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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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E. An applicant who is curing a sanction can receive services if needed to obtain or maintain employment.

2. Victims of Domestic/Family Violence Victims of domestic/family violence who need support services to obtain safe shelter, and/or obtain assistance from an agency which specializes in providing support to victims of domestic/family violence, may also be eligible for applicant support services.

NOTE: Victims of domestic/family violence are required to appear eligible for TANF when applicant support services are needed; however, these services do not have to be needed in order to obtain or maintain employment.

3. Guidelines For Applicant Support Services General guidelines for Applicant Support Services are as follows:

A. State procurement guidelines specified in the Administration Policy and Procedures Manual, Chapter 13, must be followed when making payments to providers.

B. Applicant Support Services may not extend beyond four months from the point employment began or date of TANF application, if working when the application is filed.

C. Applicant Support Services are not intended to meet recurring or ongoing needs.

Please refer to the procurement guidelines outlined in the Administrative Policy and Procedure Manual, Chapter 13.

4. Prohibited Use of Applicant Support Services Applicant Support Services cannot be used for the following purposes:

A. To make direct payments to a DSS employee

B. To match other federal funds

C. To make child care payments for any purpose directly to the applicant, to anyone in the applicant's BG, or to anyone who has legal responsibility for the child(ren)

D. To pay expenses, such as parking or traffic violations, or any other prohibited or unauthorized expense

5. Authorization/Approval Process The authorization and approval process for Applicant Support Services is as follows:

A. When the applicant appears to be eligible for and in need of services, the ES Worker will assist in providing funds for Applicant Support Services as needed by sending a Request for Support Services, DSS Form 1269, to the Support Services Specialist (SSS) or designee. The authorization period begins on the first day services are needed and ends in four months or less, depending on circumstances.