sanctions for failure to meet MRA provisions (child only); • Failure to have children who receive assistance appropriately immunized and meeting required health checks and; • Failure to ensure children who receive assistance stay in school. • Failure to report changes in situation within 10 days of knowing of the change; such as income and family composition, that affects the payment; • Failure to keep all scheduled appointments with the Work First case manager, • Failure to obtain immunizations and regular medical exams for children receiving WFCA; • Failure to report information, • Failure to comply with the Minor Parent Rules, which requires the Minor Parent to be enrolled in and regularly attend school and live with their parent, legal guardian, or other appropriate adult; 3) Failure to complete review or complete timely without good cause reasons

If the caretaker fails to provide appropriate care for the child, the case manager must evaluate the living arrangement. The purpose of the evaluation is to help determine if there are additional services needed by the caretaker to ensure compliance in the future. The goal is to keep the child in a safe and stable environment.

BENEFIT DIVERSION

Benefit Diversion is a cash payment alternative to traditional Work First Cash Assistance. Work First offers some families Benefit Diversion in lieu of Work First Cash Assistance. The cadre of services that may be provided include:

• A one-time payment of up to a maximum of three months of Work First Cash Assistance benefits; • Referrals to child support, childcare assistance, and other community and agency resources.

Benefit Diversion is defined as nonrecurring short-term benefits that must meet the following criteria to be excluded as assistance:

• 1. Designed to deal with a specific crisis or episode of need; • 2. Not intended to meet recurrent or ongoing needs; and • 3. Will not extend beyond 3 months.