Transcript Support Services - FloridaJobs.org

Support Services
Agency for Workforce Innovation
August 2007
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Support Services
 The RWB may offer support services to the
following eligible Welfare Transition populations

Applicants of Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)

Mandatory work program participants


Recipients of TCA
Transitional participants

Those that leave TCA and are qualified
 Services may also be provided to divert an
applicant from assistance, which are different than
the “typical” applicant support services
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Support Services-General
 Support services may only be offered to
eligible individuals/families

The Welfare Transition program is funded by
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) dollars

Individuals/families receiving support
services funded by TANF through the Welfare
Transition program must be TANF eligible

The Individual/family must also have a need
for the support service
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Applicant Support Services
 Individuals must first apply for cash
assistance through the Department of
Children and Families
 Applicants must complete required
paperwork
 If the applicants are determined “work
eligible,” they must also go to the local OneStop Career Center and work register
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Applicant Support Services
 Work registration includes

Learning about employment services
through the One-Stop Career Center

Learning about the Welfare Transition
program

Program opportunities

Program obligations to continue receiving
assistance or support services
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Applicant Support Services
 Applicant support services are designed to assist
the individual while applying for cash assistance
 The application process may include

Complying to lift a sanction

Completing the work registration process

Complying with work requirements
 Applicant support services may be provided for up-
to 30 days during the application process
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Applicant Support Services
 Because the individual is applying for cash
assistance

The data entry system may not have a case already
built

Or, the case may be closed in a different area
 The One-Stop Service Tracking (OSST) system has a
mechanism to create an applicant case or “grab” a
closed case from another area

This is called “work registration” in OSST
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Applicant Support Services
 Case managers may work register

New customers who do not have an open case in OSST

Customers with a closed case in another area

This action “grabs” the case and pulls it to the case manager’s closed
caseload
 Upon taking the appropriate action (registering a new case or
“grabbing” a case), the user must

Change the case status to applicant (if the status is
“mandatory” or “transitional”)

Enter the appropriate support service

Enter the appropriate applicant activity

Enter case notes
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Support Services-Data Entry
Register new customers by
clicking on “Register new
customers” on the OSST
Desktop
You may also grab a
case by clicking on
“Register new
customers”
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Diversion Services
 Diversion from cash assistance is a part of the
work registration process
 Not all individuals applying for cash assistance
need on-going payments
 Work registration provides the RWB or provider the
opportunity to assess the applicant’s needs and
determine if the participant

Requires assistance to help resolve an emergency
need

Or needs on-going cash assistance
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Diversion Services
 Eligibility requirements


The individual must be an applicant of TANF
funded cash assistance

Filed an application for assistance with DCF

The application is active
The individual must be

Potentially eligible for cash assistance

TANF eligible
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Diversion Services
 Eligibility requirements

The individual must demonstrate an
emergency need

The individual must demonstrate that
meeting the emergency need will lead to ongoing income

Getting a job

Keeping a job
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Diversion Services
 Documentation requirements

The emergency need must be documented

The applicant must sign the Up-Front Diversion
Agreement
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Diversion Services
 Data Entry requirements

Enter the Diversion begin date


The begin date is the date you meet with the
applicant for an appointment for diversion
consideration
Enter the outcome and end date

The outcome can be
 Approval or denial by RWB or
 Withdrawal of the application by the applicant

The end date is the date outcome took place
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Mandatory Services
 Work eligible individuals
receiving temporary cash
assistance (TCA)

Are required to participate in
the work program

May receive support
services to assist
participants with complying
with work activity
requirements and other
program requirements
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Mandatory Services
 Participants receiving support services

Must be TANF eligible

Must demonstrate a need for a support
services

Must demonstrate participation in program
requirements
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Mandatory Services
 Documentation requirements

Authorization must be documented

Receipt of services must be documented

Gas Cards

Bus vouchers

Gift cards
 Data entry

Services must be recorded on the Skill Development
screen

Participation must be in the system
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Transitional Services
 Participants leaving cash
assistance with earnings may
receive transitional support
services

Employment started (begin
date) prior to closure alert
received from DCF

Cash did not close due to
work program sanction
 Transitional services are not
dependent on a FLORIDA
code
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Transitional Services
 Individual must be TANF eligible to receive
transitional services

Income must be under 200 percent of the
Federal Poverty Level

Must meet the definition of family

Must remain employed
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Transitional Services
 The RWB can provide the following transitional
services


Transitional transportation

Must be employed

Must be job or education related
Transitional child care

Those that leave cash with a job or have left with
diversion and secured a job in the required time
period

Are employed or are completing the 30-day job
search activity
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
Must be job or education related
Transitional Services

Transitional education
and training

Must be employed

Must be job related

May include training
to improve job skills
in participants
existing area of
employment or

To prepare for
employment in
another career
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Transitional Services
 Are limited to “up to” two years from the last
month of receipt of cash assistance

The start of transitional services is based on the
first month cash assistance is not received
 Must be reviewed for continued eligibility at least
every three months

Ensure the participant has retained employment

Ensure the family definition is met

Ensure the family’s income is less than 200
percent of the Federal Poverty Level (TANF
eligibility)
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Transitional Services
 Documentation

Secure employment documentation, at minimum,
every three months


Ask for your region’s Local Operating Procedure
regarding job retention follow-up
The RWB may opt to meet with participants more
frequently than every three months

To encourage continued employment

To assist participants with career planning

To provide participants with more intense
accountability and assistance
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Transitional Services

The provision of support
services must be
accompanied by

Proof of continued
employment
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Transitional Services
 Data entry requirements

Enter JPRs through the last month of cash
assistance, then change the case status to
transitional

Desktop screen

Select “Edit” under the Demographic section

Enter job follow-ups

Enter all services provided on the Skill
Development screen
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Frequently Asked Question
 If the customer loses his job, can they continue to get
childcare?

Transitional customers can get “job search” childcare for
30 days only

If a job is not secured, a childcare termination letter must
be sent to


The local early learning coalition

The participant

A copy must also be retained in the case file
If the customer secures a job prior to the two year period
ending, childcare may be issued again
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Frequently Asked Question
 What is the process for customers who fail to
provide proof of continued employment?

Send termination letter to local coalition

Send termination letter to customer

Retain a copy of the letter in the customer’s case
file

Offer the customer the opportunity to return
employment documentation to secure services
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Transitional Services
 Florida Statutes requires participants to be
notified of the ability and process to receive
transitional services

Participants must be notified of the ability and
the process to receive transitional services
before the case closes on the workforce side
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Support Services-General
 Documentation requirements

The provision of support services must be
documented

Vouchers/referrals should be included in the file

Signatures of receipt should be included appropriately

The date the support service was provided should also
be included
 RWBs should also account for all support services
with monetary value

Bus passes

Gas cards

Books/tools/tuition
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Support Services-General
 Be sure to include case notes for actions
taken on a participant’s case

Case notes should include

The reason the participant is receiving
support services

The support services being received

Any additional engagement information
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If you have any questions, comments or
concerns, please contact the Welfare
Transition Team through the Agency for
Workforce Innovation’s Call Center at 1-866352-2345
An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice
telephone numbers on this document may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.
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