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FOLLOW-ALONG SERVICES

Follow-along job retention and re-employment service is another critical service, which is available statewide to former TANF recipients. This program will reduce the number of participants who reapply for benefits because fewer persons are likely to leave their jobs when they have a stronger support system. The department implemented a uniform approach to monitor employed persons who have received TANF benefits. This program produces accurate data about what happens to recipients after they leave cash assistance with a job.

South Dakota implemented an Employment Incentive Program. This initiative allows for placement and retention incentives to be earned for TANF recipients whose case closed due to increased income. Employment incentive payments may be earned by former TANF recipients who maintain employment, remain off TANF assistance, and maintain contact with staff at scheduled contact milestones. The goal of this project is to reduce dependency on TANF assistance while strengthening the workforce. This initiative is reasonably expected to achieve outcomes under TANF purpose two.

This follow-along support includes these steps:

e The first contact will be done within 7 days after getting a job. Additional contacts will be made at a minimum of 30, 60, 90, 180, 270 days, and one year.

e Staff will determine if the person is still employed, what their earnings are, if they have health insurance, and identify problems that threaten their chances to remain employed.

e Staff will help these former recipients to find childcare, housing, transportation, or secure new jobs. Staff may also refer them to appropriate community resources.

e Supportive service payments may be used to help these individuals to remain employed rather than reapply for cash assistance. Supportive service payments can be used in conjunction with any follow-up contact;

e Employment incentive payments may be used to help these individuals maintain employment;

e Assist in the development of opportunities for an upgrade of the client's job skill level through additional assessment and training.

WORK/PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

The Deficit Reduction Act introduced a new term "work eligible individual" to describe anyone whose participation in work activities is required in the calculation of the work participation rate. Work-eligible individual means an adult (or minor child head-of- household) receiving assistance under TANF or a separate State program or a non-recipient parent living with a child receiving such assistance (usually a child-only case) unless the parent is:

e Aminor parent and not the head-of-household.

e Anon-citizen who is ineligible to receive assistance due to his or her immigration status;

or

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