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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 00-992

NOTICES

Notice of Intent to Amend the TANF State Plan

[30 Pa.B. 2954]

   The purpose of this Notice is to announce the Department of Public Welfare's (DPW) intent to amend the Commonwealth's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (42 U.S.C.A. §§ 601--619) State Plan to incorporate 11 initiatives that provide certain work supports and other services to eligible low-income families. Although these work supports and services are funded with TANF funds, they are excluded from the definition of ''assistance'' in 45 CFR 260.31. As a result, these work supports and services do not count towards the 60-month TANF time limit. In addition, persons receiving these benefits are not subject to the TANF work requirement or to a Federally-imposed child support requirement. The term used by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services to describe the TANF-funded work supports and services which do not count towards the 60-month TANF time limit is ''non-assistance.'' Under 45 CFR 260.31, the terms ''assistance'' and ''non-assistance'' are defined below:

   Assistance--includes cash payments, vouchers, and other forms of benefits designed to meet a family's ongoing basic needs (that is, food, clothing, shelter, utilities, household goods, personal care items, and general incidental expenses). Assistance also includes supportive services such as childcare and transportation for families in which adults are not employed. Receipt of assistance in any given month makes that entire month count toward the 60-month lifetime limit on TANF eligibility.

   Non-Assistance--includes:

*  Non-recurrent, short-term benefits that:

   --Are designed to deal with a specific crisis situation or episode of need;

   --Are not intended to meet recurrent or ongoing needs; and

   --Will not extend beyond 4 months.

*  Work subsidies (that is, payments to employers or third parties to help cover the costs of employe wages, benefits, supervision and training);

*  Supportive services such as child care and transportation provided to families who are employed;

*  Services such as counseling, case management, peer support, child care information and referral, transitional services, job retention, job advancement and other employment-related services that do not provide basic income support.

   DPW is filing this notice so that Pennsylvania will have the authority to implement the various initiatives at a future date. In accordance with 45 CFR 260.31 and subject to the availability of resources, DPW intends to provide funding included in the Fiscal Year 2000-2001 budget for the following non-assistance initiatives to certain needy families, based on the program descriptions and eligibility criteria set forth in each separate initiative. A needy family is defined in the TANF State Plan, published at 29 Pa.B. 5658 (October 30, 1999), as a minor child and his parent(s) or other adult-specified relative with whom he lives. A needy family also includes pregnant women who have no other children living with them.

*  Job Retention, Advancement and Rapid Re-employment Services.

   --Eligibility is limited to needy families whose gross annual incomes do not exceed 235% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (FPIGs).

   This non-assistance initiative provides job retention, advancement and rapid re-employment services to needy families who are not served through existing contracted programs. The purpose of the job retention and advancement services is to help participants retain employment and move to better employment whenever possible.

*  Place-Based Employment Options.

   --Eligibility is limited to needy families whose gross annual incomes do not exceed 235% of the FPIGs.

   This initiative will bring together resources to focus on needy families in public housing developments. Public housing developments have historically been areas where long-term dependency has co-existed with poverty and joblessness. The goal of this initiative is to collaborate with public housing authorities to help transform low-work, high-welfare-dependency housing developments into high-work, low-welfare communities. Services such as job readiness/preparation, job-search instruction and life-skills classes will be provided. The two main service components will be:

   --Employment-related activities and services

   --Community support including fostering work-related information-sharing through peer support and aid from other residents

*  The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Initiative.

   --Eligibility is limited to needy current and former TANF families whose gross annual incomes do not exceed 235% of the FPIGs.

   Financial support in the form of loans, grants and work-study opportunities may be made available to assist certain eligible needy individuals with the costs of attending post-secondary educational programs.

*  The Community College Program.

   --Eligibility is limited to needy current and former TANF families whose gross annual incomes do not exceed 235% of the FPIGs.

   This initiative supplements an existing program known as the Up Front Job Placement Program by permitting individuals who have participated in Up Front with access to a variety of programs through community colleges. To facilitate success, the community college will provide the individuals with intensive case management services. Blending the Community College initiative with the Up Front Program encourages individuals who may be new to the welfare rolls to engage early in training activities that lead to permanent employment. In addition, DPW will set aside funding for community colleges to design and develop remedial curricula for working TANF or former TANF families.

*  Childcare provided to Employed Families.

   --Eligibility is limited to employed needy current and former TANF families whose gross annual incomes do not exceed 235% of the FPIGs.

   This initiative provides subsidized childcare benefits to eligible employed families who need childcare to participate in unsubsidized employment, subsidized employment and/or education/training activities.

*  Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) Transportation Grant Initiative.

   --Eligibility is limited to employed needy families whose gross annual incomes do not exceed 235% of the FPIGs.

   This initiative funds additional transportation services to employed families in an effort to resolve specific public transportation-related barriers, including linkages to childcare, and second- and third-shift employment for those transitioning to self-sufficiency.

*  Eyeglass and Hearing Device Initiative--Non-Medical.

   --Eligibility is limited to needy current and former TANF families whose gross annual incomes do not exceed 235% of the FPIGs.

   This initiative provides a cost-limited non-recurring, short-term benefit toward the actual cost for the purchase of eyeglasses and/or hearing exams and devices to help clients seek and maintain employment. These benefits are available to eligible clients through the DPW Employment and Training Program-contracted provider in whose program they are participating.

*  The Workforce Investment Act's (WIA) Youth Development Program.

   --Eligibility is limited to youth between the ages of 14 and 21 who are enrolled in the Summer Youth Program administered by the Department of Labor and Industry.

   This initiative is a work-based learning opportunity provided to youth ages 14-21 through local Workforce Investment Boards. This program supports the following goals:

   --Improving educational achievement

   --Preparing for and succeeding in employment

   --Supporting life-skill development

   --Developing youth potential, including leadership opportunities

*  Clients with Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Developmental and Learning Disabilities and Related Barriers to Employment--Non-Medical.

   --Eligibility is limited to needy current and former TANF families whose gross annual incomes do not exceed 235% of the FPIGs.

   This initiative provides specialized services to enable current and former TANF families with barriers to begin employment or to continue to work. These specialized services include mental health services, anger management counseling, non-medical substance abuse counseling services, assessment and evaluation for developmental and learning disabilities, assistive technology and equipment, and vocational rehabilitation services to needy individuals who have physical or mental disabilities. Continuation of services that were critical in helping families find employment may also be critical in helping them maintain employment.

*  The Fatherhood Initiative.

   --Eligibility is limited to non-custodial parents of TANF minor dependent children, when the gross annual incomes of these non-custodial parents do not exceed 235% of the FPIGs.

   This initiative is designed to assist non-custodial mothers or fathers of TANF minor dependent children return to or remain in school, obtain their high school diplomas or GEDs, develop responsible parenting skills, become positive role models for their children and become productive members of their communities. Services to be provided include intensive case management, anger management, parenting and child development education and problem-solving skills.

*  Home Access Program Initiative.

   --Eligibility for benefits in this initiative is limited to needy families whose gross annual incomes do not exceed 235% of the FPIGs.

   This initiative is designed to provide assistance to repair homes by non-recurring, short-term benefits to low-income families that include a disabled adult or child in the household. These benefits may be provided to such families who are in the process of purchasing a home where repairs are needed to facilitate accessibility, or to families who presently own a home needing repairs. Benefits may be offered to homeowners and potential homeowners to support efforts to become self-sufficient and secure or retain work. Many existing homes contain obvious barriers to persons with disabilities, making it difficult for those persons to enter or leave their living quarters to seek and maintain employment. Also, some individuals may unexpectedly acquire a disability and find that their home contains structural barriers making them virtually homebound and unable to return to work.

   This notice and subsequent State Plan amendments do not create a duty or obligation upon DPW to establish, continue, renew or extend availability of the above-stated non-assistance services and/or benefits.

   DPW invites interested persons to submit written comments regarding this notice within 30 days. Comments should be addressed to Edward J. Zogby, Director, Bureau of Policy, Office of Income Maintenance, Room 431, Health and Welfare Building, P. O. Box 2675, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675.

   Persons with a disability may use the AT&T Relay Service by calling (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (Voice users).

FEATHER O. HOUSTOUN,   
Secretary

   Fiscal Note:  14-NOT-244. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 00-992. Filed for public inspection June 9, 2000, 9:00 a.m.]


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