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Vermont Department for Children and Families Economic Services Division Reach Up Services Rules 2300 29

4. The Department's compliance with the conciliation process.

b. The sanction process begins with a written notice to the participant at least 10 days before the sanction is scheduled to begin.

1. This notice explains the action being taken, the reason for the action, and the participant's right to appeal the decision.

c. If the participant requests a fair hearing before the sanction is applied to the Reach Up benefit, the sanction will not be applied while the appeal is pending (rule 2330).

2328.2 Required Sanctions Meeting (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. To receive any Reach Up benefit while sanctioned, including vendor rent payments, a participant is required to attend a sanction meeting at least once per month and participate in assessments.

b. This meeting may take place in a location that facilitates the FDP goals.

c. A sanctioned participant’s unexcused absence from the required meeting may result in termination of the Reach Up household's benefits.

d. The purpose of the meeting is to reassess, review and revise the FDP as appropriate and encourage the participant to cure the sanction.

e. The meeting with the case manager shall take place by the 16th of each month or the Reach Up benefits terminate and that month’s benefit is forfeited.

1. In any given month, the case manager may waive the meeting requirement if, in their judgment, severe illness, death in the family, or other equally compelling reasons warrant an exception.

2. A participant is encouraged to notify the case manager if unable to attend as scheduled, on or before the date of a meeting.

i. The case manager shall reschedule the meeting to be held no later than the 16th of the month.

f. If the sanctioned participant attends a meeting after the 16th but before the end of a month, benefits for the following month are reinstated at the appropriate sanctioned level.

1. If the participant demonstrates good cause for not attending the meeting by the 16th, the Department will issue the current month’s benefit.

2328.3 Sanction Amounts (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. The sanction amount is based upon the cumulative number of months the participant has been sanctioned, even if the months are not consecutive.

b. For the first, second, and third cumulative months in which a participant is sanctioned, the Reach Up household benefit shall be reduced by the amount of $75.00 for each participant subject to a fiscal sanction.