- TO:
- ALL COUNTY OFFICES
- FROM:
- ALYSON CAMPBELL, DIRECTOR
- SUBJECT:
- SENATE BILL 24 CHANGES TO THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this memorandum is to announce upcoming changes to the Temporary Assistance (TA) program resulting from the General Assembly’s passage of Senate Bill 24. Senate Bill 24 revised RSMo 208.026 and 208.040 and changes the TA program work activity requirement, sanction policies and life-time limits.
Beginning August 28, 2015 the sanction policy for non-compliance with work activities will change. Individuals who are not meeting the work requirement will have the opportunity to meet with a Missouri Work Assistance provider and have 6 weeks to comply with work activities. If the individual does not comply the penalty is a 50% reduction of the family’s TA cash grant (50% full-family sanction).
The family can receive the reduced grant for up to 10 additional weeks to give the individual time to comply with the work requirement. Failure to comply by the end of 10 weeks will result in the case closing (100% full-family sanction).
Also effective August 28, 2015 will be a:
- Database to track use of jobs.mo.gov to count as a TA work activity
- Standardized orientation for TA applicants prior to approval
- Personal Responsibility Plan developed with TA applicants prior to approval including agreement to participate in work activities
- Once-in-a-lifetime disregard of a new spouse’s income and assets for 6 months to encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families
Several additional program changes become effective January 1, 2016. These changes include:
- Requiring participation in work activities prior to approving the TA application
- A lifetime limit of 45 months for receipt of monthly TA benefits
- A new Cash Diversion program to offer applicants the opportunity to receive 3 times their maximum monthly cash grant as a lump sum payment once in a 12 month period in lieu of being approved for monthly TA cash benefits
These changes will require manual and form revisions, FAMIS changes, work with Department of Economic Development and Missouri Work Assistance providers, and promulgation of rules. Detailed memorandums will be provided with instructions to implement the new laws. Do not implement these changes prior to receiving the memorandum and policy.
NECESSARY ACTION:
- Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
AC/jo