Effective September 8, 2003, nonexempt grantees whose youngest child is between the ages of two and mandatory full-time school age: 1)are now required to meet the Work Program requirement unless they meet a reason found in 106 CMR 203.400(A)(1). 2) may meet the Work Program requirement through Department-approved education or training activities in addition to employment or community service. 3) if in the final three months of time-limited benefits and currently enrolled and participating in a Department-approved education or training activity, may be granted a three-month extension to complete the activity. A second three-month extension may be granted to complete the activity, if necessary.

In eligibility reviews, case workers should market job search and skills training in addition to emphasizing time limit.

Effective February 15, 2006, the ESP Supported Work Component will offer Post-Employment Services (PES).The PES component is a voluntary program to provide current and former recipients with services that lead to career advancement and employment stability.

This Field Operations Memo gives TAO Staff procedures for approving extensions when a Vocational Evaluation must be completed; changes to the approval period for recipients employed full time; and a quick reference chart for extension approval periods guidelines and their corresponding activities.

Explanation of rolling 60 month periods and what happens when an individual's time clock resets.

Work program and good cause procedures, interface of TAFDC extensions and EA self-sufficiency plans.

TAFDC time limit: time limit does not affect children in assistance units headed by non-legally liable grantees (those who can opt out of the unit); when recipients go from exempt to nonexempt, time limit does not start until code is changed, even if assistance unit should have been subject to it earlier; when recipients go from nonexempt to exempt, however, the months must be given to the assistance unit if the code is changed late; teen parents in TLP's exempt from time limit; time limit does not go with child when custody changes; in two parent family the whole case closes when one parent reaches time limit (if no extensions or exemptions); month of suspension due to failure to complete monthly reporting does not count on time clock;

SSI Special Benefits for disaster and moving; TAFDC exemptions in two-parent families where one parent is disabled; FS work requirement and school employees over summer vacation; transportation and lodging as part of excess medical deductions for FS.

TAFDC: recipients enrolling in community college near end of time limit eligible for child care and transportation but may not get extension; time clock in two-parent households and households where one parent moves out; accessing EBT cards out of state; FS: immigrant work quarters; TAFDC: eligibility for pregnant women with family cap date and no children living with them; TAFDC: time clock for recipient denied disability exemption; TAFDC: exemptions for parent with child under two who has gotten waiver or exception to family cap rule.

FS: no rent allowance when rent is paid in entirety by someone not in household; full unheated SUA even if bills are low; residents of dv shelters eligible for FS even if shelter provide meals;  calculation of FS for sanctioned teen; how to calculate period of ineligibility due to voluntary quit prior to application; EA: receipt of shelter in another state does not count as receipt of EA in past 12 months; TAFDC: time limit is counted in terms of calendar months not cyclical months.

TAFDC: start of 60 month time clock; TAFDC: sanctioning of dependent child teen not meeting ESP requirements; TAFDC: teen parent in custody of DSS; TAFDC: how to adjust time clock upon approval of disability exemption.

TAFDC: time limit is counted in calendar months not cyclical months; TAFDC: teen parent sanction for not attending school can extend to child after 30 days even if teen parent is on her mother's grant; Child care not available for child not in assistance unit because oes not meet deprivation factor; FS: worker's compensation is unearned income; FS: exclusion of car without special equipment which is needed for disabled family member; FS: treatment of short-term disability payments.