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Support Services

Agency for Workforce Innovation

August 2007

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Support Services The RWB may offer support services to the

following eligible Welfare Transition populations

Applicants of Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)

Mandatory work program participants

Recipients of TCA

Transitional participants

Those that leave TCA and are qualified

Services may also be provided to divert an applicant from assistance, which are different than the “typical” applicant support services

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Support Services-General Support services may only be offered to

eligible individuals/families

The Welfare Transition program is funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) dollars

Individuals/families receiving support services funded by TANF through the Welfare Transition program must be TANF eligible

The Individual/family must also have a need for the support service

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Applicant Support Services Individuals must first apply for cash

assistance through the Department of Children and Families

Applicants must complete required paperwork

If the applicants are determined “work eligible,” they must also go to the local One-Stop Career Center and work register

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Applicant Support Services Work registration includes

Learning about employment services through the One-Stop Career Center

Learning about the Welfare Transition program

Program opportunities

Program obligations to continue receiving assistance or support services

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Applicant Support Services Applicant support services are designed to assist

the individual while applying for cash assistance

The application process may include

Complying to lift a sanction

Completing the work registration process

Complying with work requirements

Applicant support services may be provided for up-to 30 days during the application process

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Because the individual is applying for cash assistance

The data entry system may not have a case already built

Or, the case may be closed in a different area

The One-Stop Service Tracking (OSST) system has a mechanism to create an applicant case or “grab” a closed case from another area

This is called “work registration” in OSST

Applicant Support Services

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Case managers may work register

New customers who do not have an open case in OSST

Customers with a closed case in another area

This action “grabs” the case and pulls it to the case manager’s closed caseload

Upon taking the appropriate action (registering a new case or “grabbing” a case), the user must

Change the case status to applicant (if the status is “mandatory” or “transitional”)

Enter the appropriate support service

Enter the appropriate applicant activity

Enter case notes

Applicant Support Services

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Support Services-Data Entry

Register new customers by clicking on “Register new customers” on the OSST Desktop

You may also grab a case by clicking on “Register new customers”

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Diversion Services Diversion from cash assistance is a part of the

work registration process

Not all individuals applying for cash assistance need on-going payments

Work registration provides the RWB or provider the opportunity to assess the applicant’s needs and determine if the participant

Requires assistance to help resolve an emergency need

Or needs on-going cash assistance

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Diversion Services

Eligibility requirements

The individual must be an applicant of TANF funded cash assistance

Filed an application for assistance with DCF

The application is active

The individual must be

Potentially eligible for cash assistance

TANF eligible

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Diversion Services

Eligibility requirements

The individual must demonstrate an emergency need

The individual must demonstrate that meeting the emergency need will lead to on-going income

Getting a job

Keeping a job

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Diversion Services

Documentation requirements

The emergency need must be documented

The applicant must sign the Up-Front Diversion Agreement

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Diversion Services Data Entry requirements

Enter the Diversion begin date

The begin date is the date you meet with the applicant for an appointment for diversion consideration

Enter the outcome and end date

The outcome can be

Approval or denial by RWB or

Withdrawal of the application by the applicant

The end date is the date outcome took place

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Mandatory Services

Work eligible individuals receiving temporary cash assistance (TCA)

Are required to participate in the work program

May receive support services to assist participants with complying with work activity requirements and other program requirements

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Mandatory Services

Participants receiving support services

Must be TANF eligible

Must demonstrate a need for a support services

Must demonstrate participation in program requirements

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Mandatory Services

Documentation requirements

Authorization must be documented

Receipt of services must be documented

Gas Cards

Bus vouchers

Gift cards

Data entry

Services must be recorded on the Skill Development screen

Participation must be in the system

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Transitional Services Participants leaving cash

assistance with earnings may receive transitional support services

Employment started (begin date) prior to closure alert received from DCF

Cash did not close due to work program sanction

Transitional services are not dependent on a FLORIDA code

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Transitional Services

Individual must be TANF eligible to receive transitional services

Income must be under 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level

Must meet the definition of family

Must remain employed

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Transitional Services

The RWB can provide the following transitional services

Transitional transportation

Must be employed

Must be job or education related

Transitional child care

Those that leave cash with a job or have left with diversion and secured a job in the required time period

Are employed or are completing the 30-day job search activity

Must be job or education related

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Transitional Services

Transitional education and training

Must be employed

Must be job related

May include training to improve job skills in participants existing area of employment or

To prepare for employment in another career

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Transitional Services

Are limited to “up to” two years from the last month of receipt of cash assistance

The start of transitional services is based on the first month cash assistance is not received

Must be reviewed for continued eligibility at least every three months

Ensure the participant has retained employment

Ensure the family definition is met

Ensure the family’s income is less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (TANF eligibility)

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Transitional Services Documentation

Secure employment documentation, at minimum, every three months

Ask for your region’s Local Operating Procedure regarding job retention follow-up

The RWB may opt to meet with participants more frequently than every three months

To encourage continued employment

To assist participants with career planning

To provide participants with more intense accountability and assistance

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Transitional Services

The provision of support services must be accompanied by

Proof of continued employment

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Transitional Services

Data entry requirements

Enter JPRs through the last month of cash assistance, then change the case status to transitional

Desktop screen

Select “Edit” under the Demographic section

Enter job follow-ups

Enter all services provided on the Skill Development screen

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Frequently Asked Question

If the customer loses his job, can they continue to get childcare?

Transitional customers can get “job search” childcare for 30 days only

If a job is not secured, a childcare termination letter must be sent to

The local early learning coalition

The participant

A copy must also be retained in the case file

If the customer secures a job prior to the two year period ending, childcare may be issued again

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Frequently Asked Question

What is the process for customers who fail to provide proof of continued employment?

Send termination letter to local coalition

Send termination letter to customer

Retain a copy of the letter in the customer’s case file

Offer the customer the opportunity to return employment documentation to secure services

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Transitional Services

Florida Statutes requires participants to be notified of the ability and process to receive transitional services

Participants must be notified of the ability and the process to receive transitional services before the case closes on the workforce side

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Support Services-General Documentation requirements

The provision of support services must be documented

Vouchers/referrals should be included in the file

Signatures of receipt should be included appropriately

The date the support service was provided should also be included

RWBs should also account for all support services with monetary value

Bus passes

Gas cards

Books/tools/tuition

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Support Services-General

Be sure to include case notes for actions taken on a participant’s case

Case notes should include

The reason the participant is receiving support services

The support services being received

Any additional engagement information

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If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact the Welfare

Transition Team through the Agency for Workforce Innovation’s Call Center at 1-866-

352-2345

An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this document may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.