Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) When a WFNJ/TANF applicant/recipient requests
a WFNJ FVO Waiver of one or more WFNJ/TANF program requirements (see
10:90-20.4) , including a good cause exception from the child
support requirements and requests for EA for reason of family violence, the individual shall be granted a
WFNJ FVO Waiver, by the CWA. The appropriate WFNJ FVO forms shall be completed by the responsible CWA worker,
be signed by the individual as appropriate to his or her case circumstances, and a referral shall be made
immediately to the CWA FVO representative. The CWA FVO representative shall explain the WFNJ FVO Waiver and
WFNJ FVO Risk Assessment processes to the WFNJ/TANF applicant/recipient. The explanation shall include
informing the individual that he or she must complete the WFNJ FVO Risk Assessment process within 10 calendar
days of the referral to the victim service provider agency in accordance with
10:90-20.8(b); and that failure to complete the
WFNJ FVO Risk Assessment will result in cancellation of the waiver in accordance with (a)4 below. The CWA FVO
representative shall refer the WFNJ/TANF individual to the victim service provider agency for the required
WFNJ FVO Risk Assessment.
1. The WFNJ FVO Waiver shall identify the
specific WFNJ TANF program requirement(s) being waived.
i. A WFNJ FVO
Waiver of a WFNJ/TANF program requirement applies to the TANF program requirements and is available to
WFNJ/TANF participants. This waiver is not available for other program requirements, such as, NJ SNAP and
Medicaid. Individuals from these programs may be informally referred to the designated victim service
provider agency for assistance. The individual may access services on his or her own if he or she chooses to
do so.
2. A request for a WFNJ FVO Waiver can be made
for one or more WFNJ/TANF program requirements, including a good cause exception from the child support
requirements and requests for EA for reason of family violence. Therefore, multiple WFNJ/TANF program
requirements can be waived simultaneously.
i. If an individual requests a
waiver of more than one WFNJ/TANF program requirement, only one referral shall be made for the WFNJ FVO Risk
Assessment to cover all circumstances waived, including EA requests.
ii. If at a later date an individual requests the waiver of an additional
WFNJ/TANF program requirement(s), in the following six-month period, no risk assessment referral shall be
made to the designated victim service provider agency. The update to the WFNJ FVO Risk Assessment shall be
handled at the next case redetermination. The WFNJ/TANF applicant/recipient shall not be required to
participate in the WFNJ/TANF program requirement(s) for which a WFNJ FVO Waiver has been requested pending
the next case redetermination.
(1) Subsequent requests to waive additional
WFNJ/TANF program requirements do require a referral to the CWA FVO representative for discussion.
3. While the FVO Risk Assessment process is taking
place, the WFNJ/TANF applicant/recipient is not required to participate in the WFNJ/TANF program
requirement(s) being waived or other activities, in order to complete this process.
4. When a WFNJ/TANF individual is unable to have the WFNJ FVO Risk
Assessment completed within the 10-calendar day timeframe, he or she may seek the assistance of the CWA FVO
representative in scheduling or rescheduling an appointment to have the assessment completed. The
individual's WFNJ FVO Waiver shall be cancelled if the assessment is not completed, unless the individual has
a good reason for not completing the WFNJ FVO Risk Assessment, including the need to make alternative
arrangements for completing the assessment that will exceed the 10-calendar day timeframe. No sanction is
incurred against a WFNJ/TANF individual when the assessment is not completed. Unless the individual is
otherwise deferred or exempt from WFNJ program requirements, WFNJ/TANF individuals shall be required to
participate in the specific program requirement(s)/activities for which the waiver had been requested prior
to cancellation. If the individual fails to participate in the WFNJ program requirement(s)/activities after
the WFNJ FVO Waiver is cancelled, and is not otherwise deferred or exempt, he or she may be sanctioned for
failure to participate in a WFNJ/TANF program requirement/activity. The WFNJ/TANF individual may request
another WFNJ FVO Waiver at any time throughout the individual's association with the CWA for program benefits
and will be required to complete the WFNJ FVO Risk Assessment.
(b) The "WFNJ FVO Risk Assessment Referral/Report," WFNJ FVO-115, when
returned to the CWA from the designated victim service provider agency shall serve as confirmation that the
initial WFNJ FVO Risk Assessment or updated risk assessment has or has not been completed.
