Using Meets Compliance
Some grantees receiving TAFDC who are subject to the work rules may need to be excused from meeting their required hours due to a good reason. These reasons may be due to a challenge the family is experiencing, or other reasons known to DTA that may be approved. These reasons are described as Meets Compliance reasons. A client who is temporarily excused from the work rules with a compliance reason is still subject to time limits.
In these situations, you should select the appropriate Compliance Reason (other than Participation) from the drop-down box on the Work Requirements TAFDC page. You must enter the date the situation is expected to be resolved by in the Compliance End Date field. The date must not exceed time frames listed below.
Compliance reasons include:
- good cause reasons that the client reports or the Department has knowledge of that have been identified as a challenge for meeting the work rules for future period of time (see Good Cause for TAFDC Rules)
- certain other reasons that the Department considers a temporary excuse from meeting the work rules
For a compliance reason to be entered for certain good cause reasons, the Department may need additional verification after the client identifies there is a challenge, and that reason is not already known. (See Good Cause for TAFDC Rules)
A client may also meet compliance with the work rules by:
- providing foster care to a child under age two not in the case, or over the age of 2 who needs higher level of care as verified by the Department of Children and Families (DCF)
- providing child care for a grandchild so a parent under 20 can attend school, as long as the parent and their child are living with the grantee
- residing at a substance use treatment program
A client will receive a TAFDC Work Rule Change notice 20 days prior to the expiration of the compliance reason. A client may continue to have good cause beyond the original end date and may have their compliance reason extended, if appropriate. Full Engagement Workers (FEWs) must follow-up and communicate with clients to determine whether a need to be excused from the work rules remains.
Clients who have a compliance reason that excuses them from the work rules may still voluntarily participate in Pathways to Work activities or employment and must still be engaged to the extent the family is able to. These clients will not have consequences for not meeting the work rules while the compliance reason is still active.
Staff must ensure that clients being excused from work rules with a compliance reason are aware they continue to be subject to time limits and that conversations around goal setting continue.
Important: For these situations, clicking on Meets Compliance - Yes and selecting the appropriate compliance reason (other than Participation) prevents the client from a system-initiated sanction for work rules.
| Meets Compliance Reason | End Date Not to Exceed… (*) | Verified by (including but not limited to): |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | No End Date | N/A |
| CORI Check | 30 days from date entered | Statement from program or client that activity start is pending a CORI check |
| Domestic Violence Waiver | 6 months from date entered | Pending/approved Domestic Violence Waiver by the DTA |
| Due to Domestic Violence | 90 days from date entered | Client statement, communication with DV Unit or other organization providing services regarding circumstances |
| Learning Disability Assessment | 90 days from date entered | Referral for LD Assessment sent to UMASS DES completed |
| Grandparent Child Care | 6 months from date entered | Completed Verification of Grandparent Child Care form |
| Foster Care | 6 months from date entered | Completed Verification of Foster Care form |
| No Child Care Available | 30 days from date entered | Verified by Child Care Resource & Referral agency, child care provider statement or client statement |
| No Community Service Site Available | 30 days from date entered | DTA does not have a community service site for client to volunteer at |
| No Resources Available | 30 days from date entered | DTA does not have an appropriate Pathways to Work activity for client to participate in |
| No Transportation Available | 30 days from date entered | Client statement regarding lack of transportation options |
| Participation in Housing Search | 6 months from date entered | Proof of client placement in DHCD Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter |
| Site orientation >15 days | 30 days from date entered | Communication from program regarding expected start date, client statement |
| Temporary Health Problem | 90 days from date entered | Client statement regarding disability or health issue |
| Substance Use Treatment Program | 6 months from date entered | Letter from program with confirmation of residence and expected end date |
Important: When entering a new Meets Compliance or Exemption reason, a new Start Date and End Date, if appropriate, must be entered for the new reason to be recognized.
(*) If the end date exceeds the time frames, a warning message will appear saying: "A date greater than six months has been entered in this field. The date must be six months or less from today's date."