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Benefit Diversion policy allows for:

• Families that receive Benefit Diversion do not have to repay the benefit amount received. • Benefit Diversion can be received only once in a 12-month period and is not subject to Work First time limits. • Recipients of Benefit Diversion are not required to participate in the Work First employment program. • Eligible families are not considered Work First recipients and are not considered in calculating the State’s participation rate. • Families who have exhausted any Work First time limits are eligible for Benefit Diversion, provided all other eligibility criteria are met.

To be eligible for Benefit Diversion, families must meet the following eligibility requirements that apply to Work First:

1. Who may apply and be included in the family unit; 2. Income guidelines; 3. Resource limit; 4. Minor parent rules; 5. State/county residence; 6. Age rule for children; 7. Rule to have or apply for a Social Security number. 8. Citizenship/immigrant status; 9. Identity requirements; and 10. Kinship/living with rule.

No other Work First eligibility requirements apply to Benefit Diversion cases.

WORK FIRST BENEFITS PAYMENT POLICIES

All families with a parent included in the assistance payment are subject to the “Work First Benefits” payment process. A caretaker child-only case will receive their assistance payment at the beginning of the month.

Payments to families in Work First Benefits work eligible status are paid after performance. Assistance payments are received only after providing documentation showing they have complied with the requirements of their MRA-B/Outcome Plan including the Core Requirements and Plan of Action Requirements or show good cause for not complying.

When participants do not comply with their MRA-B/Outcome Plan during a month, their Work First Cash Assistance benefits will not be released for that month and they will not count in the Work Participation Rate. In addition, the month with no Work First Benefits will not count against the participant’s 24- or 60-month time limits. If the parent has good cause for failing to meet their required hours of work activities or for not complying with other MRA-B/Outcome Plan requirements, their Work First Cash Assistance benefits will