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North Carolina

35 6. Age rule for children; 7. Rule to have or apply for a Social Security Number; 8. Citizenship/immigrant status; 9. Identity requirements; 10. Kinship/living with rule.

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

Medicaid and Food and Nutrition Services (MA/FNS)

Work First eligibility criteria may affect eligibility for Medicaid and/or Food and Nutrition Services benefits.

Work First Benefits

This State Plan requires all families with a parent included in the assistance payment be subject to the “Work First Benefits” payment process. A caretaker case will receive their assistance payment at the beginning of the month.

Families in Work First Benefits status will receive their assistance payments after the end of the benefit month. To qualify for the payment, the parent must provide documentation showing that he/she has complied with the requirements of their MRA/Outcome Plan including both the Core Requirements and Plan of Action Requirements or show good cause for not complying.

When parents do not comply with their MRA/Outcome Plan during a month, their cash 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/Outcome Plan requirements, their cash benefits will be released. Good Cause is defined as:

 A significant family crisis or change;  Illness of the caretaker or child, including participation in substance abuse treatment or medical appointment;  The loss or interruption of transportation or child care for parent and/or a minor parent in school, training, or other work activity;  Civil leave, including jury duty, or a required court appearance; and  Any other reason deemed sufficient by the county director or designee.

If a participant fails to meet their required hours of work activities or other MRA requirements without Good Cause, the MRA/Outcome Plan informs them that their Work First case will be terminated. The family may apply for Medicaid. The child support payment for the following month (if they have one) will be sent directly to the recipient. The family will have to reapply for Work First following termination for failure to meet their required hours of work activities or other MRA requirements.