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North Carolina

25 cash assistance payment for one month or until compliance, whichever is longer. The family remains eligible for Work First Services.

4. Intentional Program Violation (IPV)

Individuals found to have committed an intentional program violation are disqualified from Work First cash assistance for 12 months for the first offense, 24 months for the second offense, and permanently for the third. The individual continues to be included in the family and continues to be considered a Work First recipient for purposes of the work requirement and time limits. The family’s payment is recalculated with the individual excluded from the needs.

Families in sanction status will be apprised of available community resources, including assistance through the county department of social services.

All agency staff are trained in indicators of child abuse and neglect and are expected to make reports as appropriate.

A family may avoid an MRA/Outcome Plan sanction if good cause for non-compliance exists. Good cause is defined as:

• A significant family crisis or change; • Illness of the caretaker or child, including participation in substance abuse treatment or medical appointment, • Civil leave, including jury duty, or a required court appearance.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND WORK REQUIREMENTS

The Work First program is based on the premise that all parents have a responsibility to support themselves and their children. Under Work First, the Core Mutual Responsibility Agreement (MRA) outlines in detail the obligations of parents, relative caretakers, or legal guardians in return for family assistance. All counties require families to sign the Core Mutual Responsibility Agreement.

For this section, there is a distinction between the requirements for families that include a “work eligible individual” and those families that do not. Drug felons, fleeing felons, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) representative/protective payees are not excluded from the definition of work eligible individuals. The following individuals are exempt from the work requirement:

1. Adults receiving Work First cash assistance for a child only. (The adult is not included in the case.) 2. A non-recipient relative, other than a parent, living with a child receiving assistance. 3. A non-qualified immigrant who is ineligible for Work First cash assistance or Work First Benefits due to immigration status. (Immigration status requires third party verification.) 4. A recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI.) 5. Single custodial parents with a child under 12 months of age.