11 the welfare transition program work activity definitions 2008
TRANSCRIPT
1111
The Welfare Transition Program The Welfare Transition Program
Work Activity DefinitionsWork Activity Definitions
20082008
2222
Brief HistoryBrief History Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996
Changed welfare from an entitlement into a work program
12 work activity categories were named
The work activity categories provided by the federal government under this Act did not have definitions
states determined what services and activities would be allowed under each category
3333
Brief HistoryBrief History Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996
States were required to engage a certain percentage of families receiving cash assistance in work activities to continue receiving full benefits
States were also required to stop or reduce cash assistance benefits if the head of household refused to comply with the work program
4444
Brief HistoryBrief History In 2006, the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA)
reauthorized Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant and legislative provisions
Directed Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish regulations
HHS was instructed to define work activities to ensure equal measurement of participation across states
The states were not being compared equally based on the differences in the work activity definitions
5555
The Deficit Reduction ActThe Deficit Reduction Act
Interim Final Rule
Required each state to develop work activities consistent with definitions based on the federal definitions of the work activity categories
Required each state to submit a work verification plan
Required the state’s interim plan to be approved and implemented by September 30, 2007
6666
The Deficit Reduction ActThe Deficit Reduction Act Final Rule
Took comments submitted by different states after the Interim Final Rule was published and
Clarified elements of the Interim Final Rule
Changed elements of the Interim Final Rule
Required states to update their plans by September 1, 2008
Florida’s updated work verification plan has been submitted to HHS
7777
Work ActivitiesWork Activities
Need Work!
FAIRPAY!
8888
Work Activity CategoriesWork Activity Categories There are 12 work activity categories They are broken up into
Core work activity categories
Core plus work activity categories
Core activities may stand alone and do not require another activity to count towards participation
Core plus activities must be accompanied by a minimum number of hours of participation in a core activity to count towards participation
9999
Work Activity CategoriesWork Activity Categories Twelve work activity categoriesTwelve work activity categories
Unsubsidized EmploymentUnsubsidized Employment Subsidized Private Sector EmploymentSubsidized Private Sector Employment Subsidized Public Sector EmploymentSubsidized Public Sector Employment Work ExperienceWork Experience Job Search and Job Readiness AssistanceJob Search and Job Readiness Assistance Community Service ProgramsCommunity Service Programs Vocational Educational TrainingVocational Educational Training On-the-Job TrainingOn-the-Job Training Providing ChildcareProviding Childcare Education Directly Related to EmploymentEducation Directly Related to Employment Job Skills Training Directly Related to EmploymentJob Skills Training Directly Related to Employment Satisfactory Attendance in a Secondary Education ProgramSatisfactory Attendance in a Secondary Education Program
10101010
Work Activity CategoriesWork Activity Categories Core Activities
Unsubsidized Employment Subsidized Private Sector Employment Subsidized Public Sector Employment Work Experience Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance Community Service Programs Vocational Educational Training On-the-Job Training Providing Childcare
11111111
Work Activity CategoriesWork Activity Categories
Core plus activities
Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment
Education Directly Related to Employment
The participant cannot receive credit for hours in this activity if (s)he has a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
Satisfactory Attendance at a Secondary School or in a Course of Study Leading to a GED
The participant cannot receive credit for hours in this activity if they have a high school diploma or a GED
1212
Work Activity Categories-Cheat SheetWork Activity Categories-Cheat Sheet Core activities
Unsubsidized Employment Subsidized Private Sector Employment Subsidized Public Sector Employment Work Experience Job Search and Job Readiness
Assistance Community Service Programs Vocational Educational Training On-the-Job Training Providing Childcare
Core plus activities
Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment
Education Directly Related to Employment
Satisfactory Attendance at a Secondary School or in a Course of Study Leading to a GED
Core activities for a teen 19 and younger that does not have a high school diploma or an equivalency
Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment
Education Directly Related to Employment
Satisfactory Attendance at a Secondary School or in a Course of Study Leading to a GED
13131313
What Counts?What Counts? To be included in the numerator of the all-family
participation rate,
Single parent families with a child under six must complete at least 86.6 (87) hours in a core activity or combination of core activities
Single parent families with a child six or older must complete at least 129.9 (130) hours in countable work activities, and 87 hours must be in a core activity or combination of core activities
At least one of the parents in a two-parent family with two work-eligible parents must complete at least 130 hours in countable work activities, and 87 hours must be in a core activity or combination of core activities
14141414
What Counts?What Counts? To be included in the numerator of the two-parent
family participation rate, the hours are based on the receipt of federally funded subsidized childcare If the family receives federally funded subsidized
childcare, the family must participate at least 238.15 (238) hours per month combined in countable work activities, and 216.5 (217) of those hours must be in a core or combination of core activities
If the family does not receive federally funded subsidized childcare, the family must participate at least 151.55 (152) hours per month combined in countable work activities, and 130 of those hours must be in a core or combination of core activities
1515
Frequently Asked Question
What if one of the parents in a two-parent family is disabled or has a medical limitation that lasts longer than 30 days?
16161616
AnswerAnswer If one of the parents in a two-parent family is unable to
participate in a work activity for the minimum required hours due to a medical limitation, the two-parent family will be removed from the denominator of the two-parent participation rate
The limitation has to be documented by a physician licensed under Florida Statutes Chapter 458 or 459
An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this document may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.
1717
AnswerAnswer The information must be recorded in the The information must be recorded in the
One-Stop Service Tracking (OSST) system’s One-Stop Service Tracking (OSST) system’s Alternative Plan screenAlternative Plan screen
Medical deferralMedical deferral
Alcohol, drug, mental health deferralAlcohol, drug, mental health deferral
Or the information must be recorded on the Or the information must be recorded on the Department of Children and Families’ data Department of Children and Families’ data entry systementry system
18181818
What Counts for Teens?What Counts for Teens? Teens without a diploma or GED and under 20
are included in the numerator of the participation rate if they are a Single parent family and
Satisfactorily attend a GED or diploma program each week
Participate in 20 hours a week in Education Directly Related to Employment
Two-parent family and Both satisfactorily attend a GED or diploma program each
week
Both participate in 20 hours a week in Education Directly Related to Employment
19191919
Work Activity DefinitionsWork Activity Definitions
20202020
Unsubsidized EmploymentUnsubsidized Employment
Is a full or part-time job in the public or private sector
Wages are paid by the employer and are not subsidized by any public program
Included in this definition are
Employers who receive tax subsidies for hiring lower income individuals
Individuals who are self-employed
Labor in exchange for services (“in-kind” work)
21212121
Unsubsidized EmploymentUnsubsidized Employment Hours spent in unsubsidized employment Hours spent in unsubsidized employment
are assumed to be supervised based on are assumed to be supervised based on wageswages
Documentation verifying employment must Documentation verifying employment must include include
wages at hire wages at hire
hours at hire hours at hire
start date start date
employer’s nameemployer’s name
2222
Unsubsidized Employment-Unsubsidized Employment-Self EmploymentSelf Employment
The individual is both the employee and employer
May include “in-kind” (work for services rendered, rent, etc.) work
Countable hours are determined by
Dividing the individual’s documented income (gross income less business expenses) by the higher of the Florida or federal minimum wage
Program staff cannot take a participant’s statement regarding hours and pay when recording self-employment
23232323
Unsubsidized Employment-Unsubsidized Employment-Self EmploymentSelf Employment
Self-Employment
Documentation of income and expenses from may include
Receipts for services
Copy of a check or money order
24242424
Subsidized Employment Subsidized Employment
The employer receives a subsidy to offset wages and/or costs of employing an individual
Public or private funds
Private subsidized employment means the subsidy comes from a private entity or program
Public subsidized employment means the subsidy comes from a public entity or program
Such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant
2525
Subsidized EmploymentSubsidized Employment
Types of subsidized employment includeTypes of subsidized employment include
Work supplementationWork supplementation
Incentive paymentsIncentive payments
Supported work for individuals with Supported work for individuals with disabilitiesdisabilities
Work study (public only)Work study (public only)
26262626
Subsidized Employment Subsidized Employment Rule changeRule change
Interim Final Rule Interim Final Rule The employer would be The employer would be requiredrequired to keep the to keep the
participant as a regular employee without participant as a regular employee without the subsidythe subsidy
Final RuleFinal Rule Retaining the participant is no longer a Retaining the participant is no longer a
federal requirementfederal requirement
It is the Florida’s preference that the It is the Florida’s preference that the individual be retained once the subsidy endsindividual be retained once the subsidy ends
27272727
Subsidized EmploymentSubsidized Employment Supervision is assumed based on
documentation of pay for all subsidized employment
Acceptable forms of documentation may include Pay stub
Time sheet
TALX or the Work Number
Copy of a check or money order
28282828
On-the-Job Training (OJT)On-the-Job Training (OJT) Is training provided to a paid employee
while (s)he is working full-time
The employer or an educational institution provides training to the participant to gain skills for job position
Training hours and hours on the job are paid
The employer or educational institution receives a subsidy
29292929
On-the-Job Training On-the-Job Training Rule change
Interim Final Rule
The employer would be required to keep the participant as a regular employee without the subsidy
Final Rule
Retaining the participant once the subsidy has ended is no longer a federal requirement
It is Florida’s preference that the individual be retained once the subsidy ends, but there may be programs where the focus is paid training while preparing for work with another employer
30303030
On-the-Job TrainingOn-the-Job Training
The difference The difference between Subsidized between Subsidized Public and Public and Subsidized Private Subsidized Private Employment is the Employment is the focus of the activityfocus of the activity
OJT is paid training OJT is paid training while working full-while working full-timetime
31313131
On-the-Job TrainingOn-the-Job Training Contracts developed for TANF funded OJT
programs must include
Job title of the participant
Goals of training and employment
Skills required to learn for the job position
Reasons for immediate termination
OJT begin and end dates
Parties responsible for supervising progress and documenting participation
32323232
Work ExperienceWork Experience
Is defined as structured work in exchange for public benefits It is engagement with an employer for
individuals who are not able to gain employment and lack work experience
Must provide an opportunity to gain General employability skills
Work habits necessary for obtaining employment
Training
Specific job knowledge
33333333
Work ExperienceWork Experience
Prior to placement
Work experience providers must be evaluated to match the participant
With a position that is related to his/her goals
With an employer who has related needs
34343434
Work ExperienceWork Experience
Work Experience must be
Intensely supervised
Designated by a contract or agreement
Work Experience may be performed with
A public or private not-for-profit entity
A public or private for-profit entity
35353535
Work ExperienceWork Experience Displacement
Employers must notify their employees of their rights
To report and dispute displacement from employment as a result of Work Experience or Community Service participant
How to report acts of displacement
An employer cannot fire a paid employee to fill the position with a Work Experience participant
Cannot fail to fill an open position to use a Work Experience participant
36363636
Work ExperienceWork Experience The contract with the participant’s worksite
employer must include Party(ies) responsible for supervising the participant on
a daily basis
Party(ies) responsible for signing time sheets/documentation of completed hours
The contract with the participant’s worksite employer should include Job title
Clear job description
The connection between the worksite and the participant’s goals
37373737
Work experience contracts must also include Performance benchmarks
What will the participant be required to achieve prior to completion?
What skills the participant must gain during the Work Experience?
What are the expectations of the employer?
Goals
Time limits
Outcomes
Work Experience
38383838
Hours assigned for the month Cannot be greater than the calculation
Cash assistance amount for the month + Food Stamp allotment for the month/ the higher of the two minimum wages (Florida or federal)
Hours the participant is required to complete each week must be included in the Individual Responsibility Plan (IRP) Must be agreed on by the participant and
program staff
Should be written in the steps-to-self-sufficiency
Work ExperienceWork Experience
39393939
Work ExperienceWork Experience As of October 2, 2008, the Job Participation Rate (JPR)
screen will require program staff to calculate the maximum number of hours the family may be assigned at a worksite during the month before entering actual hours of participation
The hours actually assigned each week should be included on the IRP
The participant and program staff are demonstrating that the number of hours that must be completed each week at the worksite are a part of the plan to move the family forward
Hours assigned must be entered on the activity screen Hours assigned to a worksite must be reviewed and
updated monthly Update the steps to self-sufficiency Update case notes Update the Skill Development screen
40404040
Community Service ProgramsCommunity Service Programs
Are structured programs at not-for-profit organizations
Projects must serve a useful community purpose in one of the following fields
Health, social services, environmental protection, education, urban and rural redevelopment, welfare, recreation, public facilities, public safety and childcare
Must be designed to improve employability and help the participant reach his/her employment goals
41414141
Community ServiceCommunity Service Displacement
Employers must notify their employees of their rights
To report and dispute displacement from employment
How to report acts of displacement
Cannot fire a paid employee to fill the position with a Community Service participant
Cannot fail to fill an open position to use a Community Service participant
42424242
Community ServiceCommunity Service The contract regarding the participant’s worksite
must include Party(ies) responsible for supervising the participant on
a daily basis
Party(ies) responsible for signing time sheets/documentation of completed hours
The contract with the participant’s worksite employer should include Job title Clear job description The connection between the worksite and the
participant’s goals
43434343
Community Service contracts should also include Performance benchmarks
What will the participant be required to achieve prior to completion?
What skills should the participant gain during the Community Service?
What are the expectations of the employer?
Goals
Time limits
Outcomes
Community ServiceCommunity Service
44444444
Community Service ProgramsCommunity Service Programs
Hours assigned
Cannot be greater for the month than the calculation allows
This applies to the whole family
Cash assistance for the month+ Food Stamp allotment for the month/ the highest of the federal or State minimum wage
45454545
Community ServiceCommunity Service Hours the participant is
required to complete each week must be included in the Individual Responsibility Plan (IRP)
Must be agreed on by the participant and program staff
Should be written in the steps-to-self-sufficiency
4646
Frequently Asked QuestionFrequently Asked Question What if more than one parent in the family What if more than one parent in the family
is participating in a worksite activity? is participating in a worksite activity? What are the maximum number of hours What are the maximum number of hours that can be assigned to each parent? that can be assigned to each parent?
4747
AnswerAnswer The calculation is based on the family’s cash The calculation is based on the family’s cash
assistance amount and food stamp allotmentassistance amount and food stamp allotment
Hours assigned during the month for the Hours assigned during the month for the family family cannot be greater than the cannot be greater than the calculation allowscalculation allows
Cash assistance for the month+ food stamp Cash assistance for the month+ food stamp allotment for the month/ the highest of the allotment for the month/ the highest of the federal or State minimum wagefederal or State minimum wage
The amount must be shared by the family The amount must be shared by the family members participating in a worksite activitymembers participating in a worksite activity
48484848
Job Search and Job Readiness Job Search and Job Readiness AssistanceAssistance
The act of seeking or obtaining employment, as well as learning how to find a job
Orientation to the world of work
Learning how to complete an application
Applying for jobs
Resume development
Interviewing skills
Learning about appropriate dress
Career planning
Soft skills (including job retention skills)
49494949
May include Workshops
Classroom activities
Working with job developers
Job matching and receiving job referrals
Access to resource centers
Submitting applications and resumes
Completing follow-up calls
Attending interviews
Job Search and Job Readiness Job Search and Job Readiness AssistanceAssistance
50505050
May include
Substance abuse treatment
Mental health treatment
Rehabilitative activities
Job Search and Job Readiness Job Search and Job Readiness AssistanceAssistance
51515151
Question?Question? Does the medical professional have to sign
off on every hour in treatment?
No
Every hour must be verified by a responsible party
Depends on the activity
Meeting leader
Group therapy counselor
Other counselor
52525252
Job Search and Job Readiness Job Search and Job Readiness AssistanceAssistance
Hours in treatment are recorded as job search hours
Remember, job search is a time-limited activity
In the Interim Final Rule, weeks of job search were limited to four consecutive or six cumulative weeks in a FFY
53535353
Job Search and Job Readiness Job Search and Job Readiness AssistanceAssistance
In the Final Rule
Weeks of job search are limited to four consecutive weeks in a rolling 12 months
The total weeks that may be completed in a rolling 12 month period are being converted to hours
For a single parent with a child under the age of six years old, 120 hours is equivalent to six cumulative weeks in job search
For all other work eligible individuals, 180 hours is equivalent to six cumulative weeks in job search
54545454
Job Search and Job Readiness Job Search and Job Readiness AssistanceAssistance
Clearly stated, participants may receive credit for participating in
Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance are limited to four consecutive weeks in a rolling 12 months
-OR-
120 hours in a rolling 12 months if the parent is a single parent with a child under the age of 6
180 hours in a rolling 12 months for all other families
55555555
Job Search and Job Readiness Job Search and Job Readiness AssistanceAssistance
Supervision
HHS has stressed that Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance must by supervised by a responsible party
Career specialist
Contracted provider
Teacher or program administrator
Job development staff
56565656
Job Search and Job Readiness Job Search and Job Readiness AssistanceAssistance
Credit for hours—Interim Final Rule
HHS stated that the State may not enter hours for credit on the JPR screen unless the hours in Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance are supervised daily and are documented hour for hour
57575757
Job Search and Job ReadinessJob Search and Job ReadinessAssistanceAssistance
Credit for hours—Final Rule
HHS has provided clarification of Job Search/Job Readiness and supervision/documentation of job search hours
58585858
Job Search and Job Readiness Job Search and Job Readiness AssistanceAssistance
Interim Final Rule
No hours by proxy
Rigid on what constituted a “week”
Daily supervision and documentation unclear
Final Rule No hours by proxy
Allows travel time to and from interviews to count as actual time
Not time from home to the first interview
Not time from the last interview to home
Allows weeks to be converted to hours (*120 or *180)
Daily supervision not intended to be in person contact, but a person responsible for the oversight of an individual’s participation
59595959
Job Search and Job ReadinessJob Search and Job Readiness
Other changes
Transportation time may count as credit toward participation if participant is
Going from a job site (interview) to another job site
Going from the Career Center or provider’s site to a job site
Going from job site back to the Career Center
Travel time is not allowed from home to the first job site or from the last job site to the participant’s home
60606060
Vocational Vocational EducationalEducational Training Training Prepares the participant for employment
in current or emerging occupations through organized training
Gives the participant knowledge and skills to perform a specific occupation
Must be State approved training in Florida’s vocational technical centers, community college, universities and proprietary schools
61616161
Vocational Educational TrainingVocational Educational Training
Interim Final Rule
No baccalaureate or other advanced degrees
Allows the participant to receive credit for supervised study time towards hours of participation
Final Rule
Allows credit for baccalaureate or other advanced degrees for a duration of 12 months
Allows the participant to receive credit for one hour of unsupervised study time for every one hour of class time
Allows the participant to receive credit for supervised study time
Distance learning is allowed if hours of participation can be supervised and documented by a designated party
62626262
Frequently Asked Question?Frequently Asked Question? So what does it include now?
Programs established for
Vocational institutions
Trades
Employers (customized training) organized by a vocational or educational institution
Certifications
Baccalaureate or other advanced degrees
63636363
Frequently Asked Question?Frequently Asked Question?
Participants take longer than one year or 12 months to complete a baccalaureate. Can the participant receive credit (for participation rate purposes) if engaged longer than 12 months in an educational program that is coded as Vocational Educational Training?
64646464
AnswerAnswer The participant may be engaged in the educational
training longer than 12 months, but the State will not receive credit if hours reported for participation purposes are coded as Vocational Educational Training for longer than 12 months
Program staff should review engagement by the institution
If the participant is in school activities for less than 30 hours a week, the participant may be engaged in a worksite activity, work study or employment in addition to hours at the institution
65656565
Job Skills Training Directly Job Skills Training Directly Related to EmploymentRelated to Employment
Education or training to obtain skills required by an employer so the participant can
Advance
Adapt to the changing demands of the workplace
Obtain employment
66666666
Job Skills Training Directly Job Skills Training Directly Related to EmploymentRelated to Employment
May include
Customized training for an employer
Or
General training that prepares an individual for employment with an employer
67676767
Job Skills Training Directly Related to Job Skills Training Directly Related to EmploymentEmployment
This may include
English proficiency instruction or other language instruction, if necessary, to enable the participant to perform a specific job by an employer
Must be explicitly focused on skills needed for a job or combined in a training program
68686868
Education Directly Related to Education Directly Related to EmploymentEmployment
Limited to participants who do not have a high school diploma or GED
Education directly related to a specific occupation, job or job offer
May include adult basic education, language instruction, or education leading to a GED when required by an employer
6969
Education Directly Related to Education Directly Related to EmploymentEmployment
On a case-by-case basis, RWBs may enroll individuals with high school credentials if the following are true
The high school credentials are from another country
Assessments indicate that the individual cannot function at high school levels according to United States standards
6969
70707070
Satisfactory Attendance at aSatisfactory Attendance at aSecondary SchoolSecondary School
Regular attendance at a secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence
Is limited to participants without a high school diploma or GED
Participants must attend classes regularly
Regular attendance is based on the educational institution’s definition of satisfactory attendance
7171
Satisfactory Attendance at a Satisfactory Attendance at a Secondary SchoolSecondary School
You may also enroll participants with high school credentials in this activity, if the following are true
The high school credentials are from another country
Assessments indicate that the individual cannot function at high school levels according to United States standards
7171
72727272
Satisfactory Attendance at aSatisfactory Attendance at aSecondary SchoolSecondary School
May include other literacy education if required to secure a high school diploma or a GED
May include adult basic education directly related to obtaining high school diploma or GED
73737373
Providing Childcare ServicesProviding Childcare Services
Participant provides childcare for another WT program participant who is completing Community Service hours
This activity must be supervised
Evidence of supervision must be maintained by staff and retained in the case file
74747474
The participant engaged in Community Service must maintain his/her own time sheet to document completed hours at a worksite and the number of hours a childcare provider was needed
The participant engaged in Community Service must sign off on the childcare provider’s time sheet, documenting the number of hours childcare was provided
Providing Childcare ServicesProviding Childcare Services
75757575
Providing Childcare ServicesProviding Childcare Services
The participant assigned to the activity “Providing Childcare” cannot receive more credit hours than the number of hours completed by the participant assigned to Community Service
Does not include two-parent families watching their own children
76767676
If you have any questions, comments, or
concerns, please contact the
Welfare Transition team through the
Agency for Workforce Innovation’s
call center at 1-866-352-2345