Temporary Assistance/Case Management Manual

IM-06 January 8, 2018, IM-02 January 27, 2014, IM-37 April 25, 2012, IM-37 June 17, 2011

When it is determined the Temporary Assistance (TA) participant should be sanctioned, follow these steps:

1. Ensure the sanction appointment on the Conciliation letter was at least 10 business days, but no more than 20 business days into the future.
2. Ensure the sanction appointment on the Conciliation letter was missed and the TA participant did not call to reschedule or s/he failed to participate in the required work activities.
3. If no compliance during the 6-week conciliation period, send the sanction alert to reduce the grant by 50%.
4. To end the 50% sanction, the participant must cooperate by completing work activities at least 30 hours weekly for 4 consecutive weeks. The 50% sanction remains in effect for no more than 10 weeks.
5. If the participant complies by completing the required 30 hours weekly for 4 consecutive weeks, the case manager must send the ‘lift sanction alert’ to FSD.
6. If no compliance during the 10-week period, FAMIS sends adverse action to close TA Case for a FULL FAMILY SANCTION.

The 6-week timeframe for compliance begins the first business day of the week following the scheduled meeting date.

EXAMPLES:

1. Mrs. Johnson missed her initial appointment on August 12, and she was no call/no show for her sanction appointment on August 25. The 6-week timeframe for compliance begins the first business day of the week following the sanctioned meeting date of August 28.
2. Mr. Bell did not comply with work activities. He missed his scheduled conciliation appointment on February 15. His 6-week timeframe for compliance began the following Monday. He did not comply, the case manager sent the ‘recommend 50% sanction alert’ on the 6-week date of March 27.
3. Mr. Smith failed to participate in work activities and did not attend his scheduled conciliation appointment on December 19. His 6-week period for compliance began the following Monday. He did not participate during that time period, and the recommend 50% sanction alert was sent on the 6-week date of January 30. He did not participate during the 10-week period and his full family sanction began April 7. His case closed in FAMIS on April 20 following the 10-day adverse action period.

FSD imposes the sanction after the participant’s 10-day adverse action period has expired. A 10-day adverse action is FSD’s official notice of intent to reduce a participant’s TA benefit for not cooperating with the MWA service provider. The adverse action notice also advises the participant of the right to a hearing and to representation of the participant’s choice. The TA individual’s TA benefit is not reduced until the 10- day adverse action period expires or until the hearing is held and a decision made upholding the sanction.

The MWA System receives a sanction work status (SS) in the overnight data exchange. This process may take up to 30 days from the date the sanction alert was sent to FSD. Refer to 0290.030.00 FSD Imposing Sanctions.

NOTE: The MWA service provider should contact the regional PDS if the work status has not changed to Sanctioned (SS) in the MWA System within 30 days.