Conciliation and Sanction

MANUAL REFERENCES:

4.18 TA Sanctions
 4.17.3 Good Cause for Not Complying with Work Requirements

PROCEDURAL /FAMIS GUIDES & Additional Information:

Entering a Sanction or Disqualification (FAMIS User Guide)

REQUIREMENT:

Individuals who are mandatory for participation in Temporary Assistance Work Activities and fail to comply without good cause are subject to sanction. When non-compliance occurs, the MWA case manager enters conciliation with the customer, then initiates a sanction of the Temporary Assistance benefits if cooperation does not occur. FAMIS takes TA sanction actions automatically. The eligibility specialist must take all related Food Stamp actions manually.

  • If the individual fails to keep the initial appointment with MWA, or stops meeting the work requirement, the case manger’s entries in the MWA system are transferred to FAMIS. FAMIS begins the adverse action process to reduce the TA grant 50%.

  • MWA continues to attempt to re-engage the individual after the 50% sanction. If, during the next ten weeks, the individual does not complete an average of 30 hours per week for four consecutive weeks, a Full Family Sanction is imposed. The case manager’s entries into the MWA system are transferred to FAMIS, which begins the adverse action process to close the case.

  • The MWA case manager attempts to re-engage the individual after any sanction, as long as the TA case remains open. At any time the individual begins to meet the work requirement, the case manager’s entries in the MWA system are transferred to FAMIS and the sanction is lifted.

  • For Food Stamp recipients: budget the full amount of the Temporary Assistance grant the individual would receive if not sanctioned. The amount by which the TA grant is reduced is entered in FAMIS as unearned income type RP. If the TA case closes in a Full Family Sanction, the RP income source is ended.

  • When an individual whose TA case has been closed due to Full Family Sanction reapplies and is still mandatory for work participation, s/he is immediately referred to MWA by FAMIS. S/he must engage with a case manager and participate in work activities for at least one week to lift the sanction before regaining eligibility. (See Compliance with Work Requirement, above.)
    NOTE: if the sanctioned individual is EXEMPT from the Work Requirement at reapplication, the sanction must be ended before the application may be approved. See FAMIS User Guide: Updating/Ending a Sanction or Disqualification.