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North Carolina
37 Misuse of the EBT card may result in criminal charges against the recipient and their benefits may end.
The Division submits an annual EBT Monitoring Report to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) providing data captured from EBT monitoring.
Sanctions
Work First participants may be sanctioned for non-compliance with program requirements.
There are four types of sanctions that are imposed when participants fail to comply with program requirements:
1. Non-cooperation with Child Support Enforcement
When a parent or other adult caretaker fails, without good cause, to cooperate with Child Support Enforcement, the entire family will be ineligible for a WFFA payment for one month or until compliance, whichever is later. The family remains eligible for Work First Services. The family may apply for Medicaid.
2. Substance Use Treatment
An applicant/recipient that fails to comply with substance use treatment recommendations is ineligible for Work First Cash Assistance. If the applicant/recipient is Work Eligible, they will continue to be Work Eligible and subject to Work First time clocks. The remaining household members can receive cash assistance if otherwise eligible. The ineligible applicant/recipient’s income and resources are included when calculating the amount of the 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/recipient remains ineligible for 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 WFFA 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 WFFA 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 recipient for purposes of the work requirement and time limits. The family’s payment is recalculated with the individual excluded from the needs.