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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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6. Signed statement by the employer

C. Participation Hours The countable hours of participation for OJT will be projected forward for six months. The initial projection is based on at least four consecutive weeks of wage statements/pay stubs, if those are representative of continuing circumstances.

We average the reported hours of employment for these weeks; this serves as the basis of the projection of average weekly hours for six months, unless the State becomes aware of a change in circumstances that requires a recalculation. If the wage statements/pay stubs available are not representative of continuing circumstances, we use actual hours and do not project hours forward.

D. Method of supervision: OJT participation will be supervised according to the requirement of the employer.

6. Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance is the act of seeking or obtaining employment or preparation to seek or obtain employment, including life skills training, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, or rehabilitation activities. The purpose of job readiness training is to prepare the participant for employment or other work activities so that he/she can be competitive and succeed in the labor market. Job readiness training may be offered before, in conjunction with or after the job search assignment.

Job search and job readiness activity is limited by statute to 240 hours or to 360 hours in a 12 month period, which is the equivalent of 20 hours per week for a single-parent with a child under age six and 30 hours per week for all other work-eligible individuals (no more than four consecutive weeks may count toward the work participations rates). Hours of participation beyond the 240 hours and 360 hours, may be scheduled but will not count toward the participation rate calculation. Participants should be assigned to job readiness and/or job search activities based on their individual need. Any additional hours of job readiness and/or job search allowed in a 12 month period, (240 hours and 360 hours of job search/job readiness total) should be made in conjunction with other program activities, when appropriate or necessary, so that both the core work activity requirement and the overall participation requirement are met.

A. Countable Hours Actual hours of Job Search will be countable toward the TANF participation rate. Job Search hours will include preparation, research and time spent traveling between locations, but does not include the time spent traveling to the first location or time spent returning home after the last location. Each participant must maintain a daily log of all employment contacts. This log must contain information on potential employers visited in person, by internet or by phone, and a daily record of the time spent engaging in such activities. The participant must submit a log of the daily contacts at least weekly. The log is reviewed by a Case Manager and, if approved, filed in the individual’s case record. The log provides the date and time of contact, the type of contact, the position that was of interest, and the name of the employer and contact information. NOTE: There is no specific number of internet, on-line or phone contacts allowed for job search. However, only the actual time spent on line or on the phone is countable. The time must be documented and verified by way of the daily contact record. The record must indicate the actual time, date, contact information and whether an application was filed.