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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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18.3 New Employment Individual Employment Plan As part of the staffing process, a new Employment Plan will be developed to ensure that the recipient is actively involved in education, training, or other employment related activities and working toward an achievable vocational goal within the extension period. This Individual Employment Plan (IEP) is effective beginning in the 25th month of TANF.

1. Child Under Age One A single parent with a child under age one who has not been participating in the work program must sign the (IEP) at the twenty-two (22nd) month staffing and begin participation prior to the 24th month in order to receive the extension.

2. Cooperation During Pregnancy A pregnant woman, who has not been participating in the work program because she is in the seventh month or later of her pregnancy, must sign an Employment Plan at the 22nd month staffing and begin participating in the 25th month or at the end of the six-week postpartum in order to receive an extension of benefits.

3. Deauthorization When a family has been granted an extension, the case will de-authorize at 12 months and must be reviewed to determine that all participation requirements are being met and that the recipient continues to fully cooperate. This should coincide with the Annual Redetermination.

18.4 County Director Extension The criteria for consideration by the county director for an extension beyond six or 12 months is as follows:

When an “In Training” extension has been granted, the total TANF eligibility period may not exceed 30 months without the county director's permission. The recipient must be currently enrolled in a county approved training/educational program, and making satisfactory progress toward completion of a training/educational program for an extension beyond the 30th month.

18.5 Extension Beyond 36 Months When the Fully Cooperating Extension ends, the recipient may be granted an additional extension. Before an additional extension is granted, it must be established that the recipient is satisfactorily participating in education, training or other employment-related activities. The future of the minor child(ren) should also be considered. An extension beyond 36 months requires the county director's approval and signature.

1. Monthly Review The CM must review monthly all cases receiving benefits beyond 36 total months. The recipient may not receive assistance beyond the five-year limit allowed by federal law.

2. CHIP Code Use CHIP code "D1" on the FAIP screen for any county director approved extension.