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26 North Carolina

cooperate with Child Support Services within 30 days to prevent the family from losing eligibility and case termination.

The case manager must enter a “Child Support Non-Compliance – Reduce WFCA Payment by 25%” sanction and NC FAST will issue an automated adequate notice notifying the participant the Work First payment will be reduced by 25% until compliance or termination. If at the end of the 30-day period the participant is still in noncompliance with Child Support Services, a Child Support non-cooperation sanction must be applied to the Work First Cash Assistance case. The sanction must be effective on the first day of the month following the month of the reduction. The participant must be provided with a minimum of 30 days to come into compliance but no more than 60 days.

2. Substance Use Treatment

An applicant/participant that fails to comply with substance use treatment recommendations is ineligible for Work First Cash Assistance. If the applicant/participant is Work Eligible, they will continue to be Work Eligible and subject to Work First time clocks. The remaining household members can receive Work First Cash Assistance if otherwise eligible. The ineligible applicant/participant’s income and resources are included when calculating the amount of the Work First Cash Assistance payment. However, the eligible household member’s cash payment amount will be recalculated, excluding the ineligible member from the payment amount.

The ineligible applicant/participant remains ineligible for Work First Cash Assistance until he/she complies with treatment.

3. MRA/Outcome Plan Non-compliance

Failure to comply, without good cause, with the terms and conditions of the MRA/Outcome Plan will result in the entire family being ineligible for a Work First Cash Assistance payment for one month or until compliance, whichever is longer. The family remains eligible for Work First Services.

4. Intentional Program Violation (IPV)

Individuals found to have committed an intentional program violation are disqualified from Work First Cash Assistance for 12 months for the first offense, 24 months for the second offense, and permanently for the third. The individual continues to be included in the family and continues to be considered a Work First participant for purposes of the work requirement and time limits. The family’s payment is recalculated with the individual is excluded from the needs.

Families in sanction status will be apprised of available community resources, including assistance through the county department of social services.