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Vermont Department for Children and Families Economic Services Division Reach Up Services Rules 2300 36

2333.1 Young Child Deferment Component (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. Reach Up households assigned to the young child deferment component must include a parent ineligible for a federal exemption from the TANF WPR calculation, who is caring for a child younger than two years of age.

2333.2 Sanctioned Minor Parent Component (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. Reach Up households assigned to the sanctioned minor parent component must include a minor parent sanctioned (rule 2319) for one of the following:

1. Residence in an unapproved living arrangement; or 2. Non‐engagement in the minor parent requirements.

2333.3 Additional Support Component (08/01/2024, 23-30) a. Reach Up households assigned to the additional support component must: 1. Include at least one member, who is ineligible for federal TANF benefits due to receipt of 60 or more months of such benefits as an adult and have not been selected for a hardship exemption (rule 2332.1); or 2. Not be meeting their federal TANF WPR requirement.

b. Assignment of households to this component because they are not meeting their federal TANF WPR requirement, is limited by the number of households whose assignment is required to meet federal TANF WPR targets plus 1 percent (rule 2334).

2334 Solely State‐Funded Assignment Rules (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. Within the limitations specified in rules 2332.1 ‐ 2333, the Department shall assign households according to the following rules and in the following order:

1. The young child deferment component (rule 2333.1) and the sanctioned minor parent component (rule 2333.2).

2. The additional support component (rule 2333.3), if they do not meet the criteria for the hardship exemption (rule 2332.1).

3. The additional support component (rule 2333.3) or a SSP (rule 2335) one‐by‐one until the number of remaining households meeting the hardship exemption criteria is equal to or less than the hardship exemption maximum, assigning households with the smallest benefit first, if the number of households meeting the hardship exemption criteria exceeds the hardship exemption maximum (rule 2332.1).

i. Households qualifying for both the additional support component and a SSP shall be assigned to a SSP.

4. If Vermont’s average two‐parent WPR for the current federal fiscal year to‐date, including the month for which assignments are being made, is less than the federal target rate plus 1 percent, the Department shall assign households with two able‐to‐work adults, who are not meeting