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2. The participant was not sanctioned for leaving employment without good cause while enrolled in VIEW.

In the case in which a sanction was improperly imposed, including situations in which the sanction was the result of non-compliance caused by the verified disability of the participant or the verified disability of a household member in the care of the participant, the sanction will be removed and the participant may be considered for a hardship exception if otherwise eligible.

E. Conditions Under Which a Hardship Exception May Be Granted for Up to One Year

A hardship exception may be granted by the local agency for any period of time, up to one year, based on a lack of job availability or for completion of employment- related education or training if the client meets the general eligibility criteria outlined above. The client must participate in the VIEW program and carry out all program assignments. The hardship exception will be reevaluated every 90 days to ensure that the basis for the exception continues to exist and that the participant continues to meet all program and exception requirements.

1. Factors relating to job availability are unfavorable

a. The client lives in an area where the unemployment rate has been 10% or higher for the six months preceding the client’s request for a hardship exception. Unemployment rate information is available from the Virginia Employment Commission at https://virginiaworks.com/local-area-unemployment-statistics- laus?page89556=1&size89556=48&page89557=1&size89557=48.

b. The client is registered with the Virginia Employment Commission, is assigned to a job search activity and to any other activity that the agency believes will facilitate employment, and is actively seeking employment.

2. The client is in an employment–related post-secondary education or training program which can be completed within one year

a. Participants enrolled in a self-initiated education or training program that began prior to his/her entry into the VIEW program are not eligible for an education or training- related hardship exception.

b. The participant must have been enrolled in employment-related post-secondary education or skills training for at least 9 of the previous 12 months, have been satisfactorily participating, and must be able to complete the course of study in no more than one year of full time enrollment if the exception is granted.

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