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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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2.6 Initial Job Search All applicants (including adults added to open TANF cases), age 18 or older, and not attending high school or equivalent, with the exception of those who meet the sanction exemption criteria must conduct an initial job search.

TANF applicants should be referred to the Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) for a listing of job leads. The ES Worker will recommend this during the initial interview. The applicant(s) must make and document a minimum of five employer contacts during the application process. It should be indicated to the applicant that the job search be completed within two weeks, although extensions will be given until the end of the application pending period. Applicants already employed at the time of application must also complete the initial job search. (see 4.11) Failure to complete the initial job search during the application process will result in the denial of the application.

2.7 Processing Period The processing period for TANF begins the day after a signed application is filed. When additional information is requested from the applicant and is not provided timely, the ES Worker must allow the full processing time to elapse before the application can be denied for failure to provide needed information.

1. Delay Cause The reason for any delay in processing the application beyond the timeliness standards must be documented in the case file as either: A. Applicant caused delay B. Agency caused delay

2. New Resident When a TANF recipient from another state moves to South Carolina and applies, the ES Worker must verify any TANF months received in another state(s) but must not delay action on the application due to the other state’s failure to notify this state of their termination date and/or the number of TANF months received in the other state. (See 10.5)

During the application process, ask the applicant, and document, if he/she or any adult member of the BG lived in another state or US Territory since October 1996 and if so, if they received any federal TANF assistance.

3. Timeliness Standard To meet the timeliness standard, no more than 30 days must elapse between the date of application and: A. The date the first TANF benefit is authorized B. The date the notice denying the application for benefits is sent to the BG

EXCEPTION: A timeliness standard of 35 days is allowed when a BG is curing a full family sanction. When processing the application between the 30th and 35th day, an untimely code of "SC" (sanction code) will need to be entered on CHIP screen AFED.