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Vermont Department for Children and Families Economic Services Division Reach Up Services Rules 2300 23

d. If no good cause for the non‐engagement exists, the Department will initiate the conciliation process (rule 2326) or for participants ineligible for conciliation, the sanctions process (rule 2327).

1. When de facto refusal occurs and the participant is ineligible for conciliation the Reach Up benefits will be terminated for Reach Up households that have received 60 or more countable, cumulative months of benefits.

2324.2 Overt Refusal (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. Overt refusal occurs when, without good cause, a participant declares, verbally or in writing, an unwillingness to engage in Reach Up services requirements.

1. The Department will ask the participant to put verbal refusals in writing and, if they refuse, the verbal refusal will be accepted.

b. The Department shall prepare a written record of the participant's non‐engagement.

c. If the Department determines that the participant had good cause for non‐engagement, the non‐ engagement process ends.

1. For Reach Up households that have already received 60 or more countable, cumulative months of benefits at the time the sanctions process has begun, the Reach Up benefits will be terminated.

2325 Determination of Good Cause (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. The Department shall make a good‐faith effort to contact the participant to determine whether there is good cause for their non‐engagement.

b. The Department may require the participant to provide documentation to substantiate their claim of good cause.

c. The Department will determine whether there was good cause for the participant's non‐ engagement.

1. The Department will determine that no good cause exists if the participant does not fully cooperate with the Department's attempt to establish good cause.

d. The Department shall complete the good cause determination within 10 days of becoming aware of the participant's non‐engagement.

2326 Good Cause Criteria (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. Circumstances beyond the control of the participant may constitute good cause for a participant's non‐engagement.

b. Some good cause reasons are job‐related (rule 2326.1) and others are FDP‐related (rule 2326.2).

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Vermont Department for Children and Families Economic Services Division Reach Up Services Rules 2300 23

2324.2 Overt Refusal (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. Overt refusal occurs when, without good cause, a participant declares, verbally or in writing, an unwillingness to engage in Reach Up services requirements.

1. The Department will ask the participant to put verbal refusals in writing and, if they refuse, the verbal refusal will be accepted.

b. The Department shall prepare a written record of the participant's non‐engagement.

c. If the Department determines that the participant had good cause for non‐engagement, the non‐ engagement process ends.

1. For Reach Up households that have already received 60 or more countable, cumulative months of benefits at the time the sanctions process has begun, the Reach Up benefits will be terminated.

2325 Determination of Good Cause (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. The Department shall make a good‐faith effort to contact the participant to determine whether there is good cause for their non‐engagement.

b. The Department may require the participant to provide documentation to substantiate their claim of good cause.

c. The Department will determine whether there was good cause for the participant's non‐ engagement.

1. The Department will determine that no good cause exists if the participant does not fully cooperate with the Department's attempt to establish good cause.

d. The Department shall complete the good cause determination within 10 days of becoming aware of the participant's non‐engagement.

2326 Good Cause Criteria (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. Circumstances beyond the control of the participant may constitute good cause for a participant's non‐engagement.

b. Some good cause reasons are job‐related (rule 2326.1) and others are FDP‐related (rule 2326.2).