(1) A
grantee who has received assistance for 60 days must work the required hours
per week as specified in 106 CMR 703.150(A)(5), unless:
(a) the grantee is exempt
(see
106 CMR
703.100);
(b) the grantee is caring for a foster child
in the home who is younger than two years old;
(c) a grantee is caring for a foster child in
the home whose needs exceed a standard level of care (DCF tiers 2, 3 and 4) as
determined by the DCF Commissioner or designee. A waiver of Work Program
requirements may be granted by the DTA Commissioner for other foster parent
grantees at the request of the DCF Commissioner based on the needs of the
foster child; or
(d) the grantee
has good cause as specified in
106 CMR
701.380:
Good Cause
Criteria.
In a two-parent household, each parent shall meet the Work
Program requirements for the required hours per week as specified in 106 CMR
703.150(A)(5), unless that parent meets the requirements of 106 CMR
703.150(A)(1). If 106 CMR 703.150(A)(1)(b) and (c) apply, however, the work
program requirement must still be met by one parent.
(2) A nonexempt grantee meets the
Work Program requirements by:
(a) working in a
job for pay for at least the required hours per week as specified in 106 CMR
703.150(A)(5);
(b) working
full-time in the Full Employment Program (FEP) (see
106 CMR
707.180: Full Employment
Program) or participating in an approved Supported Work Program
(see
106 CMR
707.160: Supported Work
Component);
(c)
participating in community service, job search or another Department approved
activity that is expected to result in employment for the required hours per
week as specified in 106 CMR 703.150(A)(5). The maximum number of hours a
grantee can participate in a community service program is limited by the
federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). A grantee who cannot meet the required
hours of participation through community service alone due to the FLSA must
participate in an additional allowable work activity so that the required hours
are met. If the grantee cannot identify an allowable work activity, the
Department shall provide a referral to an activity;
(d) combining the hours of work, other
approved work program activities and community service hours to total the
required hours per week as specified in 106 CMR 703.150(A)(5). The number of
hours of community service and/or other work program activities required each
week will be the difference between the required hours per week and the number
of hours worked;
(e) participating
in a substance abuse treatment program while in a substance abuse
shelter;
(f) participating in an
unpaid work study or internship program for the required hours per
week;
(g) providing child care to a
teen parent's dependent child (both of whom are living in the grantee's home)
enabling the teen parent to meet the school attendance requirements;
(h) participating in a Department-approved
supported work program with a commitment from the employer to hire participants
who successfully complete the program;
(i) participating in an education or training
activity including a certificate or degree program from a four-year
degree-granting higher education institute, community college or a certificate
program (up to a bachelor's degree) for up to the required hours per week as
specified in 106 CMR 703.150(A)(5). If the education or training activity is
less than the required hours per week, the grantee must participate in other
work program activities to meet the required hours. For purposes of meeting the
work program requirement, an education or training activity cannot exceed 24
months. The Department may extend this period if the client is making
substantial progress towards completion of the certificate or degree
program;
(j) participating in a
vocational educational program not to exceed 12 months. The Department may
extend this period if the client is making substantial progress towards
completion of the certificate or degree program in vocational education;
or
(k) if residing in an emergency
shelter, meeting his or her housing search requirements.
A grantee is given an initial period of up to 60 days to meet
the Work Program requirement. During this period, the grantee must seek
employment or find employment through FEP.
A grantee who does not meet the Work Program requirements as
defined in 106 CMR 703.150(A)(2) within the 60 days must participate in the
Community Service Program, unless participating in FEP.
(3) A categorically ineligible
noncitizen who is unable to work in a paying job because of his or her
noncitizen status, must participate in the Community Service program for the
required hours per week, unless the grantee:
(a) meets another exemption
(see
106 CMR
703.100);
(b) is caring for a foster child in the home
who is younger than two years old;
(c) is caring for a foster child in the home
whose needs exceed a standard level of care (DCF tiers 2, 3 and 4) as
determined by the DCF Commissioner or his or her designee. A waiver of work
requirements may be given for other foster parent grantees at the request of
the DCF Commissioner based on the needs of the foster child; or
(d) has good cause (
see
106 CMR
701.380:
Good Cause
Criteria).
The individual shall be given an initial period of up to 60
days to find a Community Service placement. If the individual does not begin a
Community Service placement within the 60 days, he or she shall be mandated to
participate in Community Service.
(4)
At
Reapplication. If a grantee reapplies for assistance any time
within a continuous 60-month period, the grantee, unless otherwise exempt, must
meet the Work Program requirements to be eligible for assistance. The grantee
will not receive another 60-day period to look for work.
If the 60-month period has expired when the grantee reapplies
for assistance, the grantee, unless otherwise exempt, will receive another
60-day period to look for work before having to meet the Work Program
requirement.
(5) For
purposes of 106 CMR 703.150(A), the required hours per week are defined as:
(a) 20 hours, if the youngest child in the
assistance unit (or who is not in the assistance unit as defined in
106
CMR 704.305(A)(5)(a), (b), or
(c)) is between two and six years of age
(see
106 CMR
701.600: Definition of
Terms); and
(b) 30 hours,
if the youngest child in the assistance unit (or who is not in the assistance
unit as defined in
106
CMR 704.305(A)(5)(a), (b), or
(c)) is six years of age or older.
In a two-parent household where both parents are work program
required, each parent must meet the required hours per week based on the age of
the youngest child in the assistance unit (or who is not in the assistance unit
in accordance with
106
CMR 704.305(A)(5)(a), (b), or
(c))
