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North Carolina

21 • Failure to keep all scheduled appointments with the Work First case worker • Failure to obtain immunizations and regular medical exams for children receiving WFFA; • Failure to report information, • Failure to comply with the Minor Parent Rules, which requires the Minor Parent to be enrolled in and regularly attend school and live with their parent, legal guardian, or other appropriate adult; 3) Failure to complete review or complete timely without good cause reasons

If the caretaker fails to provide appropriate care for the child, the caseworker must evaluate the living arrangement. The purpose of the evaluation is to help determine if there are additional services needed by the caretaker to ensure compliance in the future. The goal is to keep the child in a safe and stable environment.

BENEFIT DIVERSION

Benefit Diversion is a cash payment alternative to traditional Work First cash assistance. Work First offers some families Benefit Diversion in lieu of Work First cash assistance. It is an optional service that counties may offer; the cadre of services that may be provided include:

• A one-time payment of up to a maximum of three months of Work First cash assistance benefits; • Medicaid for the months in the Benefit Diversion period; and • Referrals to child support, child care assistance, and other community and agency resources.

Benefit Diversion is defined as nonrecurring short-term benefits that must meet the following criteria to be excluded as assistance:

• 1. Designed to deal with a specific crisis or episode of need; • 2. Not intended to meet recurrent or ongoing needs; and • 3. Will not extend beyond 3 months.

Benefit Diversion policy allows for:

• Families that receive Benefit Diversion do not have to repay the benefit amount received. • Benefit Diversion can be received only once in a 12-month period and is not subject to Work First time limits. • Recipients of Benefit Diversion are not required to participate in the Work First employment program. • Eligible families are not considered Work First recipients and are not considered in calculating the State’s participation rate. • Families who have exhausted any Work First time limits are eligible for Benefit Diversion, provided all other eligibility criteria are met.