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4 There are four kinds of CDJFS-determined extensions: (1) "state hardship;" (2) "good cause;" (3) "federal hardship;" and (4) “domestic violence.” Both the state hardship and federal hardship extensions are determined in the same manner and both are subject to a 20% limit, i.e., a CDJFS may exempt up to 20% of the average monthly number of assistance groups receiving OWF from the time limit if the CDJFS determines that the time limit is a hardship. An assistance group can receive a state hardship extension any time after the 36- month limit has been reached. Neither federal nor state law defines the term “hardship.” In determining whether the time limit is a hardship, the county must look at the totality of the family’s circumstances to determine whether the 36- or 60-month time limit is a hardship. Most CDJFS have developed a list of situations that they consider to be hardship, but they are also to consider the totality of the circumstances if a family's situation does not fit within one of the listed situations the CDJFS has identified. An assistance group can only receive a good cause extension after a 24-month waiting period following termination of OWF after 36-months. After 24-months have passed, a CDJFS may determine that good cause exists. The CDJFS have also identified lists of good cause reasons for extending eligibility. When the CDJFS determines that good cause exists, the assistance group may be eligible for up to an additional 24-months of cash assistance. After 60-months, the assistance group is ineligible for further payments unless the CDJFS approves a federal hardship extension. The 60-month limit includes the first 36-months plus all state hardship and good cause extension months. Both state and federal time limits count any months of TANF cash assistance received in another state. An assistance group approved for OWF as a result of an extension must meet all eligibility requirements and sign a new self-sufficiency contract. State and Federal time limits began on October 1, 1997, and are not applied retrospectively to participants who received assistance and services before October 1, 1997. When the CDJFS determines that an individual has been subjected to domestic violence and requiring compliance with the OWF requirement would potentially make it more difficult for the individual to escape the domestic violence unfairly penalize the individual, then an assistance group may receive a waiver of the 36- or 60-month time limit due to domestic violence. Extensions beyond the 36-month time limit due to domestic violence do not count in the CDJFS’s 20% limit for hardship extensions. School Attendance for Teen Parents The Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) Program, is a component of OWF. LEAP is Ohio’s program to encourage teen parents to remain in school and obtain a high school diploma or high school equivalence diploma. (This program is a continuation of the program previously operated under a waiver, with changes made to comply with federal regulations.) All teen parents and pregnant teens under the age of 18 or 18 and attending school are required to participate in LEAP. A $62 attendance bonus is given to the teen for any month that a teen maintains good attendance. Other bonuses paid to LEAP participants include a one-time $100 school enrollment bonus, a $100 grade completion bonus and a $500 graduation bonus. A $62 sanction is imposed for any month that a teen does not maintain good attendance. Certain teen parents who are not attending high school or the equivalent are required to participate in an alternative