Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 441 - Human Services Department › Title IV - Family Investment Program › Chapter 47 - Diversion Initiatives › Rule 441-47.24 - Assistance Available in Family Self-sufficiency Grants

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
Family self-sufficiency grants shall be authorized for
				  removing an identified barrier to self-sufficiency when it can be reasonably
				  anticipated that the assistance will enable PROMISE JOBS participant families
				  to obtain or retain employment in the two full calendar months following the
				  date of authorization of payment. For example, if a payment is authorized on
				  August 20, it should be anticipated that the participant can find employment in
				  September or October.
(1)
Employment does not occur.
If employment does not occur in the
				anticipated two-calendar-month period or if the participant loses employment in
				spite of the self-sufficiency grant, no penalty is incurred and no overpayment
				has occurred.
(2)
Types of
				assistance.
The department, in conjunction with IWD and BRS, shall
				determine those barriers to self-sufficiency which can be considered for family
				self-sufficiency grants such as, but not limited to, auto maintenance or
				repair, licensing fees, child care, and referral to other resources, including
				those necessary to address questions of domestic violence. The IWD service
				delivery areas and BRS shall have the opportunity to adjust the list of
				approvable barriers to self-sufficiency based on local resources and
				circumstances. These adjustments shall be approved by the department division
				administrator and the appropriate responsible administrator prior to
				implementation.
(3)
Limit
				on assistance.
The total payment limit per family is $1,000 per year.
				A year for a family shall be the 12 fiscal months following the date of
				authorization of the initial payment for the family. A fiscal month begins and
				ends in different calendar months.
(4)
Frequency of assistance.
Family self-sufficiency grants are intended to provide immediate and short-term
				assistance and must meet the criteria in this rule. While a family may be a
				candidate more than once and may receive payments in consecutive months in some
				circumstances, payments shall not be established as regular or
				ongoing.
(5)
Supplanting.
Family self-sufficiency grants shall not be used
				for services already available through the department, PROMISE JOBS, or other
				local resources at no cost.
(6)
Relationship to the family investment agreement.
Family
				self-sufficiency grants are separate from the PROMISE JOBS family investment
				agreement process. While the family investment agreement must be honored at all
				times and renegotiated and amended if family circumstances require it, no
				family shall be considered to be choosing the limited benefit plan if the
				family chooses not to participate in the family self-sufficiency grant
				program.
(7)
Issuing
				payments.
Family self-sufficiency grants are PROMISE JOBS benefits and
				shall be authorized through the PROMISE JOBS expense allowance system. Payments
				may be issued to the participants or to a vendor for support services provided
				to the family. The department division administrator in conjunction with the
				appropriate responsible administrator shall have discretion in determining
				method of payment. The IWD service delivery area or BRS shall have the
				opportunity to adjust these payment options in an individual case based on
				circumstances and needs of the family with the approval of the department
				division administrator and the appropriate responsible administrator prior to
				implementation.