WtW Requirements

The WtW legislation targets those welfare recipients who will have the most difficulty transitioning into employment.

70% Funding Criteria (Primary Eligibility Category)

Custodial Parent must: 
1. be receiving Temporary Assistance (at the time of enrollment) and has received for 30 months or more

Noncustodial Parent must:
1. be unemployed, underemployed, or having difficulty paying child support obligations and
2. have minor children, that are eligible for or  receiving Temporary Assistance benefits, or has received Temporary Assistance benefits during the preceding year.  Also, if the child(ren) are eligible for or receiving benefits from the Food Stamp program, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, Medicaid, or the Children's Heath Insurance program and
3. enter into a personal responsibility contract, or pact, that will state they  commit to cooperate in establishing paternity, to paying child support and  to participating in services to increase their employment and earnings in order to support their children.

Note:  All three of the above criteria must be met for the Non Custodial Parent.  This can   assist the Custodial Parent to receive the awarded child support and give the assistance he/she requires to become self-sufficient.

Custodial Parent
1. Those currently receiving Temporary Assistance and
2. Those that have one or more of the "characteristics associated with, or predictive of" long-term welfare dependency, such as:

1. High School Dropout
2. Pregnant teen or teen parent
3. Poor work history (not worked at least 13 consecutive weeks in past 12 months in full-time unsubsidized employment)
4. Previous criminal history
5. Number of children under age 6

NOTE: Additional criteria can be locally determined.

Other Eligible Participants
1. Youth (at least age 18, but not yet 25) who have "aged out" of foster care 
2. Custodial parents with incomes below the poverty line (FPL)

Funds may be used to help move eligible individuals into jobs by:

1. Job creation through public or private sector wage subsidies;
2. On-the job training;
3. Contracts with public or private providers of;
1. Job readiness;
2. Job placement;
3. Post-employment services such as:
1. Basic education skills
2. Occupational skills training
3. English as a Second Language
4. Mentoring
4. Job vouchers for similar services
5. Community service or work experience; or
6. Job retention and supportive services provided for post employment (if such services are not otherwise available) such as;
1. Transportation
2. Child Care
3. Substance Abuse Treatment
4. Housing Assistance

The allowable activities for what the funding can be used for is not new with the exception of allowing vocational training for six (6) calendar months PRIOR to putting the participant in a work activity.

Memorandum Welfare-to-Work Experience IM#-108 (August 13, 1999) discusses earnings received from Work Experience through Welfare-to-Work (WtW) for all IM programs.  IDA accounts do not count on any program's budget.

Coordination with affiliated agencies and organizations is critical to the success of all WtW programs.  Attention to non-duplication of services and ease of identification of eligible individuals and subsequent service deliver is a primary goal.  Each Workforce Investment Board will have varying combinations of programs and services.

A Welfare to Work Eligibility Screening Document (in Adobe Acrobat format) is attached to identify eligible individuals to use these funds.  A copy of this form can be attached to the IM-311 for referrals to the WtW providers unless a similar referral process is developed locally.

• Review memorandum with appropriate staff.

• Copy and use WtW eligibility form with the IM-311 to make appropriate referrals to WtW case management services.