Transitional Cash Assistance (TCA)

A Family Employment Program (FEP), Family Employment Program – Two-Parent (FEP-TP) household whose FEP case closes because of income, and whose countable earned income exceeds the countable unearned income limit may receive three months TCA to provide support and stability in the transition to employment if the parent(s) in the household work an average of 30 hours per week.

Transitional and Extended Support services are available to FEP and FEP-TP families to support their transition to employment. Services help families stabilize after the loss of FEP assistance, sustain employment and reduce recidivism.

Who is eligible for TCA?

Customers included in the FEP household who verify the earned income of the parent(s) in the home exceeds unearned income in the month following FEP closure may be considered for TCA.

FEP (includes FEP-TP Incapacity) and FEP-TP customers whose FEP cases close because of income and who have earned income greater than their unearned income and the hours of employment for each able-bodied parent averages 30 hours per week.

Documentation of employment must be provided within required time frames (see #3). Self-employed customers: The income must be based on profits (gross income minus business expenses). See Workforce Development Division (WDD) policy 3162

Customers who verify income and sign a TCA Agreement by the 15th of the month following FEP closure are eligible for TCA.

Only one month of FEP prior to FEP, closure is required to receive TCA.

Customers who verify income and sign a TCA Agreement by the 15th of the month following FEP closure are eligible for TCA.

Who is NOT eligible for TCA?

Diversion customers. Consider Employment Support for Diversion customers.

Customers who have a pending non-participation or pending non-compliance occurrence entered into Utah's Workforce System ( UWORKS ) .

Customers who are not earning a wage greater than their unearned income.

Customers who are not working an average of 30 hours per week.

Customers who did not receive a FEP benefit in the previous month.

Customers who report employment income without providing verification.

Customers who fail to cooperate with Office of Recovery Services during any TCA month, unless there is documentation of the customer claiming good cause.

Customers who received General Assistance/Adoption Assistance benefit in the previous month.

TCA Household Size Considerations

During the 3-month TCA period the grant will be adjusted based on the following circumstances:

If a baby is born or a child moves into the household the grant will be supplemented to meet the current household size. If a child moves out of the household the grant will be reduced to meet the current household size.

If a parent moves into the household when the case is already open for TCA, the grant will be supplemented to meet the current household size. If a parent moves out of the household when the case is already open for TCA, the grant will be reduced to meet the current household size.

Both parents must meet the Transitional Child Care Employment Requirements to be eligible to receive TCA Child Care.

If a parent with income moves into the household while the case is open for FEP and the FEP case is closed based on this income the household is not eligible for TCA if the parent was not included in the FEP grant the month it was closed for income.

The Employment Counselor must not have either parent sign the TCA agreement so an Event does not get sent to eREP to open TCA.

Three months of TCA are issued as follows:

Month one and two are full grants based on household size.

Month three is one half the grant based on household size.

All income is disregarded from the grant for the 3 TCA months

Customers are eligible for 3 months of TCA in any 12-month period. The three months of TCA do not have to be consecutive.

If the hours of employment fall below the required average of 30 hours per week, the TCA will be closed.

The months of TCA do NOT count toward the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Utah lifetime limit (exception: March & April 2007 count against the Utah lifetime limit). Do NOT report TCA months to other states as TANF months. See policy 281-1

TCA may also include the following services:

24 months case management, 6 of which are required to be monitored in UWORKS

Y funds

Six months Transitional Child Care without a parent income adjustment, if otherwise eligible for Employment Support Child Care. See policy 210-4 FEP Cases Closed For Increased Income-Transitional Child Care.

Transitional or other Medicaid if eligible

SNAP, if eligible