Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 208 - Department of Workforce Services › Rule 208.00.09-001 - TEA 10100 - Arkansas Work Pays Program

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
Arkansas Work Pays
Work Pays Eligibility Requirements
10000
Arkansas Work Pays
Arkansas Act 1705 of 2005 established the Work Pays Program. Work
			 pays is an incentive program designed to encourage working TEA clients to
			 remain employed after closure of the TEA case while increasing their hours of
			 work and/or hourly wage. Families participating in Arkansas Work Pays Will
			 receive a monthly cash assistance payment in the amount of $204 for up to 24
			 months, provided they meet the Work Pays eligibility requirements. The
			 twenty-four (24) months will count toward the federal 60 month time limit but
			 not the state's TEA 24 month limit. This work incentive program may be limited
			 to 3,000 families.
The eligibility worker will explain the Work Pays program to the
			 applicant and provide a Work Pays pamphlet during the initial interview for TEA
			 cash assistance. The case manager will discuss the Work Pays program with the
			 client during on going case management activities. When the TEA case closes due
			 to employment, the client will receive additional information about Work Pays,
			 including a Work Pays application.
10100
Work Pays Eligibility
		  Requirements
An individual must meet the following
						requirements:
1. Have care and custody of a related minor child;
2. Be a resident of the State of Arkansas;
3. Meet the citizenship or alienage requirement (Refer to
						TEA 2220);
4. Apply for Work Pays within six (6) months of TEA case
						closure;
5. Received TEA cash assistance for at least three (3)
						months;
6. Have not received more that twenty-four (24) months of
						Arkansas Work Pays Program Benefits.
7. Meet Work Hours Requirement:
. For initial eligibility - Was engaged in paid work
						activities for a minimum of twenty-four hours per week for the past month and
						meet the federal participation rate.
. For on-going eligibility - must be in paid work
						activities for a minimum of twenty-four(24) hours per week and meet the federal
						participation requirement for one (1) of the past three (3) months and for at
						least three (3) of the past six (6) months.
8. Have income below the federal poverty level for the
						family size';
9. Comply with the Work Pays Personal Responsibility
						Agreement;
10. Comply with Office of Child Support Enforcement
						(OCSE) requirements, including assignment of support and cooperation in
						establishing paternity and/or support unless good cause exists.
10101
Work Pays Application Process
Each month a Work Pays application will be mailed to all TEA
			 clients whose case closed the prior month due to employment. This process will
			 be completed by Central Office through a mass mailing process. For clients
			 interested in applying for Work Pays, the application must be completed and
			 mailed to the Work Pays Processing Unit who will determine initial eligibility.
			 Applications received at a local DHHS or DWS office or at a case management
			 contractor's office will be forwarded to the processing unit upon receipt. The
			 Work Pays applicant must sign the application. If it is a two-parent household,
			 both parents must sign the form.
10102
Determining Initial
		  Eligibility
The client must meet the following general eligibility
			 requirements:
* Have care and custody of a related minor child;
* Be a resident of the State of Arkansas;
* Meet the citizenship or alienage requirement;
In most situations, these requirements will have been established
			 for TEA eligibility and do not have to be re-verified. However, if there has
			 been a change, (e.g. a second parent moves in the household) it must be
			 verified.
Prior TEA Receipt
The client must have received at least 3 months of TEA cash
			 assistance and the case closed within the past 6 months with employment. This
			 includes cases that close due to reaching the time limit or have been extended
			 and earnings are included. The 3 months do not have to be consecutive. (See
			 example below)
Example 1
: Ms. Davis applied for Work Pays in
			 September 2006. Her TEA case closed in April 2006 due to employment after
			 receiving assistance If or 9 months. The client provided verification of
			 employment with Entergy working 40 hours per week at $6.00
1. Have care and custody of a related minor
		  child;
2. Be a resident of the
		  State of Arkansas;
3. Meet the
		  citizenship or alienage requirement (Refer to TEA. 2220);
4. Apply for Work Pays within six (6) months
		  of TEA case closure;
5. Received
		  TEA cash assistance for at least three (3) months
6. Have not received more than twenty-four
		  (24) months of Arkansas Work Pays Program benefits;
7. Meet Work Hours Requirement;
* For initial eligibility - was engaged in paid work activities
			 for a minimum of twenty-four hours per week for the past month and meet the
			 federal participation rate for the past month;
* For on-going eligibility - must be in paid work 'activities for
			 a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours per week 'and meet the federal
			 participation requirement for one (I) of the past three (3) months and for at
			 least three (3) of the past six (6) months.
8. Have income below the federal poverty
		  level for th$ family size;
9. Sign
		  and comply with the Work Pays Personal Responsibility Agreement;
10. Comply with the Office of Child Support
		  Enforcement (OCSE) requirements, including assignment of support and
		  cooperation in establishing paternity and/or support unless good cause
		  exists.
11.2
Payment
Families participating in Arkansas Work Pays will receive a
			 monthly cash assistance payment in the amount of $204 regardless of family size
			 for up to 24 months. The twenty-four months will count toward the federal
			 60-month time limit but not the State's TEA 24-month limit. The $204 payment
			 may be reduced if the client is found to be in non-compliance with work
			 requirements and/or child support enforcement requirements.
An individual will be given an extension to the federal time
			 limit while participating in Work
			 Pays.