Job search activities.

(1) Each applicant for or recipient of public assistance shall, upon request of the social services official, demonstrate that he/she is engaged in an active and continuing effort to achieve self-sufficiency.

(2) Such effort shall include but not be limited to an active and continuing search for employment, or for persons otherwise exempt in accordance with sections 385.2 and 385.3 of this Part, and where deemed appropriate by the social services official, activities that foster preparation for employment.

(3) Each such applicant or recipient shall have an affirmative duty to accept any offer of lawful employment in which he or she may engage.

(4) The failure of a social services district to assign applicants and recipients to activities pursuant to this Part shall not relieve such persons from the requirements of this subdivision.

(5)

(i) An applicant who fails to comply with the requirements of this subdivision shall be ineligible for public assistance; for purposes of this subparagraph, the term applicant shall mean the entire applicant household.

(ii) A recipient who fails to comply with the requirements of this subdivision shall be subject to sanction in accordance with the provisions of sections 385.11 and 385.12 of this Part.