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North Carolina

32 Counties will comply with federal requirements. Emergency assistance does not trigger the 24 or 60-month time limit, nor will families receiving emergency assistance be required to participate in the Work First program. In addition, families who have exhausted their 24 or 60-month time limit are eligible for Emergency Assistance, provided all other eligibility criteria are met. These families are not included in calculating the State’s participation rates.

At a minimum, counties must define and describe in their Emergency Assistance plans the following guidelines:

• The family must have a child who lives with a parent, relative caregiver, or non- relative caregiver as defined in Work First policy, and who meets the age requirements for Work First. • Total income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. • Family members must meet the same citizenship requirements and resource limits as for Work First. • Countable income is the same as for Work First.

DISASTER OR PUBLIC HEALTH DECLARATIONS (ALL COUNTIES)

When disaster or public health declarations are issued by the state and federal government, the state may implement additional provisions for the use of Federal TANF funds and State MOE funds when warranted due to the severity of a natural disaster or other emergency declaration. The state may expand services and broaden eligibility criteria for Work First Cash Assistance such as streamlining the application process, temporary suspension on; sanctions, terminations, Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB), and collection of Program Integrity claims, temporary pass through of child support payments, granting good cause for activities that cannot be reasonably performed, providing on-line approaches to participation, increasing cash benefit levels for TANF recipients, and providing non-recurrent short-term benefits for families that meet the 200% FPL.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the state streamlined the Work First Cash Assistance application process to expedite eligibility and payment determinations, by offering on-line or telephonic applications to minimize face-to-face contact. The mandatory face-to-face interviews for Work First applications, screenings and/or assessments were suspended, and interviews conducted by telephone. The Work First Cash Assistance Application and Review Documentation Workbook can be mailed to individuals who choose to apply for Work First Cash Assistance or short-term services and benefits. Upon receipt of the application workbook, case managers must conduct a telephone interview with the applicant to complete the NC FAST Intelligent Evidence Gathering (IEG). Families may also access the Work First Cash Assistance Application and Review Documentation Workbook via the Electronic Pre-Assessment Screening Service (ePASS) portal. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements for ongoing Work First cash assistance or short-term benefits and services.

The state temporarily suspended Work First Cash Assistance terminations in relation to time clocks and paperwork or procedural requirements as well as sanctions related to non-cooperation with child support and/or failure to perform work requirements during the COVID-19 emergency declarations. Active Work First Cash Assistance cases will not