135.41 Good Cause Circumstances

Good cause includes, but is not limited to these circumstances:

55 Pa. Code § 165.52(a)

1. The individual is unable, mentally or physically, to do the work;

2. The working conditions at the job could result in death or serious injury;

3. The wages paid by the employer are below minimum wage or below the wage normally paid in the community for the same type of work;

4. The individual makes a claim of discrimination by an employer or fellow employees;

5. The individual engaged in an education or training activity that was too difficult to complete, and the individual is willing to participate in another activity better suited to the individual’s ability;

6. A required employment and training activity conflicts with scheduled hours of employment or a job interview;

7. The individual cannot get or maintain childcare as verified by Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) PA 1697 )

8. A non-parent specified relative, who is caring for a disabled child or incapacitated adult living in the home for whom alternate care cannot be obtained. This good cause is verified via the following:

Caregiver Good Cause Review Form ( PA 1981 ) along with

Collateral contact with ELRC

Verification of Child Care Availability ( PA 1697 )

9. A personal illness or the illness of a family or household member.

10. A personal Emergency

11. Homelessness;

12. Domestic Violence;

NOTE: More information regarding Family Violence Policy and procedures can be found in Chapter 108.7 Guidance On Good Cause Waivers Of Specific TANF Program Requirements.

13. Pending PA 635 Medical Assessment Form;

NOTE: Good cause is granted to allow 30 days for return of the Medical Assessment Form.

14. Limited Employability as indicated on a Medical Assessment Form ( PA 635 ).

NOTE: An individual with limited employability is capable of participating for some but not all of the required hours. The individual is considered mandatory and given good cause for the number of hours they are unable to participate.

15. Six weeks following the birth of a child;

NOTE: Good cause is used for the 6 week post-partum period following the birth of a child. Good cause is not granted for being in the last trimester of pregnancy. If an individual has medical complications related to a pregnancy, a licensed medical provider must complete a PA 635 to verify that the individual should be exempted from participation.

16. The individual has been non-compliant with RESET and is in the Compliance Review Process;

17. The individual is involved in the Hearings and Appeals Process and awaiting the results of the hearing;

18. In a two-parent household when both parents are mandatory, one parent may be given good cause to care for the child for a maximum of 12 months in the parent’s lifetime or until the child reaches the age of 12 months. The Newborn exemption is not available to two-parent families. To determine when the good cause ends use the same policy outlined in Section 135.32 , Newborn exemption.

19. In a two-parent household where one parent is a non-eligible adult, sanctioned, or medically exempt the other parent can be given good cause if it is verified that the non-participating parent cannot care for the child.

20. In a two-parent household, if one parent is meeting the two-parent work participation requirement of 40 hours/week without receiving childcare, the other parent may receive good cause.

21. The location of a contracted vendor site or job is more than two hours round-trip from the individual’s home;

22. The individual leaves a job that is seasonal for another seasonal job, such as migrant farm labor, construction, or temporary work though an agency;

23. The individual failed to receive notice at least two days prior to the date of a scheduled employment and training activity and was unable to make arrangements for childcare or transportation.

NOTE: Good cause criteria for SNAP Employment and Training Program participants are available in SNAP Handbook Chapter 535 .