1. Cash Assistance Severance Benefit Agency for Workforce Innovation Statewide Training Spring 2005

2. Overview $Alternative to receiving on-going Temporary Cash Assistance $RWB is responsible for determining eligibility for the Cash Assistance Severance Benefit $Receive a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1000 in lieu of on-going cash assistance payments $Continue to receive Food Stamps, Medicaid, and child care, if eligible

3. Must Meet Specific Criteria $Must $Must be working & receiving earnings $Expect $Expect to remain employed for at least 6 months $Received $Received TCA in Florida at least 6 consecutive months since 10/1/96 and must be eligible for ongoing TCA $Choose to receive a one-time, lump-sum payment $Provide employment and earnings information $Sign an agreement not to apply for or accept cash assistance for 6 months, unless there is an emergency

4. Inform Recipients $Career Manager should:  Inform recipients of their option to receive cash severance in lieu of ongoing cash assistance  Discuss benefits of cash severance  Explain penalties for reapplying within 6 months  Assist participant with making an informed choice

5. Time Limits $Cash severance must be requested prior to receiving the last month of cash assistance $Does not count against the participant’s time limit if issued during the last month in which cash assistance is received

6. RWB Responsibilities $Verify the participant:  Is receiving TCA  Is eligible for on-going TCA after earnings are included in the TCA budget  Has received cash assistance in Florida for at least six consecutive months since October 1, 1996 EBT

7. RWB Responsibilities $V$V$V$Verify the participant is currently employed $S$S$S$Secure documentation to support the participant has current earnings $E$E$E$Ensure the participant is expected to remain employed for at least six months

8. Requesting Cash Assistance Severance $Recipient has the option of choosing Cash Assistance Severance or ongoing monthly cash assistance payments $May continue to receive Food Stamps, Medicaid, and child care, if eligible

9. Agreement ( Form AWI 2286) $Recipient must sign the Cash Assistance Severance Benefit Agreement $Recipient agrees:  Not to reapply for temporary cash assistance for six months, unless an emergency exists  To repay amount received if re-approved due to an emergency

10. Transitional Benefits $Participants who receive a Cash Assistance Severance payment are eligible for Transitional Benefits

11. Everyone’s Happy ! ! ! $We have an employed client that has received a payment of $1000! LOOK AT THAT SMILE! $UNTIL..... an emergency arises and the money has to be repaid ! ! !

12. Emergency Re-Application $If the participant reapplies for benefits at DCF:  DCF must refer the applicant to the RWB to review the emergency  The RWB must approve the emergency reapplication  The RWB must explain the requirement to repay the benefit

13. Emergency Situations $Hospitalization $Hospitalization or illness $Loss $Loss of earned income of housing $Natural $Natural disaster $Domestic $Domestic violence $Other $Other situations affecting their employment

14. Repayment $If the family reapplies due to an emergency:  Repayment is prorated over eight months  $1000 divided by eight = $125/month  Deducted from future cash assistance payments for eight months or the number of months remaining in the time limit, whichever is less

15. Cash Assistance Severance Flow Chart RWB informs recipients of Cash Assistance Severance RWB or DCF verifies receipt of at least six consecutive months of TCA since 10/1/96 and current receipt of TCA and completes Section A of the Cash Severance Benefit Agreement (AWI 2286) RWB approves the payment and completes Section B of the AWI 2286 DCF issues the severance payment and cancels TCA Recipient requests cash severance in lieu of TCA Recipient reviews and signs Section C of the AWI 2286 RWB forwards pink copy of the AWI 2286 to DCF

16. Reapplication for TCA Within Six Months Family submits RFA to DCF RWB determines emergency status PAS prorates the repayment over 8 months ($1,000 divided by 8 = $125/month ($1,000 divided by 8 = $125/month $125 deducted from TCA for eight months or the number of months remaining in the time limit, whichever is less DCF accepts RFA and refers the participant to RWB to determine if an emergency exists RWB forwards Emergency Criterion for Diversion Services form to DCF Completes Comments Section of AWI 0001; Forwards to DCF NO YES

17. The End