M E M O R A N D U M

IM-40  04/12/99  TWENTY-FOUR MONTH TIME LIMIT


SUBJECT:
TWENTY-FOUR MONTH TIME LIMIT
 
DISCUSSION:
July 1, 1999, marks the first date Temporary Assistance recipients can meet the 24 month limit to be in a work activity.  With the approach of this date, there is some confusion over what will occur on that date.

This memorandum is to clarify the policy regarding the requirement that an adult recipient in a family participating in Temporary Assistance must be participating in a work activity by the time s/he has received Temporary Assistance for twenty-four months.

Unless exempt, adult participants in Temporary Assistance must be engaged in a work activity by the time they have received Temporary Assistance for twenty-four months.  This does not mean that we will close or sanction anyone simply because s/he has received Temporary Assistance for twenty-four months and is not yet participating in a work activity.

Simply stated, there are three scenarios for non-exempt adult participants in Temporary Assistance.

  • The adult recipient is already participating in a work activity, so eligibility continues.

    •  
  • The grant is sanctioned because the adult recipient refuses to participate in a work activity and conciliation attempts have failed.  The grant continues at the lower level and attempts to engage the individual in a work activity continue.

    •  
  • No attempt to engage the individual in a work activity has occurred, so eligibility continues.
No Temporary Assistance case will close due to having reached the twenty-four month limit without being engaged in a work activity.  This is unlike the sixty month time limit, when a case can close solely because of the time limit being reached.

No Temporary Assistance grant will be sanctioned due to having reached the twenty-four month limit without being engaged in a work activity.
 
NECESSARY ACTION:
  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

    •  
  • Submit any questions regarding this memorandum to Income Maintenance Program and Policy, through normal administrative channels.
KT
Distribution #6
[ 1999 Memorandums ]