States should be given more flexibility on this issue. This is not the only example of an implementation burden to states that can easily be avoided. Utah, in the spirit of continuous improvement, looks for every opportunity to relieve local offices of any program implementation burdens that do not add value to the program. No matter is too small for consideration. Again, if we maintain our vision and goal of increasing the families income, there will be no group who we will not work with to achieve that goal.
Time limits causes a heightened awareness of how important it is to move quickly.
Regulations requiring additional limitations is unnecessary. The requirement that the State must reduce the amount of assistance paid to a family in the month in which the individual refused to participate in is not good policy nor is it practical. Typically payments are made at the first of the month, before there is any knowledge of whether the parent will or will not participate. Utah does not have pay after performance in our the single parent program. We do pay after performance in our two parent family program and this provision is easy to implement.