108.72 Work Requirements

TANF Road to Economic Self-Sufficiency through Employment and Training (RESET) work requirements, include the 20-hour per week work requirement, and can be waived for good cause based upon domestic violence.

55 Pa. Code § 165.52(a)(8)

Examples of why an individual might seek a waiver of work requirements include but are not limited to:

The family may need to devote time to escaping violence, find housing, protecting the family, and/or receiving counseling.

The abuser injures or has injured the victim /survivor so that the victim /survivor is physically or emotionally unable to work.

The long-term physical or emotional effects of abuse render the victim /survivor unable to work.

The abuser harasses or stalks the victim /survivor at school or work.

The abuser threatens to take the children away from the victim /survivor if the victim /survivor goes to work and leaves the children in day care.

The abuser interferes with the individual’s ability to comply with RESET requirements by stealing the car, car keys or transportation money, hiding/destroying clothes, depriving victim /survivor of sleep, refusing to provide promised childcare, lying about children’s safety, inflicting physical injuries or other actions.

Prior to imposing a sanction for failure to comply with RESET work requirements, the CAO will provide the PA 1747 (Family Safety Notice and Domestic Violence Verification Form) and information concerning the availability of good cause for domestic violence and information on how to complete the PA 1747 Domestic Violence Verification form.

When an individual seeks a waiver of work requirements due to domestic violence, the worker should explore whether the individual needs a reduction of hours, a different activity or if participation in any employment or training activity poses a risk. When the worker determines, using the standards set forth under Section 108.62, Standard For Evaluating/Granting Waiver Requests , that the individual needs a reduction of hours or a different activity or that participation in any employment and training activity poses a risk, good cause must be granted.

Individuals who are mandatory RESET participants and who have been granted a RESET good cause waiver based on DV shall be informed that:

They may elect to participate in an education, training or in other RESET activities.

CAO caseworkers should review E&T participation requirements and activities with individuals. If individuals are receiving DV case management with a local DV agency, and they are engaged in education or employment activities, those activities may be used toward E&T participation requirements if they are applicable with E&T policy.

If participating in an employment and training program, they may request a special allowance to cover transportation or other supportive services.

They may request a special allowance for childcare while participating in the activity for the number of hours agreed to on the AMR.

NOTE: Verification of RESET activity participation must be provided in order to receive a special allowance to cover transportation, childcare or other supportive services.