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North Carolina

27 • Accept and keep any reasonable job offered. The participant will not quit a job, refuse an offer of employment or fail to follow up on job referrals without good cause; • Submit verification of all activities completed each month by the fifth (5th) work day of the following month; and • Acknowledge that failure to meet the requirements listed on the MRA Plan of Action/Outcome Plan will result in termination of benefits.

A family whose parent refuses to sign the MRA Plan of Action/Outcome Plan without good cause, is ineligible for Work First cash assistance. The WF payment is not issued for the month of non-compliance, the case terminates, and the family may re-apply at any time but may not be approved until the month following the missed payment.

EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR WORK ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS

The NC Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS) is the presumptive, primary deliverer of job placement services for the Work First program and a critical partner with the Department of Health and Human Services. DWS operates over 80 local agencies across the state called NCWorks Career Centers.

Registration for work with the NCWorks Career Center is a prerequisite to participation in the Job Search component of Work First. All work eligible participants who are assessed as ready to engage in job search will be required to register for work with NCWorks Career Center. This requirement will be included on their MRA Plan of Action/Outcome Plan. Failure to register for work with the NCWorks Career Center will result in termination of Work First benefits.

Counties also may contract with the local NCWorks Career Centers for additional services such as job search, job placement, and referrals to community services. Modifications and/or accommodations may be necessary to assist individuals with registration and access to employment services.

WORK RESPONSIBILITIES

Work Eligible individuals are assessed for employability at application for Work First cash assistance and again within three months of receiving assistance. Single parents of children less than 12 months of age are excluded from the participation rate calculation; if they do not complete enough countable hours to be deemed engaged in work. This exclusion is for a cumulative total period of 12 months (lifetime exemption). In all counties, single parents with children under age six who demonstrate that necessary child care is not available are not sanctioned. (See Child Care Section for required definitions.)

MRA Plans of Action/Outcome Plans are individualized based on an employability assessment. The MRA Plan of Action/Outcome Plan must be completed within 5 days of the Work First application date. Often, a Plan of Action will reflect fewer hours per week of activities than required to meet the Work Participation Rate. This may be due to a shortage of appropriate activities, a shortage of necessary support services, or other personal limitations of the participant. County Work First staff are responsible for balancing these limitations against the expectation of full-time participation and the