A participant requesting a diversion payment is eligible to receive a payment only if the participant establishes good cause for one of the following reasons:
- An involuntary loss of employment, as demonstrated by a written notice from the TA participant’s previous employer, unless the division determines that the participant:
- Voluntarily quit a job; or
- Was terminated for poor job performance, or for failure to meet a condition of employment
- A catastrophic illness or accident that leaves the participant unable to work temporarily or permanently, as demonstrated by a statement from a licensed medical professional. The participant shall produce a copy of medical records and a written report from a licensed medical professional, on letterhead, providing the medical diagnosis, along with any supporting medical tests and examinations that establish the medical condition and the expected duration of the medical condition. If the participant has been determined disabled by a state or federal disability determination process, a written notice from such agency shall be acceptable documentation; or
- The participant is a victim of an incident of domestic violence as defined by RSMo 455.010(5), or of human trafficking as defined by RSMo 566.200(16), that is documented by either a written self-attestation, police reports, ex parte order, or other orders or judgments issued by a court; or
- An employed participant is unable to care for the basic needs of his or her family due to an emergency or other event, including but not limited to:
- An involuntary reduction in wages, as documented through pay stubs or an employer statement, to the extent that the participant qualifies for TA even though he or she is still employed; or
- The participant temporarily loses access to adequate transportation to work or school beyond the control of the participant with no readily accessible alternate means of transportation. The participant shall produce documentation of the loss of transportation by documents such as police reports, insurance claims, repair estimates, documentation of bus route changes, towing bills, or other evidence supporting this claim; or
- The participant temporarily loses access to child care as documented through a statement from the childcare provider, or other evidence supporting this claim; or
- The participant has temporarily been deprived of shelter, electricity, water, heating and/or cooling, or food due to circumstances beyond the control of the participant caused by intentional or negligent acts or due to a man-made or natural disaster. The participant shall produce documentation of the event such as police reports, insurance claims, repair estimates, or other evidence supporting this claim; or
- A temporary financial hardship caused by natural or accidental death or the catastrophic illness of a household member, or a parent or sibling of a household member, including half or stepsiblings; or
- Any other event that a Program Administrator or their designee determines warrants good cause, and that is supported by documentation establishing the occurrence of the event.