New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 10 - HUMAN SERVICES
Chapter 90 - WORK FIRST NEW JERSEY PROGRAM
Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 10:90-1.1 - Purpose, philosophy and scope of the WFNJ program

(a) The Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) program has been established to transform the design and purpose of the welfare system in New Jersey. For the first time, one comprehensive program has been created by the Legislature and the Governor to uniformly both inspire and require all able-bodied families with dependent children, single adults and couples without dependent children to WORK rather than receive welfare. WFNJ builds and expands upon the foundation of the basic principles set forth in the Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, Public Law 104-193. The Act established the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program which ended the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program and established the WFNJ Program pursuant to the Work First New Jersey Act, Public Law 1997 c.13, c.14, c.37 and c.38.

(b) WFNJ, building upon the base of our former State and Federally funded Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program and our State funded General Assistance (GA) program, creates one WFNJ program. However, due to certain necessary differences in the requirements and the responsibilities entailed in being a single adult, a couple without dependent children or a single adult or couple with dependent children, the WFNJ program recognizes two segments which, for ease of reference and clarity throughout this manual are referred to as either the WFNJ/TANF component, which encompasses families with children whether headed by a single adult or a couple, and the WFNJ/GA component, which encompasses single adults and couples without dependent children.

(c) The WFNJ Program is designed specifically to emphasize personal responsibility, instill dignity, promote self-sufficiency and pride through work and strongly reinforce all parents' responsibility for their child(ren) through strict enforcement of child support requirements. WFNJ clearly recognizes that both parents of a child(ren), whether or not they are the custodial caretakers of these children share fully and equally in the responsibility for the financial support of the child(ren), as well as all the positive developmental aspects which occur throughout childhood. All adults have primary responsibility for supporting both themselves and their families.

(d) Assistance benefits provided under WFNJ are time-limited and considered a temporary cash subsidy to bridge the gap while individuals seek and obtain self-sufficiency through bona fide unsubsidized employment. Applicants shall be informed that receipt of WFNJ assistance benefits is limited to a lifetime maximum of 60 cumulative months and that seeking and accepting employment are the primary requirements for receipt of continuing cash assistance.

(e) The applicant(s) and/or his or her designee shall be assisted by the WFNJ worker in completing the Application and Affidavit for WFNJ and the Agreement to Repay pursuant to 44:10-64. The applicant shall be given the WFNJ Participant Handbook, an information card concerning the "Fair Hearings in the Work First New Jersey Program (WFNJ)", and written notification of his or her rights and responsibilities under the WFNJ program.

(f) In line with protecting its most vulnerable citizens, it should be emphasized that the WFNJ Program has availed itself of the PRWORA option regarding protections for victims of Family Violence. PRWORA and WFNJ provide the flexibility to uniquely address the specific problems of victims of family violence, as well as victims of rape and incest (see N.J.A.C. 10:90-20 regarding family violence provisions).

(g) The purpose of this chapter is to establish the policies necessary for the orderly and equitable provision of WFNJ Program benefits to single adults, couples without dependent children and families with dependent children on a Statewide basis. The policies and procedures are binding on the county or municipal agency charged with the responsibility for administering the WFNJ Program and are enforceable by the Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Family Development (DFD). The DHS shall oversee the actions of the county or municipal agency as they relate to program administration and shall coordinate with other departments within the State of New Jersey in an effort to establish the necessary linkages to assist recipients of WFNJ to achieve social and economic self-sufficiency. Questions of interpretation shall be resolved by the Division of Family Development. If any rules herein contradict or conflict with rules or policies established at N.J.A.C. 10:81, 10:82 or 10:86 such material is superseded by this chapter.