Public assistance.

(1) For purposes of this section, the term voluntary quit means voluntary termination of employment and/or a reduction in earning capacity for the purpose of qualifying for initial or increased public assistance. Such term shall include individuals who provoke their own termination from employment or provoke an employer to reduce their work hours.

(2) An individual will be disqualified from receiving public assistance for a period specified in this subdivision if the social services official determines that such individual voluntarily quit his/her job.

(3) Public assistance will not be denied to a public assistance applicant or discontinued for a recipient of such public assistance who requests an increase in benefits, unless he/she has been provided a reasonable opportunity to explain why he/she terminated his/her employment or reduced his/her earning capacity or otherwise demonstrated that he/she did not terminate employment or reduce earning capacity for the purpose of qualifying for initial or increased public assistance.

(4) It is the responsibility of the applicant or recipient to provide reasons or otherwise demonstrate that his/her voluntary quit was not for the purpose of qualifying for initial or increased public assistance.

(5) Upon determining that the applicant or recipient voluntarily quit his/her job, the social services district must inform the individual that:

(i) he/she will be provided a reasonable opportunity to explain his/her reasons for such action or otherwise demonstrate that such action was not taken for the purpose of qualifying for initial or increased public assistance; and

(ii) it is his/her responsibility to provide reasons or otherwise demonstrate that such action was not taken for the purpose of qualifying for initial or increased public assistance.

(6) If the applicant or recipient provides reasons or other relevant information regarding his/her voluntary termination of employment or reduced earning capacity, the social services official must determine if the information is sufficient to conclude that the applicant or recipient did not terminate employment or reduce earning capacity to qualify for initial or increased assistance.

(i) If the information is determined to be sufficient, the applicant or recipient will receive or continue to receive public assistance if all other eligibility conditions are met.

(ii) If the information is determined not to be sufficient, the applicant or recipient will receive a notice of denial or intent to reduce or discontinue the public assistance benefits.

(7) If the applicant or recipient provides no reasons for his/her voluntary termination of employment or reduction in earning capacity, then the social services official must conclude that such action was taken with the intent to qualify for initial or increased public assistance.

(8) An applicant or recipient who has been determined by the social services official to have voluntarily terminated his/her employment or reduced his/her earning capacity for the purpose of qualifying for public assistance or increasing his/her public assistance benefits will be disqualified from receiving assistance as follows:

(i) as an applicant, for 90 days from the date of voluntary termination or reduced earning capacity;

(ii) as a recipient, such disqualification will be in accordance with the sanctions prescribed for noncompliance with employment requirements as specified in section 385.12(d) of this Part.