135.74 Ending a Sanction and Regaining Eligibility

The CAO must send a PA 1712 to inform the client 15 calendar days prior to their minimum durational sanction period that they may come back to cash if they have a willingness to participate, are currently participating, or if they have a good cause or exemption.

55 Pa. Code § 165.71(b)

If the client contacts the CAO, the caseworker will determine if a sanction may be ended after the minimum durational sanction is served and the non-compliant individual either:

Establishes an exemption or good cause from RESET participation and completes and signs an Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR); OR

Provides verification that he/she is working and completes and signs an Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR); OR

Indicates a willingness to participate in work or work-related requirements including accepting a referral to a contracted program and completes and signs an Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR).

The CAO must narrate why the sanction was lifted and scan all documentation into Imaging.

Once the individual has established a willingness to comply after the minimum duration period, the CAO will complete a job readiness assessment (See OPS190101 ), complete and sign an Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR) (See CAH 107 ) with the client and make a new referral to the appropriate program based on the client’s goals and barriers (See OPS190101 ). For every barrier the client has, an appropriate plan to address the barrier should be narrated and indicated on the AMR. A job readiness assessment and AMR update must be completed via the telephone or in person, depending on the needs of the client. An updated AMR can be sent to the client for signature and initials via mail or to the contracted program.

A face to face appointment is not required to complete an AMR. The CAO may complete the job readiness assessment via the telephone, complete the AMR with the client, and send the updated AMR to the client for their initials and signature.

NOTE: If the client indicates a willingness to participate in work or work-related requirements and states they will come to the CAO to complete the AMR, the CAO must not close cash for a failure to come to an interview (047) . The case and the sanction will remain open.

The sanction end date will be the date the CAO has a completed, signed AMR for the client with the client agreeing to accept a referral to a contracted program or verifying they have an exemption or being granted good cause. Ending the sanction will not affect the cash grant until the first regular payment date, therefore if the individual regains eligibility between payment dates, a one-time issuance (OTI) is completed to ensure the individual receives the correct benefit amounts.

NOTE: SPALs may be issued once the sanction is ended, the individual is referred to, or participating in an allowable activity or program, and need is verified. See Cash Assistance Handbook 135.6.