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1000.9 TANF MANUAL 10/18 PAGE 26a

Client is released to return to work on 09/05/17 and is again referred to VIEW. Client must sign a new APR. If she refuses, the TANF case must be closed.

Example 4: When the TANF case is closed due to the client’s failure/refusal to sign APR, the client must sign a new APR as a condition of eligibility at reapplication for TANF.

TANF is approved effective 12/15/17. Client fails, without good cause, to appear for the initial assessment on 12/27/17. The TANF case is closed effective 01/31/18.

Client reapplies 05/14/18, and does not meet a VIEW exemption. (If the client is exempt at reapplication, she is not required to sign the APR as a condition of eligibility.) She must sign a new APR prior to case approval. If the client fails to sign the APR, the TANF application will be denied. If the client signs the APR then fails to attend the initial assessment interview after TANF case approval, she (and the TANF case) will be sanctioned.

Example 5: After reapplication for TANF (TANF case was closed while client subject to sanction) when the client has served the minimum fixed period and completed an act of compliance to cure the sanction.

Client is sanctioned for 5/1/18 – 7/31/18. Client requests closure of the TANF case on 8/15/18. TANF case closed effective 8/31/18 with sanction still in place as client has not completed an act of compliance.

Client reapplies 10/10/18. EW advises client to contact ESW to cure sanction. Client contacts the ESW on 10/10/18 and completes an act of compliance. ESW advises EW to lift sanction effective 10/10/18. After the TANF case is approved, the ESW will schedule a reassessment appointment with the client to sign a new APR and assign the client to VIEW activities. The EW will run Eligibility.

Note: If the TANF case had not closed (remained open in a suspended status throughout the sanction period), a new APR would not have been required. The ESW would review the 24-month clock and advise the client of the number of months left on the clock as part of the reassessment process when the client resumes her VIEW participation.

C. If the participant chooses not to sign the Agreement or fails to keep the initial assessment appointment at which the APR is to be signed, the agency will take action to terminate the participant’s TANF payment. If a TANF-UP participant chooses not to sign the Agreement, the entire household will have its TANF benefits terminated regardless of whether another eligible TANF-UP participant is in the household.

D. If the Agreement was signed as a condition of TANF eligibility, the household will be sanctioned rather than terminated for missing the initial assessment appointment.

E. An individual who has refused to sign the Agreement of Personal Responsibility and has had her case closed must sign the APR prior to approval of the TANF application as a condition of eligibility. The signed APR may be obtained by either the EW or the ESW. (Note: This is the only instance in which the EW may obtain the signed APR). Local agencies should develop a procedure by which the APR is signed as quickly as possible to ensure that the processing of the TANF application will not be delayed. The failure of the client to sign the APR in these circumstances will result in the denial of the application.

In these situations, the queue or start date in the ESP module in VaCMS will be the TANF approval date rather than the date the APR was signed. However, the two-year clock will begin the first of the following month after the APR was signed. The Employment Services Worker will adjust the two-year clock.

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