TA Work Requirement: Hardship Extension User Guide

 

Months of Temporary Assistance benefits are tracked on the Time Limit Tracking (TIMETRAK) screen. When corrections are needed, or months received from another state are verified, Supervisors must make entries on TIMETRAK to capture the new information.

 

However, extensions to the 45 month limit may be granted to allow the participant time to overcome a hardship.

 

The following situations may qualify a participant for an extension of the 45 month lifetime limit:

 

Domestic Violence

A participant may provide documentation to verify issues of domestic violence if it is available, but their statement may be the only way to establish this claim.

Substance Abuse

An individual’s time may be extended if they have been diagnosed (or made a self-declaration) AND are in treatment with issues of substance abuse.

 

A physician, other medical professional or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), may make the diagnosis. Treatment may include, but is not limited to: Short term residential, day treatment, counseling, support groups, group education, group counseling, C-STAR, Alcoholic Anonymous (AA), Narcotic Anonymous (NA), etc.

Mental Health

A participant’s time may be extended if they have been diagnosed with issues of mental health AND are in treatment.

 

A physician or licensed psychologist may make the diagnosis. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) may evaluate for mental health and if the participant is receiving VR services they are eligible for this extension. Treatment may include, but is not limited to: Short term residential care, counseling, support groups, mental health case management with a community support worker or targeted case manager, etc.

Active in Children’s Division

An extension may be approved for a family who has an active case with the Children’s Division in Family Centered Services or Alternative Care. The family must be actively working with and cooperating with the Children’s Division treatment plan and the Missouri Work Assistance (MWA) program Individual Employment Plan (IEP). This extension cannot be used solely because there is an open case in both systems.

 

Eligibility specialists must check the FACESINQ screen to verify if the child is in Children’s Division custody or in Alternative Care.

 

Family Crisis

Participants may have their lifetime limit extended if they are experiencing a crisis. Examples of a crisis may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Home destroyed by fire
  • A temporary disability and the participant is unable to work for a period of time
  • Accidental injury in which a child or other family member is injured keeping the participant from being able to seek work or maintain present employment
  • Job loss due to company layoff, downsizing or closing
  • Crime victim
  • Multiple crises

 

When an individual whose Lifetime Limit is exhausted requests a hardship extension:

    • Determine whether the individual meets an exemption.
    • If no exemption exists, determine whether the individual potentially meets an extension for hardship.
        • If yes, the applicant must complete the IM-2EH Extension for Hardship.
            • This form becomes a permanent part of the case record. Staff may assist the applicant with the form if necessary.
            • Continue to process the application to determine eligibility on all other factors.
        • If no, process application through rejection using the information on the Lifetime Limit page.
    • Only specified team members in the TA/CC Processing Center may approve hardship extensions.

 

The only entries any Eligibility Team Member are allowed to make on COMPACT are displayed in the user guide below.

 

Failure to use the specific instructions below may result in an incorrect Hardship Extension benefit issuance that the EU would be required to pay back to FSD.

 

Entries on COMPACT for Lifetime Limit Extensions:

    1. From COMPACT (FM8B), type an A in the Command line
    2. Complete the required fields:
      1. Work Req Ind – H for Hardship – Enter Extension Reason

      1. Orientation/PRP field – prompt out (=F4), and select the appropriate code for the participant.
        1. BC Both Orientation and PRP Complete
        2. BI Both Orientation and PRP Incomplete
        3. OC Orientation Complete
        4. OI Orientation Incomplete
        5. PI PRP Incomplete

              1. Press CTRL
          1. Extension Rsn – Type 26 – Pending Review
      • NOTE: The only code staff should use in the field is 26 – Pending Review. Only the person approving/denying the hardship extension can enter any other code in this field.
    1. Re-Evaluation Date
      • Application – Enter the date the application is due
      • Active benefits – 30 days in the future

    1. Press CTRL to save COMPACT entries.
    2. Press F18=COMMENT and explain the reason for the extension request as well as any documentation provided/needed. Also explain the re-evaluation date. Comment that the IM-2EH has been emailed to FSD.GROUPE@dss.mo.gov.
    3. Forward the IM-2EH to email FSD.GROUPE@dss.mo.gov, subject line: Hardship Inquiry.