Work First Policy Updates and Compliance Monitoring Work Support Strategies Leadership Summit March 24, 2014 Presented by David Locklear, Acting Chief for Economic and Family Services and Deborah Brown, Social Services Regional Program Representative

Policy Updates

Work First Policy Updates DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC AND FAMILY SERVICES DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC AND FAMILY SERVICES SUBJECT: TANF State Plan and NC FAST Policy Implementation DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC AND FAMILY SERVICES DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC AND FAMILY SERVICES SUBJECT: Electronic Benefit Issuance DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC AND FAMILY SERVICES DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC AND FAMILY SERVICES SUBJECT: Termination of the TANF-NDNH

Work First Policy Updates DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC AND FAMILY SERVICES DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC AND FAMILY SERVICES SUBJECT: Issuance of Work First Cash Assistance payments in NC FAST DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC AND FAMILY SERVICES DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC AND FAMILY SERVICES SUBJECT: Social Security, Supplemental Security Income and Veterans Benefits Cost of Living Adjustment

Monitoring

Work First Compliance Monitoring Objectives of Monitoring A systematic method of assessing program operations. A basis for counties to improve and strengthen program operations by identifying and correcting deficiencies. A continuous flow of information between County, State and Federal partners in order to develop solutions to problems in program policy and procedures.

Work First Compliance Monitoring Work First Compliance Monitoring is required in order to ensure compliance with Federal and State regulations. Work First monitoring for the fiscal year began in February Large Counties (Cumberland, Forsyth, Guilford, Mecklenburg and Wake) are monitored annually. Medium counties (Cleveland, Durham, Gaston, New Hanover, Pitt, Randolph, and Robeson) and small counties (all counties not listed above) are monitored every 3 years.

Work First Compliance Monitoring Tool The county will no longer have to complete a paper monitoring tool prior to the monitoring visit. An electronic monitoring tool will be ed to the county regarding the monitoring visit at least 30 days in advance.

Tentative Review Schedule For Work First Monitoring CountiesTentative Review Month AlexanderMarch 2014 BeaufortMarch 2014 BertieJune 2014 BladenMarch 2014 BrunswickMarch 2014 CarteretJune 2014 CherokeeMay 2014 ChowanFebruary 2014 ColumbusJune 2014 CumberlandMarch 2014

Tentative Review Schedule For Work First Monitoring DareMay 2014 DurhamMarch 2014 ForsythApril 2014 GrahamMay 2014 GuilfordApril 2014 HydeMay 2014 JonesMay 2014 LenoirApril 2014 MartinMarch 2014 MecklenburgApril 2014 CountiesTentative Review Month

Tentative Review Schedule For Work First Monitoring NashApril 2014 New HanoverMarch 2014 NorthamptonJune 2014 OnslowMay 2104 PamlicoMarch 2014 Perquimans February 2014 PittMay 2014 RandolphMay 2014 RutherfordMay 2014 SampsonJune 2014 CountiesTentative Review Month

Tentative Review Schedule For Work First Monitoring CountiesTentative Review Month StanlyFebruary 2014 SurryApril 2014 TyrellMay 2014 WakeMarch 2014 YadkinApril 2014 YanceyApril 2014

Most Frequent Cash Assistance Errors from Cash Assistance ErrorsCash Assistance Policy and Guidance Explanation of Job Quit Policy not addressed or documented at application Work First Manual Sections 103, 104 and 118 DSS Administrative Letter No. Economic and Family Services Section DSS 8228 not completedWork First Manual Sections 104 and 201 Learning Needs Screening Tool Waiver not signed DSS Administrative Letter No. Economic and Family Services Section Income not counted or documented properly Work First Manual Section 114 Cap Child ErrorsWork First Manual Section 116

Most Frequent Employment Services Errors from Employment Services ErrorsEmployment Services Policy and Guidance Strengths and Needs (DSS 5298) Assessment not completed or not completed timely. Work First Manual Section 117 DSS Administrative Letter No. Economic and Family Services Section Errors with Employment Services hours keyed into EPIS ( Hours not documented in the case file, scheduled hours on MRA-B do not match scheduled hours keyed) Work First Manual Section 118 Employment Services Job Coding Errors Work First Users Manual EP 400, EP 500, EP 600 and EP 601 ESC/Job Connector requirement for Job Search not being followed, documented or renewed every 90 days. Work First Manual 118 DSS Administrative Letter No. Economic and Family Services Section Deeming process not being followed per policy Work First Manual Section 118

Most Frequent 200% Services Errors from % Services Errors 200 % Services Policy and Guidance Ineligible individuals (SSI recipients, adult children in the household) included in the family unit. Work First Manual Section 102 DSS 8225 and DSS 5027 not completed or not properly completed SIS Manual: Instructions for the SIS Client Entry Form DSS 5027 Appendix A, B and C Service Code Definitions Work First Manual Section 102 Case not closed timelyWork First Manual Section 102

Most Frequent Non-Cooperation with Child Support Errors from Non-Cooperation with Child Support Errors Non-Cooperation with Child Support Policy and Guidance DSS 8110 not sent timely Work First Manual Sections 116 and 120 DSS Administrative Letter No. Economic and Family Services Section Grant released while client was ineligible due to appearing on non-coop report Work First Manual Sections 103, 116, 120 and 130 DSS Administrative Letter No. Economic and Family Services Section 7-09 Sanction not keyed Work First Manual Sections 116 and 120 DSS Administrative Letter No. Economic and Family Services Section 7-09 Child-Only case required a sanction, instead case was terminated Work First Manual Section 116 and 120 DSS Administrative Letter No. Economic and Family Services Section 7-09

Work First Monitors Kea Alexander: Kristin Bogren: Denise Knight: Wendy Rachels:

Work First Policy Questions Work First policy questions can be sent to the following address: Questions should only be submitted by a supervisor, manager or trainer. County staff should review all pertinent information in the Work First manual and Work First User manual. Questions related to NC FAST functionality should be directed to the Countys NC FAST County Champion or NC FAST On-Site Support staff. Medicaid and Work First are separate applications once entered in NC FAST. Please follow appropriate Medicaid policy, once a case is in NC FAST. Economic and Family Services State Phone Number – (919)

Questions