New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 10 - HUMAN SERVICES
Chapter 90 - WORK FIRST NEW JERSEY PROGRAM
Subchapter 4 - WFNJ WORK REQUIREMENTS
Section 10:90-4.1 - General work requirement provisions

Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 10:90-4.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024

(a) Each WFNJ adult recipient, teen parent, and 16 through 18 year old individual not attending school on a full time basis, unless specifically deferred or unless otherwise specified in this subchapter, shall cooperate with and participate in the WFNJ work requirements in accordance with Federal regulations, the Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, the New Jersey State Plan for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Work First New Jersey Act, and the New Jersey SNAP Employment and Training State Plan, for up to 40 hours per week as a condition of eligibility for receipt of cash assistance benefits. WFNJ/GA recipients are required to participate in a work activity for up to 30 hours per week.

1. Each WFNJ TANF/GA adult recipient, unless deferred from the work requirement, shall continuously and actively seek employment in an effort to gain self-sufficiency. Unless otherwise specifically deferred pursuant to this section, each WFNJ recipient shall cooperate with, and participate in, the WFNJ work requirements as a condition of eligibility for receipt of cash assistance benefits.

2. Adult WFNJ recipients, teen parents, and 16 through 18 year old individuals that are not attending school on a full time basis, unless deferred, shall be required to comply with all aspects of the cooperation and participation provisions of the WFNJ work requirement as stipulated in this section, unless good cause exists, which shall include, but not be limited to: keeping all scheduled appointments timely; giving reasonable notice and explanation of inability to keep an appointment; cooperating in the development and completion of an individual responsibility plan (IRP); complying with the terms and conditions of the IRP; contacting the child care entity to arrange appropriate child care for WFNJ activity participation, as appropriate; and participating in a WFNJ work activity(ies) as assigned.
i. A WFNJ case comprised of refugees shall be subject to WFNJ work requirements. Appropriate work activities are provided through refugee resettlement agencies (see N.J.A.C. 10:90-10).

3. WFNJ agencies and other agencies contracted to provide services shall be required to meet the needs of WFNJ participants with disabilities.
i. Reasonable accommodations to allow participation by recipients with disabilities may include specialized transportation and tailored, appropriate work activities that meet the physical constraints and social and employability needs of such individuals.

(b) WFNJ/GA single adults or couples without dependent children, who are receiving NJ SNAP benefits, not deferred, and are registered for work and complying with the NJ SNAP Employment and Training Program (NJ SNAP ETP), shall be required to participate in an NJ SNAP ETP work activity and shall meet their WFNJ work requirements through the NJ SNAP ETP. Single adults and couples without dependent children who are not receiving NJ SNAP benefits and are not registered for work and not participating in the NJ SNAP ETP shall register for work with the New Jersey One-Stop Career Center (NJOSCC) and shall participate in a NJOSCC work activity, unless deferred.

(c) Upon application, determination or redetermination of eligibility for WFNJ benefits, all adult WFNJ recipients, unless deferred, shall be required to register for work with the NJOSCC.

1. For WFNJ/GA recipients in nonconsolidated municipalities, NJOSCC shall place WFNJ/GA single adults and couples without dependent children in an approved activity, monitor compliance, and notify the municipal agency when the recipient fails to comply with the activity.

2. For WFNJ/GA recipients in consolidated municipalities, the WFNJ agency shall place WFNJ/GA single adults and couples without dependent children in an approved activity and monitor compliance.

(d) Failure to actively cooperate with or participate in the WFNJ work activity requirements, without good cause, shall be considered noncompliance and shall result in loss of cash assistance benefits in accordance with 10:90-4.13.

1. For WFNJ/GA recipients in consolidated municipalities, when the NJOSCC reports to the county agency noncompliance by a WFNJ/GA participant, the county agency shall act on the report of noncompliance in accordance with 10:90-4.13.

2. For WFNJ/GA recipients in nonconsolidated municipalities, the NJOSCC will report the noncompliance by the WFNJ/GA recipient to the municipal agency which will begin the sanction process (see 10:90-4.13).

(e) A recipient who is not engaged in full time unsubsidized employment shall be required to commence participation in a work activity, self-directed job search, job search or other designated work/educational activity as follows (whichever occurs first):

1. As soon as it is determined that the individual is ready to engage in work or in a work activity; or

2. At some time prior to the individual having received 24 months of cash assistance benefits (whether or not the receipt of such cash assistance is consecutive) unless deferred.
i. Receipt of 24 cumulative months of WFNJ cash assistance benefits does not in and of itself render an individual ineligible for cash assistance.

(f) All adult WFNJ recipients, teen parents, and 16 through 18 year old individuals that are not attending school on a full time basis, including those individuals determined deferred from the WFNJ work requirement, shall be required to sign an initial individual responsibility plan (IRP) which shall indicate the terms of the work activity requirements and/or the plan of action based on the findings and conclusions from the initial assessment that the recipient must fulfill in order to continue to receive benefits as well as identify work related supportive services (such as child care, transportation, and other work-related expenses necessary to engage in work activities) that are to be provided. For all recipients not deferred from the WFNJ work requirements, the individual responsibility plan shall be updated annually or as necessary in accordance with individual progress and/or change in circumstances (see 10:90-4.8).

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