1. Welcome to TANF Orientation 110/20/2015 Updated December 16, 2013

2. Department of Health & Human Services Office for Family Independence (OFI)  Program Eligibility  ASPIRE – Training & Employment  Child Support Enforcement 210/20/2015

3. OFI Programs  TANF  Parents as Scholars (PaS)  Food Supplement  Medical Assistance  Emergency Assistance  Alternative Aid 310/20/2015

4. TANF TANF TANF is:  Temporary  Assistance (for)  Needy  Families 410/20/2015

5. TANF Time Limits Federal and state law has placed a 60-month lifetime limit on receipt of TANF cash assistance 510/20/2015

6. Approaching Your 60 th month You will be reminded of the 60 month time limit throughout your time on TANF as we help you work toward independence You will be reminded of the 60 month time limit throughout your time on TANF as we help you work toward independence You will receive a notice 120 days before your 60 th month You will receive a notice 120 days before your 60 th month You will have the opportunity to further discuss your options with your ASPIRE worker. You will have the opportunity to further discuss your options with your ASPIRE worker. 610/20/2015

7. You have the RIGHT:  To be treated with respect ;  To apply at any time without discrimination;  To confidentiality;  To our decision in writing;  To claim “Good Cause”;  To appeal if you disagree with our decision. 710/20/2015

8. You have RESPONSIBILITIES:  Participate in all activities & appointments required by OFI;  Provide all requested verifications by the day they are due;  Read all mail, including e-mail from OFI and respond to them if asked;  Report all changes within 10-days;  Start looking now for a job or volunteer opportunities. 810/20/2015

9. Report Changes within 10 days… Household Expense Changes Household Expense Changes –Rent –Utilities –Other Household Composition- Someone moves in or out Household Composition- Someone moves in or out Changes in Income Changes in Income –Job starts or ends –Unemployment income starts or ends –Social Security, VA, etc. starts or ends –Money received from other sources 10/20/20159

10. Failure to Report Changes, Income or Assets Reporting changes is your responsibility. Failure to report changes timely may result in: Referral to the Fraud, Investigation & Recovery Unit Referral to the Fraud, Investigation & Recovery Unit Possible overpayment Possible overpayment Possible Disqualification for an Intentional Program Violation Possible Disqualification for an Intentional Program Violation 10/20/201510

11. ASPIRE ASPIRE provides support leading to employment 1110/20/2015

12. ASPIRE Will Help You: ASPIRE Will Help You: Develop YOUR plan for becoming self-sufficient: Explore the local job market Explore the local job market Develop skills to help you: Develop skills to help you:  Get ready for work  Find a job  Succeed on the job Finish high school Finish high school Get your high school equivalency (GED) Get your high school equivalency (GED) 1210/20/2015

13. Parents as Scholars (PaS) 2-4 Year College Program Same benefits and rules as TANF including the 60- month life-time limit on assistance. Same benefits and rules as TANF including the 60- month life-time limit on assistance. Tuition comes from other sources Tuition comes from other sources ASPIRE provides support services ASPIRE provides support services 1310/20/2015

14. What are Your Goals? What will YOU need to get started on your road to becoming employed? 1410/20/2015

15. ASPIRE will learn more about you through an in-depth assessment. ASPIRE will learn more about you through an in-depth assessment. This will help you and ASPIRE pick the best steps for you to achieve your goals. This will help you and ASPIRE pick the best steps for you to achieve your goals. What’s The Best Plan For You?

16. ASPIRE Activities Work Goals Work Goals –Volunteer Work –Employment –On the job training –Job Search –Field training Training & Educational Needs Training & Educational Needs –High school diploma or equivalency (GED) –Short term certificate / vocational programs –PaS Program 1610/20/2015

17. ASPIRE Support Services Child Care Child Care Transportation Transportation Car Repairs and Insurance Car Repairs and Insurance Uniforms Uniforms Tools Needed for Work Tools Needed for Work Other job related services Other job related services 1710/20/2015

18. Family Contract Your Family Contract lists the steps you agree to take to become employed. Your Family Contract lists the steps you agree to take to become employed. It is your responsibility to look for a job while you are receiving TANF. If there is a special circumstance that stops you from looking for a job or completing an activity, you have the right to have us review your situation. It is your responsibility to look for a job while you are receiving TANF. If there is a special circumstance that stops you from looking for a job or completing an activity, you have the right to have us review your situation. 1810/20/2015

19. Good Cause Good Cause is our decision that you had a good reason for not doing something that you agreed to do in your Family Contract. Good Cause is our decision that you had a good reason for not doing something that you agreed to do in your Family Contract. Be prepared to have acceptable written proof of the reason for your failure to seek employment or complete an assigned activity. Be prepared to have acceptable written proof of the reason for your failure to seek employment or complete an assigned activity. 10/20/201519

20. Sanctions While we want everyone to be successful, some choose not to follow the rules of the program. If you chose not to follow the rules there are consequences :  If you are an applicant your benefits will not be approved.  If, after you begin receiving TANF you don’t follow the rules you can lose your cash assistance and support services, including child care. You can also lose part of your Food Supplement benefits. 2010/20/2015

21. How Will You Support Your Family on TANF? Parent and two children with no income: TANF $485 Child Support* +$185 (maximum*) Total $670 Plus a 30+ hrs/week participation requirement *Child Support depends on the amount collected from the other parent 10/20/201521

22. Same Family w/ Parent Working 30 hours/week x $7.50/hr Earnings = $967/mo Disregard -$108 -$429 -$429 Countable income $429 TANF = $191/month Total Income to Family- Earnings $967 TANF $191 TANF $191 Child $ 50 ( maximum) Support* Support* EITC $436 ($5,236/yr) Total $1,644/month 10/20/201522 *Child Support depends on the amount collected from the other parent

23. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)  EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working families.  Congress approved the tax credit in 1975 to provide an incentive to work.  A family with qualifying children can receive a refund of:  $5,891 for 3 or more children  $5,236 for 2 or more children ($436/month)  $3,169 for 1 child 2310/20/2015

24. Every child has the right to be supported by both parents... 24 Division of Support Enforcement & Recovery (DSER) 10/20/2015

25. Role of DSER Role of DSER Locate non-TANF parent Locate non-TANF parent Establish paternity Establish paternity Establish support orders which can include medical support, child support and child care Establish support orders which can include medical support, child support and child care Enforce support orders Enforce support orders 2510/20/2015

26. Locating the Non-TANF Parent DSER must first know where the parent responsible for paying child support is living or working DSER must first know where the parent responsible for paying child support is living or working DSER gets addresses and/or employment information from many sources DSER gets addresses and/or employment information from many sourcesYOU are often the best source of information… are often the best source of information… 2610/20/2015

27. How Paternity Is Established? Once the parent is located paternity must be established The named father must be given notice The named father must be given notice A simple DNA test is done A simple DNA test is done Paternity can be legally established by a court order or by both parents signing a voluntary acknowledgement form Paternity can be legally established by a court order or by both parents signing a voluntary acknowledgement form 2710/20/2015

28. Benefits of Establishing Paternity The child knows who his or her father is The child knows who his or her father is The child has inheritance rights if the father dies The child has inheritance rights if the father dies The child can get medical information about the father’s family history The child can get medical information about the father’s family history The child gets Social Security benefits if the father becomes disabled The child gets Social Security benefits if the father becomes disabled 2810/20/2015

29. After the parent is located and paternity has been determined… A support order will be established A support order will be established Enforcement can begin and the family can get child support Enforcement can begin and the family can get child support If the parent who is supposed to pay child support does not pay DSER has many ways to enforce a child support order If the parent who is supposed to pay child support does not pay DSER has many ways to enforce a child support order 29 Support Orders 10/20/2015

30. Your Role Cooperation with DSER is required to receive TANF and Child Support. You must: –Sign over rights to child support while on TANF –Provide information about the other parent –Forward child support payments made directly to you from the other parent –Inform DSER of changes Remember: You may be excused from cooperation if Good Cause is granted. 3010/20/2015

31. How much child support will I get? If you currently receive child support, you may not continue to receive all of that support If child support is paid on time, your family may get “Pass Through and Gap payments” “Pass Through” is the first $50 collected. This money is “passed through” to you “Pass Through” is the first $50 collected. This money is “passed through” to you “Gap payments” are made when more support is collected. You may get additional payments depending on how much other income you have. “Gap payments” are made when more support is collected. You may get additional payments depending on how much other income you have. 3110/20/2015

32. What DSER Cannot Do DSER cannot: Give legal advice Give legal advice Help w/ divorce or alimony Help w/ divorce or alimony Help w/ custody or property disputes Help w/ custody or property disputes Enforce visitation rights Enforce visitation rights For help with these matters we urge you to seek advice from a lawyer 3210/20/2015

33. To Contact DSER 1-800-371-7179 24 hour a day, 7 days a week voice response service allows you to: –Report address changes –Update medical insurance information –Report a lost child support check –Request a new PIN number –Request a payment history –Find out if a child support check has been sent Address: Case Review Unit, SHS #11, Augusta, ME 04333 Fax: (207) 287-2334 E-mail: Case.Review@maine.gov 3310/20/2015

34. Post-TANF Programs You’re Working! TANF Closes What next? 3410/20/2015

35. Transitional Services  Child Care  Transportation  Worker Supplement Benefit (WSB)  Transitional Food Assistance (TFA)  Medical Assistance  Non-Welfare Child Support 3510/20/2015

36. Remember! Open, read & respond to all mail from DHHS Open, read & respond to all mail from DHHS Promptly call us if you can’t keep an appointment or complete an activity Promptly call us if you can’t keep an appointment or complete an activity Tell us of any changes in your household as they happen Tell us of any changes in your household as they happen Keep and review the information provided today Keep and review the information provided today Start looking for work now Start looking for work now 3610/20/2015

37. Benefits are paid by: Placed on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card Placed on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card –Balances are printed on store receipt –Call 1-800-477-7428 –Swipe card in machine –Visit www.PineTreeCard.com www.PineTreeCard.com –Report a lost card immediately Direct Deposit to your bank account Direct Deposit to your bank account Sent directly to a vendor like a landlord Sent directly to a vendor like a landlord 3710/20/2015

38. Use of TANF Benefit State law prohibits the use of your EBT card for any cash transaction in: Retail store where 50% or more of the gross revenue comes from the sale of liquor Retail store where 50% or more of the gross revenue comes from the sale of liquor Gambling facilities Gambling facilities Adult entertainment establishments Adult entertainment establishments 10/20/201538

39. It is a Crime To intentionally give incorrect information to receive cash benefits or ASPIRE support services. To intentionally give incorrect information to receive cash benefits or ASPIRE support services. To sell or trade your EBT card. To sell or trade your EBT card. Public Assistance fraud affects all of us. Do not become a statistic. 10/20/201539

40. Summary TANF provides temporary assistance while you prepare for work TANF provides temporary assistance while you prepare for work ASPIRE helps with employment, training, education and support services ASPIRE helps with employment, training, education and support services DSER helps your child receive support from his/her other parent DSER helps your child receive support from his/her other parent Transitional Services may help when your TANF benefits end because you are working. Transitional Services may help when your TANF benefits end because you are working. 4010/20/2015

41. Next Steps In a few moments you will meet with people from the ASPIRE Program. We will work closely with you as you work towards your goals. work towards your goals. Your worker will discuss how ASPIRE can support you in your employment goals. What steps can you take now to become self- supporting? 4110/20/2015