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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 1

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 117 Chapter 1 Application/Redetermination Process

1.5.22 SELF-SUFFICIENCY PLAN (SSP) The Self-Sufficiency Plan (SSP), form DFA-SSP-1, is a negotiated contract between each of the adult or emancipated minor members of the WV WORKS AG, or non-recipient Work-Eligible Individual(s), and the Worker, as the representative of the DOHS. The SSP is specific to each participant. It lists the goals, as well as the tasks necessary to accomplish the goals, including specific appointments, assignments and activities for the adult/emancipated minor. In addition, the SSP identifies the circumstances which impede attainment of the established goals and specifies the services needed to overcome the impediments. The services listed on the SSP may be Support Service Payments or any other type of service provided to the participant or to which he has been referred. When there are no support services available at the time to appropriately address the barrier, the Worker must note this on the form and periodically review the availability of needed services. Guidance for the assessment process which is crucial to the completion of the SSP is found in Section 18.7. A separate SSP is completed for each adult and emancipated minor in a WV WORKS AG, and any non-recipient Work-Eligible Individuals in the household. Completion and signature of the SSP is required to be completed within 10 days of the initial contact when the client expresses an interest in applying for WV WORKS. The initial SSP may be completed on a paper form or in the eligibility system. When the initial SSP is completed on a paper form, the eligibility system must be updated as soon as possible. Whenever the participant reapplies for benefits, a new SSP is required. The participant and Worker must sign and date the initial SSP and each change or addition when they occur. The signatures indicate their agreement to the initial SSP and subsequent changes. The participant’s signature indicates that he understands and accepts the responsibility inherent in the program. The SSP is a working document and revisions are made when either the participant or the Worker believes it necessary. Frequent changes are expected as the participant progresses toward his goal. There are four additional considerations for the Worker during the negotiation of the Self- Sufficiency Plan, as follows. 1.5.22.A Initial SSP