DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style.

The main purpose of the compliance and sanction process is to promote participation by helping participants remove obstacles that prevent participation and completion of Welfare-to-Work (WtW)/Refugee Employment Program (REP) activities.

A participant who is not exempt is required to participate in the WtW/REP program. When a participation problem occurs and Good Cause (GC) is not established, the identification and resolution of barriers is key to successful participation and completion of WtW/REP requirements. The overall goal of the compliance process is to reach a positive resolution that enables the participant to receive the services needed to remove barriers, attain skills, and find employment.

The GC determination is an important part of the compliance process. The participant is given an opportunity to provide information on the reason for non-participation, which can result in compliance with WtW/REP requirements and the avoidance of a sanction.

Participants are excused from participation in WtW/REP activities when there is a condition or other circumstance that temporarily prevents, or significantly impairs, the participant's ability to be regularly employed or to participate in WtW/REP activities. Once it is determined that GC exists for a participant's failure to comply, and those circumstances continue to prevent the participant from participating in a required activity, staff must take steps to remove any barriers preventing full participation.

All GC determinations must be made on a case-by-case basis. Staff must review GC conditions that are anticipated to last more than 30 days to determine if a WtW exemption applies.

When GC is established, staff must review the continuing validity of the GC determination at least once every 30 days, or as necessary. Participants who were granted GC due to homelessness must be contacted every 30 days during the 90-day GC period for up to a total of nine months for each homeless instance.

GC Due to Homelessness

WtW/REP mandatory homeless participants must be engaged in WtW/REP activities to receive services to achieve self-sufficiency and eventually overcome homelessness. Staff must exert effort to contact participants and assign them to WtW/REP activities. However, when contact attempts are unsuccessful, 90 days of GC due to homelessness must be issued. Contact efforts must be made, and documented in Journal Detail page, every 30 days during the 90-day GC period, which should include telephone calls and scheduling an appointment to attempt to engage the participant in WtW/REP activities.

A WTW 6010, WTW Appointment Letter, must be generated and sent to the participant. Participants must be encouraged to participate in WtW/REP activities because the 60-Month Time Clock (MTC) continues to count event if they are in a GC status.

When the 90-days GC expires and contact efforts are still unsuccessful, GC may be reissued up to a total of nine months, including the initial 90-day GC granted. The nine-month limit only applies to the participant's current homeless instance and is not a lifetime limit. If the participant experiences homelessness again, a new nine-month limit restarts. There is no limit to the number of homeless instances a participant can experience. Staff must also review the "Good Cause Expiring" task to determine if a participant qualifies for continued GC.

Non-Compliance must not be initiated, and WtW/REP sanctions should not be imposed on homeless participants, unless they have exhausted a total of nine months of GC due to homelessness for the current homeless instance and is not participating in WtW/REP. However, if participants express that they have not found stable housing and are still unable to participate due to the family's housing situation, additional GC may be issued at the Region/REP Provider's discretion, as long as it is reasonable and clearly documented in CalSAWS Journal Detail page.

Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families statutes direct states to remove from aid non-exempt participants who fail to participate in required work activities.

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