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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 18

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 149 Chapter 18 WV WORKS Activities/Requirements

18.19.3.G Relocation A participant may be relocated to a different area of the State or to a different state when an offer of unsubsidized employment has been verified. • The move must be more than one hour in normal traffic before relocation payments may be approved. • The payment may include such items as a rental vehicle, mileage for a personal vehicle, and initial living expenses in the new employment area. • These expenses must be verified and documented in case comments. For any cost that cannot be verified, the Case Manager must justify why the payment was made and the calculations used to determine the payment. In addition, payments may be made to relocate victims of sexual harassment and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking when the safety of the participant and/or the children is compromised. To qualify for payment, the requirements in Section 14.9.1.B must be met and the current living situation must be unsafe. Funds may not be used to move someone to a shelter but may be used to move from a shelter to a residence. Payment may also be made for relocation within the same general vicinity only when relocating to an area where public transportation is available. Proximity to public transportation must be one mile or more and be reduced to one mile or less. Relocation for this reason does not require an offer of employment. The Case Manager must take the participant’s system of support into consideration when relocating to access transportation. Once the participant has relocated to an area where public transportation is available, transportation must no longer be considered a challenge to participation. Relocation for this purpose must be sent to DFA Family Support Policy Unit for approval. The lifetime limit applies, regardless of the reason for the relocation. If the available relocation amount has been used and sexual harassment and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking becomes an issue for the family, contact the DFA Family Support Policy Unit regarding approval. When both parents in a two-parent household have verified offers of employment, the household may receive a payment up to the $1,500 lifetime limit to meet their moving expenses. The amount paid is divided between the two parents and half of the payment is disbursed equally between the two parents. A participant’s receipt of relocation services through support payment does not make that individual ineligible for the continued service options (EAP/PL). Nor does it make the participant ineligible for TANF for 3 months, unless associated with DCA payment. See 1.5.18.