Page 24

North Carolina

21 APPENDIX B PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND WORK REQUIREMENTS

The Work First Cash Assistance program is based on the premise that all parents have a responsibility to support themselves and their children. Under Work First, the Mutual Responsibility Agreement (MRA)/Outcome Plan outlines in detail the obligations of parents, relative caretakers, or legal guardians in return for family assistance. All counties require families to enter into Agreements. Electing Counties may develop their own agreements to meet local needs (See Appendix D). All Standard Counties use the same MRA/Outcome Plan. However, counties may tailor the agreement to meet local and family-specific needs.

For the purpose of this section, there is a distinction between the requirements for families that include a “Work Eligible Individual” and those families that do not. Drug felons, fleeing felons, and recipients for SSI are not excluded from the definition of work eligible individuals. The following individuals are exempt from the work requirement:

1. Adults receiving cash assistance for a child only. (The adult is not included in the case.)

a. A non-recipient relative, other than a parent, living with a child receiving assistance. b. A non-qualified immigrant who is ineligible for WFFA or Work First Benefits due to immigration status. (Immigration status requires third party verification.) c. A recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI.)

2. Single custodial parents with a child under 12 months of age.

3. Individuals with “child” family status (youth up to age 18 and not an emancipated minor payee or age 18, if in high school and expected to graduate from high school by the month of their 19th birthday). Emancipation occurs when a dependent child marries, becomes a member of the U. S. Armed Forces, or is declared emancipated by a court. An emancipated minor parent is treated as an adult applicant to qualify for and receive Work First cash assistance for themselves and their child.

4. A parent providing care for a disabled family member living in the home. Medical documentation to support the need for the parent to remain in the home is required from the Health Care Professional responsible for the medical care of the disabled family member.

MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY AGREEMENT/ OUTCOME PLAN

The first part of the MRA/Core Requirements, applies to all families and describes the parent’s or caretaker’s responsibilities. All Agreements must include:

 Contact their Work First worker if a change occurs in their situation within ten (10) days of knowing of the change.  Keep all scheduled appointments with their Work First worker.  Cooperate with Child Support Enforcement for all children who receive assistance.  Ensure that children who receive assistance get their immunizations and have regular checkups.  Ensure that school-aged children and minor parents who receive assistance live at home and attend school according to school attendance policy.