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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 18

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 167 Chapter 18 WV WORKS Activities/Requirements

18.22 TRANSITIONAL BENEFIT Work-Eligible Individuals may choose between two transitional benefit options any time the WV WORKS case is closed due to employment and the participant has reported employment within ten days of the employment begin date. The closure may be at the participant’s request, but the participant must be employed. When the participant accepts employment and the WV WORKS benefit is closed, the Case Manager advises the participant regarding the benefits of each option and the participant chooses the one best suited to the needs of his family. The participant signs the WV WORKS transitional benefit Option form, DFA-WVW-15, to document the decision. The participant has 30 days from the effective date of closure to sign the DFA-WVW-15 to document his decision. The participant is ineligible to receive either option if the form is not returned in the specified time frame or if the employment is not reported timely. The Case Manager must note which option the participant has chosen in the eligibility system. The participant receives one copy of the form and another is placed into the case record. This participant’s decision is binding for the transitional benefit. Both options are considered transitional benefit services. If an individual reapplies for WV WORKS within three months of the last day of the effective month of the closure due to employment, the assistance group (AG) members or non-recipient Work-Eligible are not required to complete another orientation or Personal Responsibility Contract (PRC). An updated Self-Sufficiency Plan (SSP) is still required. Any individual who has had a positive drug test as a result of the Drug Use Questionnaire, DFA- WVW-DAST-1, is encouraged to continue attending counseling / rehabilitation during the transitional benefit period. Substance abuse sanctions in Section 14.8.2 are not applied for failure to continue with this requirement once employed. The options are described below: • Option 1 – This option is a continuation of support services and payments any time a WV WORKS benefit is closed due to employment which meets the requirements outlined below. Services include case management; support service payments; continuation of and payment for activities such as, but not limited to, job search, job readiness, and skills training. Employed former WV WORKS participants must apply to receive continued support service payments, see Section 18.22. • Option 2 – This option is the West Virginia Employment Assistance Program (EAP). This program enables the employed former WV WORKS participant to continue to receive the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payment he received prior to becoming employed by use of a 100% earned income disregard for the EAP period. The family must elect to receive the EAP payment instead of continued support service payments. Participation hours for this employment may be projected for up to six months