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North Carolina
24 Federal law prohibits Work First recipients from using EBT cards “in any liquor store, any casino or gambling establishment, or retail establishment which provides adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for establishment.” Recipients’ Work First cash assistance payments may be terminated if used at restricted locations. ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER (EBT) MONITORING
The Division implemented compliance measures to monitor usage and impose penalties when it is determined there is EBT misuse.
Monitoring includes reviewing selected cases to ensure that purchases/transactions were not made at any restricted locations: casinos, gambling casinos or gaming establishments, or any retail establishment which provides adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for entertainment.
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 Services
When a parent or other adult caretaker fails, without good cause, to cooperate with Child Support Services, the entire family will be ineligible for a Work First cash assistance payment for one month or until compliance, whichever is later.
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 Work First cash assistance if otherwise eligible. The ineligible applicant/recipient’s income and resources are included when calculating the amount of the Work First 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 Work First 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 Work First