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North Carolina

15 Families may request an extension of the 24-month time limit at the end of the 24-month period or anytime following termination, including any time within the 36-month period of ineligibility. An extension may be requested verbally or in writing.

The county Board of Social Services, or their designee, will consider and decide on whether an extension will be granted. The board or its designee must determine:

• If the Work First participant substantially complied with the MRA/Outcome Plan, including considerations for any good cause exceptions. • If the Work First participant, through no fault of his own, is unable to obtain or maintain employment that provides a basic level of subsistence. To determine this, the Board or its designee will compare the family’s net monthly income to the maximum Work First payment for the family size. If the net monthly income is equal to the maximum Work First payment or greater, the family cannot receive an extension. • If the participant is experiencing extenuating circumstances.

If an extension is granted, the Board or its designee must determine the length of the extension. Each extension must be a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 6 months with no limit on the number of extensions (within the 60-month lifetime limit).

Good cause considerations include, but are not limited to:

• Disability of the caretaker; • Disability of a child or other family member requiring the caretaker to remain at home and provide care; • Family crisis or change including, but not limited to: death of a spouse, parent or child; • Lack of necessary child care; and • Other unique circumstances determined by the Board or its designee that prevented the participant from getting or keeping a job.

15. All Work First applicants (i.e., every member of a case) must have a social security number or apply for a social security number if they do not have one. Unless an individual has a social security, number or applies for one, that individual is not eligible for Work First.

16. Individuals who are temporarily absent from the home for fewer than 90 consecutive days may continue to be eligible for Work First. Individuals who are absent from the home for more than 90 consecutive days but fewer than 12 months may continue to be eligible for Work First, if they have good cause for the absence. Good cause includes absences for medical treatment, substance use treatment, and health care. For children, good cause also includes absences for educational requirements.

17. An adult must report to the caseworker when a child is expected to be absent from the home for 90 consecutive days or longer. The adult must report the child’s absence within five days of knowing the absence would exceed 90 consecutive days. Failure to report the absence within five days makes the adult ineligible for three months beginning the month after failing to make the report.