Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 12, December 1, 2024
In the Job Opportunity and Basic Skills (JOBS), Pre-Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), State Family Pre-SSI/SSDI (SFPSS), and
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, notwithstanding any
other administrative rule in chapter 461 and subject to the availability of
state and federal funding, the following special provisions apply:
(1)
Support services (see
OAR 461-001-0025) payments are
available to:
(a) An individual who is an
adult parent, needy
caretaker relative (see OAR
461-001-0000),
teen
parent (see OAR
461-001-0000), or a
minor parent (see OAR
461-001-0000) who is head of
household; in the TANF
filing group (see
461-110-0330) and is not
otherwise
exempt (see OAR
461-130-0305) and in accordance
with participation requirements in OAR
461-130-0310.
(b) An individual who is a recipient of
Pre-TANF or SFPSS programs.
(2) Pursuant to the reasonable cost
requirements in 45 CFR
75.404, in approving support
services payments, the Department (see OAR
461-001-0000) must consider
lower cost alternatives. This rule is not intended to supplant
Department funding with other funding that is available in the
community. The expectation of the Department is that
Department staff and individuals work collaboratively to seek
resources that are reasonably available to the individual in order to
participate in activities.
(3)
Payment for support services are provided when:
(a) Necessary to participate in an approved
activity (see OAR
461-001-0025) specified in the
individual's
case plan;
(b) Authorized in advance;
(c) Meet one of the four federal purposes of
TANF identified in 45 CFR
260.20; and
(d) All other provisions of this rule are
met.
(4) A
Department approved activity is eligible for
support services payments, except for the following
activities:
(a) Family Support &
Connections,
(b) Retention
services, and
(c)
Microenterprise (see OAR
461-190-0197).
(5) In the JOBS, Pre-TANF, SFPSS,
and TANF programs, the Department may provide payments for
support services for eligible (see OAR
461-130-0310) individuals
engaged in an approved activity specified in the individual's
case plan, subject to provisions in subsections (1)(a) and
(1)(b) of this rule. Support services payment types are
subject to the following limitations:
(a)
Transit and Gas Payments: Requests for recurring transit or gas payments may
not exceed six consecutive months of issuance per request. If the individual's
eligibility changes during the six months of recurring payments,
timely
continuing benefit decision notice (see OAR
461-001-0000) must be
sent.
(b) Tuition payments for
self-initiated training activity or
vocational
training activity: Payments for tuition and other educational costs
for
vocational training and
self-initiated
training (see OAR
461-001-0025) may be limited to
no more than a twelve-month period per individual and shall be reviewed on a
term-by-term basis. Individuals must show that they are making satisfactory
progress (see OAR
461-001-0025) in their program
and working towards receiving or clearing their standing to receive financial
aid.
(c) Auto Expenses: Payments
for auto expenses, repairs, or car insurance to support the goals specified in
the individual's
case plan. Payments for vehicle repairs are
limited to situations where repairs are necessary to operate the
vehicle.
(d) Eyeglasses: Effective
July 19, 2023, payments for eyeglasses (does not include contacts) when
necessary to remove a barrier towards gaining employment. Requests for
eyeglasses above $50 shall require verification of the need from a qualified
and appropriate professional. Payments for eyeglasses are limited to
individuals who are not:
(C) Within the last day of the
twelfth month following the month in which the individual gave birth.
(e) Tax Preparation Services:
Payments for personal tax preparation services are limited to payments for the
current tax year and can only be accessed from January 1 through Tax Day in
April, in situations where no free community resources are available.
(f) Science, technology, engineering, arts,
and mathematics (STEAM): Payments for science, technology, engineering, arts,
and mathematics are limited to educational purposes. Individuals must continue
to meet all other provisions of this rule and payment is limited to activities
in which the
eligible individual and their TANF
filing
group can participate together. Examples of allowed payments include
but are not limited to family passes to museums, Oregon State Parks, and marine
or natural science centers.
(g)
None of the following are allowed for payment by the
Department:
(A) Medical
Assistance or medical services, including but not limited to dental services,
eye exams, urinalysis and other medical screenings, or substance use
testing.
(B) Mental health
services.
(C) Alcohol and drug
treatment services.
(D) Credit card
debt and other debt payments in the collection process.
(E) Payments for entertainment services,
including but not limited to amusement parks, digital streaming services or
applications, or movie theaters.
(F) Fines, reinstatement fees, restitution,
legal or civil fees (including attorney fees and expungement), court costs, or
other costs associated with a penalty.
(G) Purchase of a car, recreational vehicle,
or motor home.
(H) Any payments
described in this rule for individuals employed in, seeking employment in, or
engaged in an
illegal activity (see OAR
461-120-0215).
(I) Animal related costs.
(J) Payments for child care, including
registration fees and ERDC co-payments.
(K) Purchase of a firearm or other items
intended to be used as self-defense or as a weapon.
(L) Payments for expenses with a due date in
a future benefit month.
(6) The Department may
require an individual to provide verification of a need for, or costs
associated with, support services prior to approval and
issuance of payments if verification is reasonably available.
(7) The Department may
reduce, close, or deny in whole or in part a request for support
services payments in the following circumstances:
(a) The purpose for the payments is not
related to the individual's
case plan.
(b) The individual is failing to comply with
the
case plan or disqualified, unless the payments in question
are necessary for the individual to demonstrate cooperation with the
individual's
case plan.
(c) The individual disagrees with
support services payments offered or made by the
Department as outlined in the individual's
case
plan.
(d) The payment does
not relate to one of the four federal purposes of TANF in
45 CFR
260.20.
(e) The payment does not comply with the
reasonable cost requirements in
45 CFR
75.404 or lower cost alternatives are
available.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS
409.050,
411.060,
411.070,
411.121,
412.006,
412.009,
412.014 &
412.049
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS
412.016,
412.049,
412.084, ORS
291.003,
409.010,
409.040,
411.060,
411.070,
411.121,
412.001,
412.002,
412.006,
412.009,
412.011,
412.014,
45 CFR
75.404 &
45 CFR
260.20
