2.9.2.2 Up-Front Job Search Time Frames

Individuals determined ready for unsubsidized employment may be assigned up-front job search and job readiness activities if they have:

Filed a W-2 application with a W-2 agency and do not have an open W-2 case with that W-2 agency or any other W-2 agency;

A pending W-2 case closure in CARES due to ineligibility, their W-2 placement has been end-dated, and they contact the same or a different W-2 agency to request assistance from W-2; or

Relocated into a new W-2 geographical area.

E XAMPLE : Laura’s CMC placement ended on June 5 and she returned to work. Her FEP offered follow-up case management services, but Laura declined.

Laura’s FEP enters her earned income into CWW and ends her W-2 placement. Laura’s W-2 eligibility is pending closed for June 30.

On June 25, Laura notifies the W-2 agency that she lost her job and submits a new request for W-2. Based on an assessment of Laura’s work history, education, and employment skills, the agency determines that it is appropriate to assign Laura to up-front job search before making a new placement determination.

The assignment of up-front job search activities may take place while the applicant is waiting to meet with the FEP and while the FEP is making the eligibility and placement decisions.

The FEP must not extend the application process past the 12 working days (five days to meet with the FEP and seven days for the FEP to make an eligibility determination and placement) to accommodate a lengthier job search. (See 1.4.4 )

W-2 agencies must not assign up-front job search activities if any of the following conditions exist:

A participant has continued ongoing W-2 eligibility in one agency. This includes circumstances where a participant’s CMC placement is ending, they are unemployed, and they meet eligibility criteria for a different cash assistance placement.

A CMF Case Management Follow-Up or CMF+ Case Management Follow-Up Plus participant contacts the FEP to request a paid W-2 placement because their employment has ended.

An individual is pregnant and applying for a CMC Custodial Parent of an Infant placement or an ARP At Risk Pregnancy placement.

An individual is an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer.

A participant moves from one W-2 geographical area to another and neither W-2 eligibility nor the W-2 placement has ended.

A participant moves from one county to another county where both counties operate under one W-2 agency.