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North Carolina

58 the Budget Wisely class with a minimum attendance time of 2 hours within 10 calendar days of applying for Work First. Failure to do so will result in the application being denied on the 11th day unless there is good cause. Attendance will not be required if the applicant has successfully completed the class with a minimum attendance time of 2 hours within 30 calendar days prior to the application date. Non-parent caretakers may be exempt from the budget Wisely Class per case manager discretion. 5. Participants’ statement of kinship will be acceptable at review unless questionable. 6. All applicants whose Work First case terminate for not completing a review will be required to provide all verifications needed for the review (school attendance, health checkups, immunizations, etc.) when re-applying for Work First cash assistance within 3 months of the termination date. The 3-month time-period includes the one (1) month of ineligibility. 7. All Work First cases will be reviewed every 12 months. 8. School attendance - The caretaker must provide proof of school attendance for all school age children at application and review by providing a current report card or attendance summary print-out from the school. Work First Social Workers verify school attendance with the School Social Workers monthly. Therefore, it is not necessary for them to call the schools when a Quarterly Report is received. Failure to provide proof of school attendance or verification of enrollment at review results in an incomplete review unless there is good cause. Failure to provide proof of school attendance or verification of enrollment at application results in the application being denied on the 11th day unless there is good cause. 9. All children K-8th grades cannot have more than 10 unexcused absences in a school grading period unless there is good cause. All children in 9th – 12th grades cannot have more than 10 unexcused cumulative class absences in a grading period unless there is good cause. More than 10 unexcused absences in a grading period will result in a sanction of 1 month of eligibility or until compliance whichever is greater. 10. Cases will not be re-opened unless it is an agency error. The applicant/recipient may re-apply for Work First. 11. Recipients who are no longer eligible for Work First and are then placed on Transitional Medicaid are required to continue cooperation with Child Support if the Transitional Medicaid case remains active. Failure to do so will result in Medicaid benefits terminating for the adult caretaker(s) unless good cause exists. Ongoing Medicaid will be evaluated for the child(ren) in the household. 12. All applicants must meet and cooperate with child support within 10 calendar days of applying for Work First. Failure to do so will result in the application being denied unless there is good cause. 13. All income, except for SSI income, will be counted for parents living in the home to determine Work First eligibility. 14. Cases where all children in the household are receiving SSI benefits will not be eligible for Work First as there is no eligible child in the home. 15. Single parents may claim their “S” exemption for the first 3 months of a child’s life. Once the 12-month lifetime exemption has been exhausted, the parent will be required to participate in the employment program as soon as authorization is given from her medical professional. Also, if a parent volunteers to participate in the employment program, he/she may not reclaim the exemption for the same child. 16. All parents in the home must have their GED or high school diploma or be enrolled in and satisfactorily attending education enhancement classes (i.e.: GED, Adult