MAIN members have met with the Department and commented on rules numerous times about these problems, with no results. Nor does the Department even notify people that they can claim good cause under the law. Often they do not account for good cause circumstances in amending family contracts. As a result many people are illegally and inappropriately sanctioned - plunging their family into even greater destitution. Do not doubt that people really do get hurt when they are sanctioned.
Sanctions hurt families - for real.
They do not help in any way to move a family forward. We strongly urge you to withdraw this proposed rule. It violates the law and it will hurt families with infant children. As you know, persons who are sanction three or more times may be subject to an additional sanction if they receive assistance for more than sixty months in their lifetimes. The rule as proposed would violate due process unless it also includes provision for clear notice the individual that they have been sanctioned, the consequence of that sanction on future benefits despite the fact that it has had no effect on current benefits, and the right to a fair hearing to challenge that sanction.